The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-12-08 00:00:00

[ALL RIGHTS RzsmvED:l
EVE AT THE WHEEL,

G. MANVILLE FENN.
Author of "S/zip Ahoy," "Dutch, the Diver," "T 7.
Foundry Belle,"
CHAPTER XXXVIL

IN QUEST.
As soon as Holston could recover himself, he started off
for the spot where the three girls had been together,
Janet leading the way, trembling and sobbing;
but her pace would not keep up with Helston's
impatience, yearning to be at the side of her he
loved; and as soon as he comprehended where it
was, he set off at a rapid pace.
He was not half-way before he heard a terrible
shriek, repeated again and again; and, runn n;
nipidly, it was to hear hoarse, guttural voices
schivh told him of fresh danger.
He did not hesitate, however, but rushed on ol-
lowed by the breathless girls.
Before he had gone much farther, the cries were
repeated, and directly after he nearly stumbled over
the prostrate form of her he sought, lying as she had
been smitten down by the cruel hand of the mad
woman.
"My darling !" he groaned, stooping over her, and
raising her head so that the pale beams of the
moon fell upon the features.
"Who shrieked out?" cried the foremost of the
girls behind.
"Here, quick!" cried Helston, staggering to his
feet again. "Poor girl! poor girl! It is- not
Grace Monroe, but Mary Wilmot."
It was too true; for Deborah's hand had misear-
ried in its deadly stroke as far as her intention Was
concerned, the stone falling upon the head of one
who had never given her the slightest offence.
"She is dead—quite dead," panted Helstnn,
hoarsely. "Who will follow me? The Indians
have carried off Grace and Deborah."
"I—l--I," chorused a dozen voices.
"Thanks," he cried. "You are all armed. fire
of you go back to camp for more strength, and
follow us; we must rid the island of these
wretches."
One of the girls was sent back, and the ethers
off with Helston at a rapid pace in the direction
from which they had last heard the screams.
But it was a blind track to follow by night; and
after going some distance, they were compelled to
stop, as they were as likely to be going in a wrong
direction as a right, when a faint cry off to the left
gave them a new idea of the route to follow.
"Press on:" said Helston, "they are burdened
with two resisting women; we must soon overtake
them."
They ran on, then; but, before they had gone car,
a faint cry was heard from quite another direction,
and Helston felt, on the instant, that either he had
mistaken the direction, or, what was probable, the
savages had divided into two parties, each taking
one of the prisoners.
His companions kept to him bravely; but He'st.:n
soon found that it was folly to look for help from
those who were to follow from the camp, for it woeld
be impossible for them to discover the way he had
taken.'
This was one of the hardest trials of all • Red
Helston felt now that he would sacrifice anyth'im.
have redeemed the past. It was a bitter error tat
depriving the savages of the means of leaving •be
island; for, had he but left one of the canoes on the
sands, they would have fled the next day.
It was too late, though, now, and he pressed his
hand upon his breast to keep down the agonised hi it-
ings of his heart as he thought of the horrors of poor
Grace's situation.
He ran on, and his companions followed, till tele,
by one they gave up, and he had only two at h:s
side; and then he paused too, feeling as if he were
fighting against fate in all this, for it was perfectly
hopeless to proceed in the dark. •
Re had not heard a sound save that of their own
footsteps for hours, and in the agony of his mind he
had to recall, too, that one by one he had left behind
his followers, one and all weak women, who unless
supported by numbers would easily be overcome by
the savages if they should meet.
"We must wait for daylight," he said at 1:s,
dis-
consolately, and with his head in a complete whirl
with the terrible thoughts that oppressed him.
The day seemed as if it would never conic; but at
last the pale, pearly light appeared in the east, tol%
lowed by a golden damask, fretted with orange and
scarlet, and lastly the great sun rolled up, turning
the grey and slaty shadows into verdant splendoar.
Every leaf and spray glittered, as if hung with dia-
mond and pearl; and in spite of the blackened
masses everywhere protruding, and the occa ional
gaunt skeleton of a tree, the island looked so beauti-
ful that Helston, in his misery, asked himself why it
Ohould be cursed by the acts of man.
He reflected the next moment, though, that n-tra
,
had her fits of angry passion; when the petty injiaies
of mankind seemed as nothing in comparison; and
then' trying to drive hope into his weary brainrhe
took to reviewing his position.
He was here with two weary companions, the poor
girls having both fallen into a deep sleep, and they
lay there with their scanty garments soaked with
dew.
To proceed with them alone was useless he knew.
and only like leading them to their death, even if
he succeeded in tracking the savages, which was
doubtful; for they would probably elude his search
by hiding and doubling in amongst the ravines of
the mountains for days.
His only chance of success was, he knew, and nad
to confess, though reluctantly, to go back to camp,
gather together his forces, and then scour the
country till Grace was saved, and the last s ivage
captured.
"There will be no safety till the last savage has
been killed," he said, moodily.
Then, rising painfully, he climbed on to a piece
of rock, and stood with his hand shading his eyes,
trying to make out where he had wandered to in
the night. ,
This he was soon able oo do, and then, rousing
his sleeping companions, who were looking worn
out and dejected, they started for the camp.
It was a long for they had come far, and
the two girls were footsore and weary. Their party
was strengthened by a couple of those who had
fallen behind on the previous night, and they arrived
.at last at the camp just as half the community had
returned from a long, weary march to find them.
riChis was gratifying to Helston, as it showed the
intecest taken in their fate; and, on getting to
Laurent, he found that he was preparing another
expedition to start at once.
Helston bade him hurry his preparations, and to
incmase the numbers by all who had not been out
searching, and as many of the tired ones as would
volunteer to go.
"They must take the shorter cuts along by the
shore, and can be brought back in the canoes,
which can keep up with them close in shore, while
those who are fresh can go with me right inland."
"But you will not be fit to go," said Laurent.
" Not fit ? " said Helston, sharply, almost
savagely. "Do you know that Grace Monroe is in
the hands of those wretches ? "
-Laurent bowed his head and said no more, but
eet Olollt his task of preparation, 'Thello helping
manfully, with the result that, in a couple of hours'
time, a bG,dy of one hundred and fifty strong, active
NVQM( n were' standing on the sands, well armed w.th
'knife and axe, and each carrying in a satchel slang
over the shoulder, a fair amount of provisions,
balanced on the other side by a gourd of fresh spr:ng
water.
elston prepared himself for his coming toil 1..
plunging into the sea, and wading out, shakine.
self afterwards as would a dog, and lotting his
,-vas shirt and trousers dry in the sun.
Thus refreshed and ready, but with a wild, an.. i
look in his eye, he gave a few final orders to 3t:
Dance. who was left in charge of the camp, a:
with tile band divided into three, under the guidai
of himself, Laurent, and the black, they started
their search for the two missing women, Mary Da:
having promised due respect to the rel.nains of
Mary Wilmot. 1.•