The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-10-30

| never have left the canon to reveal
| the theft, but as it was he promptly ar
| rested the thief, who was convicted and
sentenced accordingly.
| The other brother swore vengeance
| among his own class against Robert, as
! the cause of his brothers disgrace,
which oath at length came to his ears
| but knowing the mans revengeful dis
| position, he only laughed at any sup
posed danger.
One evening, few days after the
above event had transpired, Robert
said. carelessly, to Ella ]:
81 am going to row out to Selkirk
Rock to sketch the sunset on the
waves would you like to accompany
me?"
Very much, returned she, gravely,
ss but I could not think of marring your
satisfaction at being for once monarch
of all you survey by my presence, so [
will remain at home and prepare the
Kings dinner, and criticise his artistic
power after he returns.
He turned away, justine least piqued
at her chatting, and started down to the
| beach, turning a moment to hear her
call, as a parting voiley:
stDon't be so enthusiastic as to re-
fuse to relinquish yoar throne when the
tide comes in. You'd look frightfully
undignifed in wet robes.
| '' Selkirk Rock" as Robert had fanci-
| fully termed it, was a broad, rugged
pile that had apparently become loos-
| ened from a near hillside, and rolled
down with such force as to carry it out
/ some distance from the shore, with
which it was connected by a narrow
neck of sand, on which, at low tide, the
water was quite shallow, but at high
tide the waves came ia so as to render
! the approach to it very deep and dan
gerous, and, as Ella had intimated, suf-
! ficiently high to cover the entire face of
| the rock itself.
| 1t was, perhaps, three-fourths of
| mile down to the beach, and Robert
walked leisurely along, enjoying the
| breeze that came so fresh off the waves,
until he reached the point opposite the
rock, where the boat was mcored, and
then pulling out to it, passed over to
| the side nearest the sea, and lay down
at full length to enjoy the beautiful
scene. He had so lain for some time,
| being hidden from view OF the shore
by the arching surface of the rock,
when he thought he heard a slight
noise He rose to his feet, when the
sharp crack of revolver rang cut on
the air. n stinging pain Garted through
his right thigh, and he fell helpless to
the ground. The next instant the face
Of the Mexican who had sworn revenge
on him peered with deyiish malignity
over the top of the rock. He had
dogged Robert all the way from the
farm house. and wading silently out
| under the screen of the rock, had fred
the moment he had arisen. He now
advanced cautiously to the side of his
victim, who, totally unsrmed and help
less, expected nothing but instant death
on the spot.
g Carlo" said the Mexican, while
his features were a perfect study in the
intensity of the passion the portrayed:
You have had my brother sentenced
to work for years in filthy prison.
Did you not know that I would kill
you?"
'sI did not kill him." said Robert,
with caImness that surprised even him
self, as he met unflinchingly the glitter
ing, snaky eye of the Spaniard.
80, no I'' hissed the other, '' you are
very merciful; you did not kill him
you only sent him to worse fate I
will be merciful too," he continued, as
if struck with new idea 81 will leave
you here and let the waves sweep you
of. That will be very merclful, and
then I will not be murderer you will
only ClTOWQ-GlaG s d11
The hope that had flashed over Rob-
ert's heart a moment before now gave
way to utter despair as he saw the Span
lard enter the boat that had brought
him thither, bid him mocking adieu,
and row for the shore.
He glanced helplessly around him.
The tide had been running IN for some
time the sun, which he had come out
to watch setting, was sinking as If half
IN mockery, half in pity, below the
western horizon. It was after five
o'clock, and he knew that at seven the
waves would be dashing over the rock,
and the death which he had just now
faced SO bravely, fairly appalled, him
slowly over the sea, and the eager waves
were how tapping at his very feet, as he,
by superhuman effort, dragged him
self to the highest point of the fast
disappearing rock. Had he been un-
hurt, he might have hoped to be able
TO retain his position on the rock until
the tide went out, for it covered it only
about eighteen inches but, weak and
exhausted as he was, he felt only too
keenly that the first wave which swept
over would carry him away from his
frai1 support, and then
Suddenly he thought he heard the
dip of an oar, and looked eagerly in the
direction it came from. To his amaze
ment and heartfelt gratitude there was
figure in the little boat, pulling stead
ily for the rock. For a moment the
thought darted over his mind that the
Spaniard, afraid to trust the waves,
was returning to complete his work
but few lengths more and he recog-
nized the form to be none other than
that of Ella She came steadily on un-
til close to the rock, and paused, calling
softly:
care you there, Robert"
Here, and safe," answered he joy
fully, as with another stroke the boat
grated against the rock.
g Who stole the boat away from you
that Spaniard % asked she, as she
rose and turned to step out.
eyes, he replied.
Great God what is the matter p
are you hurt ?" exclaimed she, as she
beheld his prOstrate form.
"a ittle," answered he; "he did
worse than steal the boat-he wounded
me, and left me here to drown, but for
you. %
60, merciful Father l'' exclaimed
Ella, as she hastily ran and knelt by his
side 81 thought there was some