Los Angeles daily herald., 1885-12-20
CHAPTER ".

CHAPTER ".
ON THE TRACK.
After night Of horrors, Curly arose wi b
the sun AMI rushed to this window. The sea
was still raging furiously. The ferry boat
was O mere cookie shell; 'twould he Sheer
madness 10 try the pas age till the storm
abated. Then he went to look up the pos
tllions and the horses, to see il IL were pos
sible to get on as far as Dundee. Alas the
postilions were dead drunk-the horse dead
beat, and lame besides Obviously there
WINS nothing for it but TO wait. He walked
by ths shors and tried 10 cool his fevered
brain in vain. Then he turned into the inn
Flora was already up, rosy as her naInesake
and hungry as a hunter No bread-ana-
butter miss this, but a woman-a true,
large- hearted woman-with we'll balanced
mind enshrined in a well-balanced body
She was elate and confident; he was fever
ism ard anxious The breakfast, which con-
sisted of an abundance Of fish, fresh from
the sea an hour ago, dish Of ham and eggs,
and delicious fresh bannOcks and butter, lay
untouchs1 before Curly. As for Flora,
she hal the healthy appetite Of young,
fire h, vigorous womanhood, and was
not ashamed of it. She did ample
Justice TO the simpls fare He
coul int tasts a morsal, and called for
whisky. She looked on with wondering
eyes, astonishei, and it must be confessed,
not over plsas.l. When re had got dram
or two down be began to pick up little,
and trihe1 with the breakfast, but it was in
vain He became fretful and irritable;
every sound Disconnected him-the walters
footsteps in the passage, the creaking Of the
door, the whistling OF the wind
of If ~ mao fba Of
ceased. the sea became calm as a mill pool.
The ferrvman came bustling in.
1.-THE ferry was a. RIGHT the moo If the
lat, and the shentleman would Ike to
cross. David would be ready for them in
iva minutes.n Curly became radiant; in
fact, became the young hero Flora's fancy
had paiuted hin. Recovering his appetite,
he attacked the breakfast vigorously.
As he did so tho clatter of horses hoofs
and the roll of distant carriage wheels were
heard. At the ound he started 10 his feet
and turned pals. whats the matter, my
lover inquired Flora
Nothing he replied. Nothing, darling,
nothing; emily Pm not quite myself this
morning. Slip on your hat and cloak, dear
est. while settle the BILL So saying, he
/ rang the bell, AMI Flora left the room to
/ prepare for her departure. The doddering
/ old landlady came creeping along like a
snail, and snail-like departed to make CUT
her bill. Meanwhile the sound of the ap-
preaching carriage wheels got nearer
1 ''Graciors God" he exclaimed, 'shoull it
be-i How long is this horrible old woman
i going to be making out her beastly bill,
I How long IS Flora going to BET She ght
be getting herself up for presentation at
4 courtp
! At last the bill came and was paid-at
| last Flora had completed her hasty toilet
The sounds were getting nearer. The
/ farmer was ready and waiting. moment
more, and
/ Leaving the house rapidly, and hurrying
4 down toward the ferry, some three hundred
/ Yards distant they stepped on beard the
/ boat. At that moment a carriage and four
horses in .Iather OF sweat galoped like
1 mad round tie corner Of the hill immedi-
/ ately overhanging the beach. Two men
| Jumped out. The one roarei, in voice of
/ thunder: sHold therel Come back, or, by
-, I'll shoot the pair of your
/ Flora sprang before her lover like lion
| ess defending her youn,, and calle1 out:
''Shoo. me first, thenn
In his rage MacAllister fired, and would
I certainly have killed her, had not Deempster
I struck up his hand. He then Gale out to
the ferry man: ''H); you there, David DON
aldson.e You ken me; Pm Dan'l Deempster,
/ Of Strathmines You see thesef and he
I lourished handful OF grea3y one-pound
notes They are yours if you pus back and
[ land those two"
There was a moments pause, and the fer
ryman remained irresolute. then Curly
1 PRODUCED handful of sovereigns AMI forced
them upon him, whispering;
"Ali yours now, and as much more whea
we land on the other sider'
David hesltated no longer. Hs pocketed
the god. and sung out with a laugh:
''Helgh, Strathmines, a bird in the hand is
worth twa in the bush; paper Is guid, but
gold is betterF
'.Ay moa,n replied Deempster; ''hut lead
goes iurther than either in pinch like this
Sec that noor' As he spoke he ID, and
hit the slle of the rowlock neare It TO HIN,
completely carrying it away.
Now, David, my mannie,a he continued,
lie advised; for il fire again shall put a
bullet in your shoulder as sure as my name 5
Dan'l Deempster" There was an awkward
pause, then the ferryman replied; 'Sly nae
mair! sly nae mair, Strathminssl Enough
is AS gui1 as a feast; I'm comm back" 81
saving. with sudden and dexterous move
meat hs swung the Loaf round and headed
her for the shore. He had reckonei, how
ever, without Flora, who was sitting behind
him in the stern With a movement as
sudden and as dexterous as his own she
plucSed the fellow IRON his seat, down came
his head athwart the ginwale, and there be
lay, stunned and senselesS Unfortunately
in the struggle one Of the oars was UNI
shipped and fell overheard, where it drifted
out OF reach. Curly, who was capital
boa man. seized the remaining oar and triel
TO scull out to sea. The fsrry was only two