Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-05-25
AUTHOR OF
CHAPTER XIV.
THE SHADOW OF DEATH.

CHAPTER XIV.
THE SHADOW OF DEATH.
The firing from the bank had ceased. And
John, who still kept his head being a rather
phlesmatic specimen of the Anglo-Saxou
race, realized that, for the moment at an,
rate, all danger from that source was ended
jess lay perfectly still in his arms, her head
upon his breast; and horrible idea struck
him that she might be shot-perhaps already
dead,
jess, jess, he shouted, through the tur.
mol OF the storm, ARE you all rightr'
She lifted her head an inch or tvo-.I
think So" she said. what is going ong"
God only knows, don't Sit still. IL will
be all square"
But in his heart be knew that 1t was not
"all square" and that they were in imminent
danger of death from drowning. Thew were
whirling down raging river in . cart. In a
few moments IL WAS proDapIe tnar me cart
would upset, and then
Presently the wheel bumped against some
thing, and the cart gave a great lurch and
then scrap0d along little.
"Now for it," thought John; for tbs water
was pouring over the flooring. Then came
check, and the cart leaned still farther over.
Crack! The pole had gone, and the cart
swung round bows, or rather box, on to the
stream. What had happened was this: They
had stuck across rock that projected up
from the bed OF the river, the force Of the
current having washed the dead horses to the
ono side and the cart to the other Conse
Quently they were anchored to the rock, as it
were, the anchor being the dead horses and
the cable the stout traces Of Unframed leather.
So long as these traces and the rest Of the
harness held they were, comparatively speak
ing, safe; but Of course they did not know
this. Indeed, they knew nothing. Above
them rolled the storm, and round them the
waters seethed and the rain Kissed. They
knew nothing except that they were helpless
living atoms, tossing between the wild waters
and the wilder night, with imminent death
staring them in the face, around, above and
below. 70 and fro they swung, locked fast
ipsach others arms, and as they did so came
That awful flash that, though they knew it
not, sent two Of the murderers to their
sccouSf, and for an instant, even through ths
saeet o: rain, illumined the space Of boiling
water and the long lines Of the banks on
either. side. it showed the point Of rock to
which they were fixed, IL glared upon the
head Of one Of the poor horses, tossed mp by
the driving current, as though it were trying
10 riso from it, watery death, and revealed
the form Of the dead Zulu, Mouti, lying on
his face, one arm hanging over the edge Of
the cart and dabbling in the water that ran
level with it, in CHASTITY similarity to some
idle passenger in pleasure boat who lets his
fingers slip softly through the stream.
In a second it was gone, and they were
once more III darkness But then by degrees
the storm passed OF and the moon began to
shine, feebly indeed, for the sky was not
clear washed Of clouds, which still trailed
along in the trucks Of the tempest, sucked
after it by its mighty draught. Still it was
lighter, and the rain gradually thinned till at
last it stopped. The storm had passed in
majesty down the ways Of the night, and
there Yves no sound round them but the sound
Of rushing water.
@John," said jess, presently, @can We do
anythingr'
@Nothing, dearT
9Shall we escape, Johnp
He hesitated. at Is in Gods hands, dear.
We are in great danger. II the cart upseta
we shall be drowned Can you swin~
mo, John"
III we can hang ON here till daylight We
may get ashore il those devils are not there
to shoot US. do not think that cur chance
Is a good cne"
John, arc you afraid to diet"
He hesitated. Il don't know, dear.
hope to meet it like q man"
tell me what you truly think. L thers
any hope for US at ALI"
Once more he paused, rejecting whether OF
not he should speak the truth. Finally h. d.
cided to do 20
II can $50 none. Jez. II w ere not
drowned No are sure to b shot They viii
wait about tho bank till morning, and fol
their own snkes they win not dare to let u
live"
He did not know that all that was left d
two Of them would indeed wait for many q
long year. and that tbs third bad Aed
aghast
4Jen, dear, /" he went on, 1T h no good r.
tell lies Our lives may end any minute
Humanity speaking, they must end before thu
sun h up"
The words were awful enough-n tn
reader can by an effort Of tho imagination
throw himself for . moment into the position
of these two, he win. perhaps, understand
how awful. It d . dreadful thing, when In
the full flow Of health and youth. to b sud
denly placed face to face with the certainty
Of violent death and to know that IN . few
moro minutes your course win have beer
run, and that you will have commenced t.
explore the future, which may prove to b
even worse, becau1e more enduring, than ths
life you are now quitting in agony. It u q
dreadful thing, a. any who have ever stood
In such peril can testify, and John felt hi
heart sink within him at the thought-fol
death b very strong. But there u one thing
aironger-a Ypman's perfect love. Agains1
this death cannot prevail. And % It came t.
pass that now, as be fixed his cold gaze upor
jess eyes, they answered him with astrange
unearthly light. She feared not death x
that she might meet with her beloved
Death was her hope and opportunity. Her,
she had mono; there she might have all-ol
sleep. The fetten had fallen from her
struck OF by m overmastering hand. Hel
duty was satisfied, her trust was fulfilled ant
sho was free-free to died with her beloved
All! her love was, indeed. a love deeper tina,
tho grave; and now Il rose in al it, strength
standing tiptos upon the earth, ready, whel
dissolution had lent it, wings, TO soar to love-
own star.
aYou arc sure, Johng she asked again.
aYes. dear. yea Why do you forcs M h
repent 1T I can seeno hope"
Her arms were round his neck, her sof
curls rested on his cheek, and the breath from
her lips played upon his face. Indeed. Il wa
only by speaking into each Others ears thai
conversation was feasible. owing to The rush
ing sound Of the waters
Because I have something to tell you which
Icannot tell unless we are going to dia Yot
know it, but want to say it with my owl
lips before die. ! love you, John; low
you, love you; and am glad to die becausl
lean die with you and 60 away with you"