The sun., 1892-02-21
here. and We must ask her to keen dark. or
we'll have her blabbina to the hrst person she
~aAs " s~l ~ ls~r


night, when the brig will be in. and tho men
and guns landed. Move on. and let Jim take
soundings of the cove. while ! look along the
shore It's Just aa well that there's a house
here. and little cover like his"-pointng to
the shrubbery-"to keep the mon from max
ing too much of show until after the earth.
works nro up. There are sharp eyes over at
the foit."
There don't seem to be any one In the
house now" returned the other after a mo-
mcnt's scrutiny OF the cottage. "or tho woman
would surely come out ut tho barking of tho
dogs, even II she hadn't seen us. Likely she's
| gone to Snncelto."
| so much the better. Just as well that she
should know nothing until II happens. Aftor-
| ward we'll settle with tho husband for tho
price Of possession; he has only squatter's
rights. Come along; we'll have bad weather
before We get back round the Point again. bit
SO much the better. for 1t will keep Off any in-
auistive 'longshore cruisers"
They moved away. But Mrs. Bunker. stung
through her benumbod and brooding con-
sciousncss. and made desperate by this re-
pcatcd revelation of her former weakness. had
| heard enough TO make her feverish to hear
moro She knew tho intrlcacies OF tho shrub
berry thoroughly. She knew every foot OF shade
| and cover OF the clearing. and creeping like n
| cut from bush to bush. she managed. without
being discovered. to keep tho party in sight
| and hearing all the timc. 1t required n great
discernment. oven for an inexperienced
woman like herself. at tho end OF IN hour to
gather their real purpose. 1t was to prepare
| for tho secret landing OF an armed force dis
guised as laborers. who under the outward
show Of qnarrying in the bluff. were to throw
up breastworks and fortify the craggy shelf
The landing was fixed for that night, and was
to be effected by vessel now cruising outside
| the Heads
| She understood Il all now She remembered
Maron's speech about the importance Of the
| bluff for military purposes: she remembered
the visit of the officers from the fort opposite.
Tho strangers we're stealing march upon the
Government. and by night would be In posses
sion. 1t was perhaps an evidence OF her
newly awakened and larger comprehension
| that she took no thought OF her loss Of home
| and property-perhaps there was little to
draw her to it now-but was conscious only OF
more terrible catastrophe-a catastrophe to
| which she was partly accessory OF which any
other woman would have warned her husband.
or at least those officers Of tho Fort whose
business II was to-Ah. yes! the officers Of the
| Fort-only just opposite to herl She trem-
| bled. and yet flushed with an inspiration. 1t
| was not too late yet-why not warn them nowP ?
| But how? A message sent by Snncelito and
the steamboat to San Francisco-the usual way
would not reach them tonight. To go her
SELF rowing directly across in the dingey.
! would be tho only security Of success. If she
could do it? II was long pull-the sea was
| getting up-but she would try.
| She waited until the last man had stepped
into the bout in nervous dread OF some one re-
naming. Thon. when the boat had vanished
| around the Point again. she ran back to the
| cottage. arrayed herself in her husbands pilot
cont hat. and boots. and launched the dingey.
| 1t was a heavy slow. and luckily a stanch
and seaworthy boat. twas not until she was
well of shore that she began to feel the full
fury Of the wind and waves. and knew the
had decided that her shortest aud most direct
course was within a few points OF the wind;
I o Se Soa the enaeS TO h4ow hs ft0d # I'd
ieeward, a movement that, while It retarde ed her
forward progress no doubt saved the little craft
shortness OF her stroke. which never imnelled
her through rising wave but rather lifted
from isi taking much water while her steadfast
gaze. fixed only on the slowly retreating shore.
whrE ire q
sons on her bow might have produced. Pre-
served through her very weakness. ignorance;
cert certain gentle but % persistent guidance. In
ss so
| she met the reflux current sweeping round it
rsG saEsh hsy Wt aSns S2 p2 9s 2s
half an hours pulling. she was delighted to find
herselfag IN In reverse current.a Of her
cottage. but steadily increasing her distance
edge edge Of Of n vast whirlpool formed BY the force Of
carried car led to TO- her destnat ton in semicircle
| around that bay which she never could have
s6ore and ts
| its green. square, and white quarters. she
battery and landing seemed to stretch out
fs fSsff hoFs sssfssS eS h Hs & eea q w
mnsa With shs the ebnn ds sSa
toward tow M the shore. but Il was swept Quickly
round again: she redoubled her exertions
tuY9ng fraltieally at her helpless oars She
threatened to capsize il, it pr9videntialy
battery now: she could hear tho fltful notes Of
above her head: she even thought she could
se eRo to ss op Sa S
was swept along steadily toward the Gate the
whitening bar. and the open sen.
what f she had come for: Tor this Was tie end! Be.
yond. only little beyond Just u few moments
% %breSRers Was the rest that she had Ioneei for.
but had not dared e seok; It was not her fault:
back and never knoW what had happened-por
even know how she hrs M tried ,;, to atone for her
session of-of-those devils! No! no! she
must not die, yet, at least not until she had
with frenaied strength: the boat had stopped
under the unwontcd strain, staggered. tried
to rise IN an uplifted sea. took part Of it over
her bow. struck down Mrs. Bun ker under half
ton Of blue water that Wrested to The oars from
them over tho gunwale. and left her lying
senseless In the bottom Of the boat.
Hold ha rd or you'll run her down."
Now thcn. Riiey-look alive-is it slalin' ye
Hold yer jaw. Flanagan. and stand ready
with the boat hook. Now. then. hold hard !"
Tho sudden iarrlng and fitting Of the water
logged boat, a sound OF ,rasping timber'. tho
swarming of men in shirtsleeves and hluc
trousers around her. seemed to rouse her mo
mentarily: but she again tainted away
once more sho Was wrapped in u soldiers
jacket. her head pllowed on the shirtsleeyo Of