The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-09-07

Continued,
50 Ipullcd on. sa,agriy strainlng ut tho
oars But my chest hchvcd and my arms
nchcd moro aud more with each stroke
Tho banks slid by us. We TUNED ono
bend then another though | saw nothing
Of them l saw only the pursuing boat
ON which my eyes were fixed, heard only
the measured rattle of the oars In the row
locks \ minute two minutes, three min
utcs passed They had not gained on us,
but the water was beginning to waver be-
fore my eyes, their boat seemed floating
IN the air; there was pulsation in my
ears louder than that Of the oars; | strug-
gled, and yet Tagged. My knees trcm.
bled. Their boat shot nearer now, nearer
and nearer, so that | could read the smile
Of triumph ON the stecrsman's dark face
and hear his cry Of eNultatiun. Nearer
and then with q cry l dropped the oars.
Quick" painted to my companions.
"Chango places with mel Sol' Trom-
bling and out of breath ms was, | crawlcd
between the women and gained the stern
sheets Of the boat. As passed Mistress
Bortram she clutohcd my arm. Her eyes,
as they met mine, flashed fire; her lips
were white. 1.-THE man steering" she
Missed between her teeth. Leave the
others. He is Clarence, and l fear himr'
nodded, but still, as the hostile boat
bore swiftly down upon us, cast glance
round to see II there were any help al
hand. / saw no sign Of any. / saw only
the pale blue sky overhead and the stream
flowing swiftly under the boat drcw
my sword. The case was one rather for do
spair than courage The women were II
my charge, and, II did not acquit mysel
like a man now, when should l do so
Bah, it would soon be overl
There was an instant's confusion In tn
other boat rs the crow ceased rowing, and
seeing my attitude and not liking IL
changed their seats. TO my joy the maj
. who had hitherto been steering flung
curse at the others and came forward I,
bear the brunt of the encounter. He wa
tall, sinewy man, past middle age, with
clean shaven face dark complexion AM
cruel eyes. So no was Master Clarence
Well he had the air of n swordsman and
soldier. l trembled for the women.
Surrender, you foolr' he cried to m
harshly. I'm the queens name, do yo'
hearH What do you in this company
y l answered nothing, for l was out o
| breath. But softly, my eyes on his, l dreS
- out with my left hand my hunting knife
spring upon him and drive the knife HON
with that hand. So, standing erect II
T. bow and stern, we faced one another tn
man and the boy, the flush of rage an
exertion on my cheek, dark shade ON his
And silently the boats drew together.
Thought is quick-quioker than any
thing else in the world, l suppose, for i
some drawn out second before the boat
came together l had time to wonde
5. where had seen his face before and
- rack my memory. l knew no MastC
Clarence, yet I had seen this man som'
where Another second, and away wit
thought He was crouching for a spring
s. drew back little, then lunged-lunge
with heart and hand. Our swords crosse
and whistled-just crossed-and even as
saw his eyes CLEAN behind his point I'll
shock of the two boats coming togetht
= flung us both backward and apart.
moment we reeled, staggering and throw
ing out wild hands. l strove hard to r.
cover myself-nay, l almost did so-then
caught my foot in Mistress Anne's cloal
T. which size had left in her place, and fe
heavily back into the boat.
= was up in a moment--on my knees I
least-and unhurt. But another was b
fore me. As l stopped, half risen, / sa
a one moment dark shadow above me, an
- the next u sheet of flame shone before N
eyes, and tremendous shock swept a
away. fell senseless Into the bottom
the boat, knowing nothing of what hi
w. happened to me.