The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-10-19
CHAPTER XIII.

IhAG LEN ALL.
Only to feel that we were moving was q
relief, though our march was very slow.
Master Bertio carried tho child slung in
cloak before him, and thus burdonod could
not well go beyond "A smooth amble, while
the guides, who were on foot, and the
pack horses found this pace as much ms
they could manage. A little while, and
the exhilaration of the start died away.
The fine morning was followed by a wet
evening, and before we had left Emmcrich
three miles behind us Master BERTHE and l
had come to look at one another meaning
IT, We were moving in n dreary, silent
procession through heavy rain, with the
prospect of the night closing In early.
The road, too, grew more heavy with each
furlong and presently began to DO covered
with pools of water We tried to avoid
this Inconvenience by resorting to the hill
slopes on our left, but found the attempt
waste of time as "a deep stream or back
water, bordored by marshes, interviewed.
Tho narrow road, raised but little above
the level of the swiftly flowing river ON our
right, turned out to be our only possible
path, and when Master BERTHE discerned
this his face grew more and more grave.
We soon found indeed AS we plodded
along that sheet Of water, which palely
place of the road, and through this we
had to plash and plash at a snail's pace,
one OF the guides on pack horse leading
tho way and Master BERTHE in charge Of
his wife coming next; then, at some dis
lance, for her horse did not take kindly to
the water, the younger woman followed In
my care. Tho other guide brought up the
rear. In this way, stopped constantly by
the fears of the horses, which were scared
by tho expanse of flood before them, we
crcpt wearily on until the moon rose. 1t
brought, alasl an access of light, but no
comfort. The water seemed continually
to grow deeper, the current on our right
swifter, and each moment ] dreaded the
announcement that farther advance was
impossible.
1t seemed to have come to that at last,
for l saw tho duchess and her husband
stop and stand waiting for me, their dark
shadows projected far over the moonlit sur
| face
what Is to be donef" Master BERTHE
called out as we moved up to them. 1.-The
guide tells me that there is broken piece
of road in front which will be impossible
with this depth Of water"
| had expected to hear this, yet was so
dumfnunded-for, this being true, we
/
not answer. No one had uttered word
of reproaoh, but knew what they must
be thinking. had brought them 70 this.
1t was my foolish insistenco had done 1t.
The poor beast under me shiyered.
struck him with my heels. 1--WE must go
forwardn' i said desperately. "Or whatf
What do you Think Go backf''
STEADY, steady, Master Knight Err
ranti'' tho duchess cried in her calm,
brave voice. II never knew you SO bad q
counselor beforel"
1T is my fault that you arc here"
snid, looking dismally around.
Perhaps the other road is as bad, -
Master BERTHE replied AT any rate, that
is past and gone. The question is, What
arc we to do now' To remain here is to
die of cold and misery. To go back may
DO to run into tho eDemy's arms. To go
forward
"Will DO to be drowned" Mistress Anne
cried, with a pitiful sob.
could not blame her. A more gloomy
outlook than ours as we sat on our jaded
horses in the middle of this waste of wa
, tiers, which appeared in the moonlight to
be boundless could scarcely be imagined.
The night was cold for the time of year
and the keen wind pierced our garments
, and benumbed our limbs. At any mo
ment the rain might begin afresh and th'
moon DO overcast. OF ourselves, we could
not take step without danger, and oul
guides Ind manifestly lost their heads and
longed only to return.
yet l am for going forward" thu
duchess urged. IF there be but this ONT
bad place we may pass 1t with care"
"Wo may" her husband assented dub
ously. "But suppose when We have passed
it we can go no farther. Suppose the
1T is no good supposing" she retorted
with some sharpness. Let us GROSS THU
place first, Richard, and We will deal witt
the other when we come to it."
lie nodded assent and we moved slowl,
forward, compelling the guides TO go first
In this order we waded some hundred
yards through water which grew deepel
with each step, until 1t rose nearly to oul
girths, Then the lads stopped.
: Arc we over" said the duchess eagerly
For answer one Of them pointed to thu
flood before him, and peering forward
made out current sweeping silently ant
swiftly across our path-a current with al
ominous rush and swirl.
"Overi" grunted Master BERTHE. mo
this Is the place. See, the road has givei
way, and the stream Is pouring through
! from the river. i expect it is gottini
worse every minute as the banks crum
ble."
We all cranod forward, looking at 1t.
n was impossible to say how deep the waite
a was, or how far tho deep part might OK
tend, and we had with us a child and wv,
, women.
1--WE must go baokl" said Master BERTH
! fesolutely. There Ia NO donht aho"t -