The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-12-07
THE STORY or
FRANCIS CLUDDE
BY STANLEY !. wEYNAs


tuHfinHNt
A silence. thc silence ~ utter astonish
mont. ioll upon tho plotiofa ruuud che ~
bic IN every faco-and They wcrr OF
turned upon my cuurnniuu-i rad rage
and distrust and dismay Thcy had chnfcd
under Die cold criticisms and bis calm fcn.
sunings nut this went beyond all, and
thorc were hands " hich stole insiinctivcly
10 daReors and eyes which waited scowl.
ing Tor signal Hut ponruddockc, san
auino hy nature and rendered reckless by
circumstances. had still The feelings ~ n
/ gentleman, and something In him respond
ed to tho appeal which undcrlat Muster
I Bortio's words lie remained silent, gar.
ing ploomily ut the table, his eyes perhaps
opened nj this late hour 20 the hopeless.
ness of the attempt be meditatcd.
II was Walter Kingston who camo TO
the fore and put into words the thoughts
of the coarsor and more selfish spirits
round him. Loaping from his seat, he
dashed his slender hand ON the table
what does this moanf' he sncCrcd, q
dangerous light in his dark eyes Those
only are here or should be here who arc
willing to stake all-all, mind you-un
the cause. Let us have no snoaksi Lot
us have no men with foot ON either
bank Let us have no Courtonays nor
cowards Such men ruined Wyatt and
hanged my brothUrl A curse on thcmI
he cried, his voice rising almost to a
scream.
Master Kingston, do you refer TO meV'
BERTHE rojoned In naughty surprise,
Aye, dol" cried the young man hotly.
"Then l must beg leave Of these gentle
men to explain my position"
your positioni Sol More words''
quoth the other mookingly
Aye, as many words as please" 70.
tortod Master Berthe, his color rising.
"Aftcrward will be as ready with deeds,
dare swear, as any otherl My tenants
and my wifes | will not draw into an nj
most hopeless struggle. But my own life
and my friends, since we have obtained
your secrets, l must risk, and l will do SO
in honor to the death. For the rest, who
doubts my courage may test 1t below
ground or above"
The young man laughed rudely. You
will risk your life, but not your lands,
Master Bertiei That is the position, is itf'
My companion was about to utter re-
joinder, fierce for him, when /, who had
hitherto sat silent, interposod. THE old
witch told the truth, - / cried bitterly.
"She said II we came hither we should
perish, and perish We shall, through be
ing linked to dozen men as brave as
could wish, but the biggest fools undel
heaven"
"Foolsir shouted Kingston.
AYE, fools" repeated. For who bu
fools, being at sen in a boat in which al
must sink or swim, would fall a-quarrel
= ingY Tell me thatl' cried, slapping tn
\ table.
j You arc about right" Penruddock
said and half dozen voices muttered ms
sent.
About right, Is bef' shrieked King
ston. But who knows we are in boa
together Who knows that, I'd like t
hear"
II do" l said, standing up and over
topping him by eight inches, land If an
man hints that Master BERTHE is hero fc
any other purpose or with any other ii
D. tent than to honestly risk his life in tn
IT endeavor as becomes gentleman let hi
stand out, let him stand out, and wi
break his neck Fie gentleman, fier'
Or continued, after short pause, which
did not make too long lest Master KIM
,e ston's passion should get the better of h
prudence. Though am young, hay
seen service. But l never saw battle VIC
yet with dissension in the camp. FL
s. shamel Let us to business and make u
= best dispositions we may"
You talk sense, Master CareyP' PEI
ruddocke cried, with great oath. "Gi'
me your hand, and do you, Kingston, no
your peace. II Master BERTHE will n
raise his men to save his own skin, he wi
hardly do 1t for ours. Now, Sir Richal
Bray being taken, what is to be done, IL
ladsY Come, let us look to that"
So the storm blew over. But 1t W
with heavy hearts that two of us fell
the discussion which followed, countil