The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-10-12

lasi 81 lfafU There wa tit ff.. n L..
ttrh ~ uE whH BOD nnlf nuINH ~ futa
TOW uIfla who did uH hests q slsh ~
W. iats.d Hui u the warm lamp iii vaf
luf which. uiffrd nt u vns with ne
dnifis If packing iouhud silil pheasant
and comfortable M comparison With tho
darkness outside md thu uncertain iutufo
h.ior us Whit thun must ha,e he,n
thf pain " parting 10 tlusG who had notuf
knUWn Ani other huiuei Vet thfy t0uk ~
matcly D. nymuhna Van Tfefs rtun
had brought rroat happiness To Master
l4ndstrUm any ending a. % long series ~
ansieiios and humlliaiions was wclouno
10 Van Trroa well be- had Dymphnh with
him. and be side u the plate chest was
heavy and gaNu him ample employment
We passed out silently through the hnck
door leaving the young nutchman 20 lock
] 10 bohind us, and Fitted, line ~ gliding
shadows. through the orchard II was 9
O'Clock. the ny was overcast, a slight
drizzlc was failing Once an alarm was
given that We were being followed, and
We huddlcd together aud stood broathloss,
n olump II dark ngurcs gazing aiirightsd-
t ~ nt the tree trunks which surrounded us.
and which scemed-at least 10 the won
ems eyos-to lie moving and 30 lie men
closing IN on us
But the alarm was groundless, and
with no greater mishnp than n few stun
I hles when We came 10 the slippery edge If
the creek We reached the boat. and one by
one, admirably ordered by our host, got In
and took our seats. Van Tree and Master
lindstrom pushed us of. Then they
swung Themselves In and padded warily
along, close under the bank, where tho
shadows q the poplars fell across u.s. hnd
our figures blended darkly with the line
Of PUSHES on tho shore
CHAPTER XII
We ooasted along In this silent fashion
nearly ~ far a. the hamlet and bridge, fol
lowing, but farther iDshorc, the course
which Master Lindstrom and | had taken
when on our way 10 bury the Spaniarl.
A oortain point gained, at a signal from
our host we struck out into the open and
rowed swiftly toward the edge Of the
marsh. This was the critical moment:
but, 80 far as we could learn, our passage
was unnoticed. We reached the fringe
Of rusbes. With prolonged kissing sound
the boat pushed through them. A flight
Of waterfowl rose, whirring and clapping
about US, and we foatcd out into dim,
misty lake, whose shores and surface
stretched away on every side, alike dark,
shifting and uncertain.
Across this the Dutchman steered us,
bringing Us presently 10 a narrow opening,
] through which we glided into n second and
smaller mere. At the farther end Of this
one the way seemed barred by black. i'm.
penetrable wall Of rusbes, which rose far
above our heads But the tall stems bent
slowly with many a whispered protest be-
| fore our silent onset, and we slid into a
deep water lane, here narrow, there wild
ening into n pool, in one place dark, In
another rejecting the gray night sky.
[ Down this we sped swiftly, the sullen
plash Of the oars and the walls Of PUSHES
Z always with us For ourselves, we
crOuched still and silent, shiver.ng and
listening for sounds u pursuit, now start
] ing at the splash Of frog again shudder-
ing at the cry Of night bird. The duch-
ess, her child and ! were In the bows,
Master LiDdstrom, his daughter and Mis-
tress Anne In the stern. They had made
me comfortable with the baggage and
] some warm coverings and would insist on
treating me as helpless. Even when the
Others began TO talk In whispers the Ouch
ess enjoincd silence on mt and babe me
sleep. Presently 1 did So my last impress
sion one Of unending waterways and
shoreless, sbadowy lakes.
1 W utIl A hMOktf lHt sun WIS nlHn, anu
the scene was changed indeed. We lay ON
the bosom Of broad river, our boat seem.
ing now to stand still rs the sail tapped
idly. now to heel over and shoot forward
a. the light breeze struck us. The shores
abreast Of US were still low and reedy, but
ahead the slopes Of green wooded hills
rose gently from the stream. Master Der
tic was steering, and seeing me lift my
head greeted me with a smile. Tho girls
In the stern were covered up and asleep.
Amidsbips, too, Master Lindstrom and
Van Tree had curled themselves up be-
tween the thwarts and were slumbering
peacefully. turned TO look for the Ouch
ess and found her sitting wide awake at
my elbow, her eyes on her husband.
well, she said, smiling, do you feel
better nowf You have had good sleep"
How long have been asleep, please1"
asked, bewildeTed by the sunshine by
the shining river and the green hills, by
the fresh morning air, by the change in
everything, and answering In question,
as people freshly aroused do nine times out
OF ten, where are wef'
You have been asleep nearly six hours,
and we are on the Rhine near Emmericb,"
she answered smiling She was pale, and
the long hours OF watching had drawn
dark circles round her eyes. But the old
undaunted courage shone in them still,
and her smile was as sweet as ever.
Have we passed the frontierS" l asked
eagerly.
well, nearly" she answered. but
how does your wound feel'"
Rather stiff and sore, " said ruefully
after making an experiment by moving
my body to and fro. And / am very
thirsty, but could steer"
so you shall, " she said. "Only first eat
something. We broke our fast before the
Others lay down. There Is bread and meat
behind you, and some hollands and water
In the bottle"
seized the latter and drank greedily.
Then, finding myself hungry, now came
to think about 1t, fell upon the eatables.
You will do now, l think" she said
when she had watched me for some time
laughed for answer, pleased that the
long dark night, its gloom and treachery
were past But its memories remained,
and presently said, IF Van Tree did not
try to kill me-and am perfectly sure he
did not
so am l." she said. 1--WE were all
wrong"
Then" continued, looking at her
gravely, who didi That is the question.
And Why"
You are sure that 1t was not the Span.
lard whom you hart in defense Of Dymph
mai" my lady asked.
Quite sure"
And sure that IL was not Clarencei'
she persisted.
Quite sure. 1t was short man, " OK
planned again, ''and dressed in cloak.
That is all / can tell about him"
1T might be some one employed by
Clarence, she suggested, her face gloomy,
her hrOWs knit