Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-01-18


In fow minutes the boat was well
away from tho shore. Curtis was In the
storm Sheets steering. and close beside was
Obliged TO slt Lucille. In tho bottom lny
Aymon, stretched upon the cloak, with his
head pillowed on his sisters knees. Duck,
with bucket and tho two other hands thai
had brought tho boat, was rowing. SO
they proceeded without speaking and very
slowly, for the sounds of the pursuit had
grown SO near ut the last that tho rowing
had to DO done as silently as possible.
Indeed they were hardly out OF sight OF
tho land bofuru the excited cries ashore
warned them that Piorre's body had been
found. Then they could hear TINT tho
bnfllcd pursucrs had followed their trucks
TO tho waters edge md that they wore
standing there shouting threats and rail-
ing out into tho fog.
"Ayast r0winpw whispered Curtis.
They ay on their oars In absolute ST.
lencc, listening, till the men ashore SEEM
cd to grow tired OF hearing nothing and ran
away aanin toward FnnReport, with u
parting broadsldc Of curslng.
"woll, that doesn't hurt us, " said Cur
tbs cheerily.
"Nur help US neither" returned tho
skipper pooring rather rucfmly out into
tne lOg. 'buOu luck ulFtcN us ~ tle rug
ger now"
"Why, don't you know where she is ly-
ingY" asked Curtis
~ allowed tho fog would hive cleared
like by now" answered the skipper
"But how did you hoad to find usi"
said he lieutenant.
"Why, we Rugged along the shore, " an
swered tho skipper, land steered by tho
sound of the nking ON tho beach Till we
heard your whistle"
"Whut orders did You leave with tho
luggcr?" asked Curtis.
1--WE had worked her out Of the hnrbor,
d'yo sec," answered Dunk, land / Just
told 'em to let her drift with tho Obj til
they heard us, 1t sets middling strong this
way, further out"
"Then We must get away out" said
Curtis, with decision, land look for her
there, Give way, my lads"
The boat was soon bounding over tho
short sen, md tho lieutenant straining ull
attention to keep her course straight by
tho aid Of tho shippers pocket compass
not little thankful for the occupation
For, without tho relief Of something to en-.
gngr him, the embarrassment Of the stu
alton would have been uncomfortable. He
| had made himself dctestnbc to her: she
had done her best-nnd very properly, as
ho hold--to get rid OF him, and yet hero
they were condemned to nestle sido by side
! ON the narrow scat Of tho boat, like pair
| OF love birds
| In the very touch OF hor shoulder against
his he seemed to feel tho smart OF her an
! tipathy Every time he had 10 put the
tlllor over her way 10 steady tho boat in
the waves he know sho shrnnk away in
spite OF herself The moro she tried to con-
ceal her mind tho more unfit did he feel
for her company and the more humbly
did he try to effaco himself in tho collect.
I've existence Of the boats crow.
Indeed, there WAS anxiety enough 10
consume his whole capability. For when
they had rowed, as be estimated, q milo OF
80 seaward, II was clear by tho drift that
they were well into the set OF the tide, and
yut, whistle as thcy would not sound of
tho luggcr could thcy got. There was moth
ing TO do but row about almost at random,
stopping every few strokes TO listen, and
pipe the signal.
For m hour the hopeless search had
continued, with the cxaspcrating oonvio.
tion that every minute tho rufiians from
whom they had so narrowly escaped wor,
so much nearer the town with the alarm
sim tho fog went drifting by ondlessly
shutting out everything from their ken e1
ccnt tho restlcss patch OF laden sea whers
they rocked and watched.
Another half hour passed. and tho piti
less persistence of the drifting fog was be
coming unbcarablo, whom spell OF row
Ing brought Thorn relief For, as they In,
on their oars and listened for tho hun
drtdth time every one heard, faint, but dis
tinct, tho quiet labor OF sweeps. Tho skip
7 mt htu fnnnn In bla lina M all a.
tened intenily,
won't you give her u whistler" whis
perod Curtis, she's there sure enough.
"Who can tollf" answered the skippu
beneath his breath
why, whnt else can 1t bef" asked tn
lieutenant impntlontly
"S'pcsing twero tho guardboaty" T,
piled Dunk.
Tho guardbontp' said tho lieutenant
taken abaok you don't mean to sn
this bcggnrly hole has got gunrdboatY''
IT'S naun but bit OF an armed sha
lop," returned tho skipper
Armed Curtis went on. "Do yo
mean she carries n CUNT"
There's no denying her bit Of
gun, returned the skipper
well, It's not likciy they Will have pu
out yet" said Curtis, glad to show
CLEAN Of comfort, 1.-THE fog Is too thiol
and besides they have hardly had time. Z"
Maybe, said tho skipper, "but lot /
how twin we had best trinklo In b
! closer md make SURE"
The boat dnnred on mora silently tho
over and with an oppressive caution. h,
fore they hud gone more than 100 ynrt
they stopped ngain and the moment IL
ours were quiet oyory one was startled l
tho shippers sharp whistle.
TO BE CONTtNtJr,n