Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-01-13
HER ONE ERROR.
OR
OR
THE FISHERMAN'S BRIDE.
CHAPTER XXVII-CoNr1NUED.

wildly, and the sky glowed with an
angry red, while the waters now rock
ed to and fro, and long, low moan
sounded up from the depths, like the
dissatisfied nurmur of sleepers too
suddenly aroused.
@"The breeze is rising" said the elder
man, addressing the mate. cay, ay!
hear, / hear!' was the response; and
the mate put his hand to his ear, and
listened with an eagerness that was
painful in itsintensity, for some other
sound than those which already broke
the solemn silence of the night.
Suddenly-cl distinct, above the
moan of the wind, the hollow murmur
of the sea, the devouring roar, OF
the fire, and the crack, and fall, and
crash of stone, or beams, or stubborn
wall or rafter-was heard along, clear
whistle At it's sound, the men start
ed, and Yawmans sprang on shore.
At the same moment, a loud shout OF
many voices, in mingled rage and dis
appointment, burst upon their ears-the
sharp crack of shots were heard
horses hoofs sounded hollow along the
rocky way overhead, and the men
with one voice uttered an oath, coupl-
cd with the exclamation OF "The
coastguard!"
Their cutlasses flashed momenta
an the red light as each drew his weap-
on, but the mate signed to them to be
calm, while he never turned eye nor
earfrom the one spotaon which they
had been set, as he leaped from the
boat to shore. He stood, one hand
grasping a pistol, the fingers of the
other in the belt clasped round his
body, and in which also glittered the
steel Of a, weapon similar to that of
MS comradeS
AS if forewarned Of the precise spot
where danger might be expected, or
defence needed, he stood, one foot a
ait6te in advance, his eyes fixed upon
tae loose boulders of rock that lay APP
parently pell-mell at the foot Of the
perpendicular. sea-Wall-his teeth set,
his breath, coming thick and hard,
ais huge frame immoyable as q stat
die.
Again, and this time nearer, sound
ed the whistle, and light cleaned be-
tween the crevices on which the eye Of
the mate were set. Hesprang forward,
with O. mighty effort hurled aside the
mass of loose stone which had con-
eeaied the entrance of the cave, and
from it's dark passage rushed Saul
Meghorn. blackened and disfgured,
his hair and clothes in wild disorder,
flushed by haste, and his eyes flash
ing wildly.
"Stand aside!" he shouted; 'tstand
nj ETTl,ovr ,7Yoo1~ NV hoo1c ho
3loodhounds! But have done them!
The fire at the other entrance, and
ahi they are here?"
At the moment, confused murmur
sounded down the vaulted passage,
tight cleaned OF itsr ROCKY sides. Saul
stopped, and fired twice in quick sue
oession. There was cry, o groan, a
hasty murmur of men-With 4 united
effort the huge boulders were thrust
to their places, and the two made
with aii'speed for the boat.
%Quick! quickP' repeated Saul, as
they hurried along; "they are upon us
on all sides. The alarm was given at
tlae.station below-the cutters man
nia3g--the men are mastering, he add
ed, witaa on oath; ;'but they have mis-
taken their game"
They reached the boat-even in
shat monaent Of panic the men utter
cd u subdued cheer, IS their Tonga alb
sent captain once more greeted their
sight; and the pirate thrilled with
something OF the old feeling as he seat.
ed himselfin the stern Of the boat,
and Yawmans, leaving him to steer,
beat a vigorous arm to the oar.
Swiftly they sped along-cleared
the bay, and boldly struck into the
open space.
Mat ventured q syllable OF remon-
STRANGE, but was silenced, less by a
word than by the awful expression
which accompanied it, and the fierce
determination, almost supernatural,
that seemed to burn in every feature
of the outlaw.
-fBah!a he went on, and the words
seemed ground out between his closed
teeth. II tell you nothing will touch
us this night fear nothing. III l
gured them out Ghus, it was but to
give them a parting farewell; and by
all the flames of the fiery furnace, I've
lit a blaze yonder that will serve them
80 talk of for many a day"
He pointed with his extended arm
60 where they could now see the full
extent of the confagration. The fire
mad settled down to fixed and steady
glow, andby it's light they saw the hay
oc it had already worked upon that
which had been the home of Meghorn;
filed and furnished for his hard-won
sSrize, his dainty bride.
1t was roof1ess now, and in and out
y3he rafters ran the rude flames, and
lacked, and sprawled, and tumbled
over in their wild gambols, now and
again flarings up brightly to a clear
pyramid offire, lighting the country
far and wide.
The few shrubs that stood near were
already scorched and shrivelled to the
earth; the aouthouses had been de-
stroyed more summarily by the ex-
piosion; while a strange sight present.
ed itself, in the appearance OF one
long, creeping line, distinct from the
burning mass, which crawled, like a
fiery snake along the surface. OF the