The Red Cloud chief., 1898-06-24
A Brave Coward.
BY Robert Louis Stevenson.
CHAPTER II.-lContinncd
BY Robert Louis Stevenson.

CHAPTER ll.-(Continucd,D
My wife and |, a man and a woman.
nave often agreed to wonder how a per.
son could Ec at the same time so hand.
sone and So repulsive as Northmour.
He had the appearance OF a finished
gentleman; his face bore every mark
or Intelligence and courage, but you on
~ had to look at him. even in his most
amiable moment. to see tina. ne had
the temper of a slave captain.
never knew a character that was
both explosive and r%evengeful to the
same degree; he combined the vivacity
OF the South with the sustained ana
deadly hatreds of the North; and both
traits were plainly written IN his :ace,
which was a sort of danger signal. In
person he was tall, strong and active;
his hair and complexion very dark his
features handsomely designed, but
spoiled by a menacing expression.
At that moment he was somewhat
paler than by nature; he wore a heavy
frown; and his lips worked. and he
looked sharply round as he walked like
a man besieged with apprehensions.
And yet | thought he had a look of
triumph underlying all, as though he
had already done much, and was near
the end Of an achievement.
Partly from a scruple of deliCacy-
which | dare say came too ~latc-partly
from the pleasure of startling an ac-
quatntance, | desired TO make my pres
ence known to him without delay.
got suddenly to my feet, and step
ped forward.
"NOrthmour." said I.
have never had so shocking a sur
prise in all my days. He leaped on me
without a word; something shonc in
his hand; and he struck for my heart
with a dagger. At the same moment
j knocked him head over heels. Wheth-
er it was my quickness, or his own I'M
certainty, | know not: but the ,>lade
only grazed my shoulder. while the
hit and his fist struck me violently
on the mouth.
fled, but not far. | had often and
often observed the capabilities of the
sand hills for protracted ambush on
stealthy advances and retreats; and,
not ten yards from the scene of the
scuiAe, pumped down again upon the
grass. The lantern had fallen and gone
out. But what was my establishment
to see Northmour clip at a bound into
the pavilion, and hear him bar the
door behind him with n clang of iron!
He had not pursued me. He had run
away. Northmour. whom | knew for
the most implacable and daring of
men, had run away.
AS | thus stood transflxed with
wonder, | began to grow painfully con-
scious of the injuries | had received
in the %scuiile; | skulked around among
the sand hills; and, by q devious path.
regained the shelter of the wood. On
the way, the old nurse passed again
within several yards of me, still car
rying her lantern, on the retur jour
ney to the mansion house of Graden.
This made n seventh suspicious feature
In the case. Northmour and his guests,
1t appeared, were to cook and do the
cleaning for themselves, while the old
woman continued to inhabit the big
empty barrack among the policies.
There must surely be great cause for
secrecy, when so many Inconvenience
were confronted to preserve It.
So thinking, | made my way to the
den. For greater security. | trod GU
the embers Of the fire, and lit my lam
tern to examine the wound upon my
shoulder. II was a trifing hurt,
though it bled freely, and | dressed it
as well as | could flor its position made
1t difficult to reach with some rags
and cold water from the spring. While
j was thus busted, | mentally declar-
ed war against Northmour and his
mystery.