The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-08-19
CHAPTER xvH.-CoNrMuED.

Nli=AA 4 liz = AON Aisps
| had worked with feverish haste know.
ing that the outcome OF this episode with
the Ajax would terminate for good or evil
in a mighty short time. Once they ran of
our track we would be comparatively safe
though, to lessen this possibility, | sur
msed that they would themselves be
guided by the drift, only using their oars
that they might make their speed greater
than that OF the schooner BY 50 following
they might hope TO overtake Us, and doubt
less would have done so only we were now at
the point where the rush Of the Hudson
meets that Of the Sound river, and the rips
and whirlpools formed by the minglng Of
these waters Off and below Nutten's island
were constantly creating counter streams
and cross currents that shifted and spun
with the minutes, ever changing and never
at rest save at the brief intervals Of slack
water, on the turning of the tides
Beyond the gurghng and rushing OF the
stream not sound could now hear,
though once or twice | was sure | caught
the humping Of oars i'm their tholes and
heard voices OF men, But II ! did they went
wide OF Us, for the minutes swung into half
an hour at least, and the half hour into a
whole one, yet nothing OF the boats from
the Ajax did | see.
And now took deep breath and moved,
for during this time OF terrible suspense we
on deck had barely stirred. Not sound
had come from below. nor had an attempt
to uncover the windows been made, and
yet | knew one man had a broken nose from
musket butt and both must be pressed
for want OF air Mistress Gertrude still sat
or the cabin top, and erouched low near the
companion door, with pistol in hand was
he brother.
As patient as was this girl, she was human
ilesh and a delicate blt OF femninity at that.
The cabin top could not be made perma.
nont quarters for her and, though believe
she would have collapsed from sheer eXhaus.
ton ere Offering word Of complaint it was
an uncalled-for sacrifice for her to remain
longer unsheltered and seated on bare, hard
plankng Up to the present comfort had
not been considered. but now that imme.
date danger was past. ! turned my thoughts
TO the young lady, and cast about for a re.
treat 10 which she might retire. Save the
hold or the iorecastle, no spot was avail
able, and either would be repugnant 10 one
oi her fastidous tastes. Still, shelter she
must have; | would see to il presently, but
aOw ! became more than curious 10 know
What devment was meant by the continued
silence of the two desperate men Gagged in
the cabin.
II struck me that the quiet. coupled with
what had gone before, might bear a mighty
significance, and going softly TO corner OF
the tarpaulin, | quickly threw it up and
looked in. The light was out. Drawing
back out Of range | called Scammcll by
name aud then Lounsbury, but received no
reply. Putting the threat OF death in my
demand for an answer, | still received moth.
ing IA -eturn; so clambering to the cabin
top, | laid my ear above a headlight TO
catch sound of movement within, but had
hardly taken my position when both nose
and lungs were assailed by such mixed
stencil OF burned powder, lamp SCOT, rum
and foulness in general as to almost turn
my stomach. though il at once cleared up the
mystery.
Here. now. was my threat to stifle them
carried out better than | knew Dragging
of the tarpaulln ! pushed away the hatch
cover, drew the bayonet from the staple
forced back the companion slide and en-.
tered The first thing did was 10 stumble
over mans body on the floor. and then
turned aud got 10 the deck, for the air in
IN, cabin was more than | could at once
endure Letting the place clear for a little,
fetched the galley lantern and went down
once more. The cabin was yet filed with a
heavy blue mist, and the sulphurous fumes
were choking l.ounsbury lay on the floor
with his face covered with blood, apparent
Is dead, both eyes being swollen and ri,
fountenance blackened beyond recognition
His companion sat on the cushioned tran
som, iammed into n corner betwXt a berth
and the bulkhead. lie was unconscious
and, with his tongue hanging out, wal
breathing feeby. Physically he was alive
but, through liquor and foul air was =
dead drunk that nothing could have rouseC
him. Three empty brandy bottles Ia,
about together with Scammell's saber,
broken sword, pistols and tobacco pipes
vhile on the table, the cotton cover OF which
was burned to ashes, were the remains OF
icathern powder pouch rent by explosion.
No wonder they had succumbed IL
their tipsiness, or through the carelessnes
OF desperation they had fred their ammuni
ton, the amount not having been sufiicen'
TO cause more than the muiilcd blow an,
Dash | had heard and seen on the instan
OF our beng hailed by the Ajax. This, will
The smoke of the previous firing, togcthe
with the heat and closeness OF the quarters
had created a smudge and foulness in which
none but a drunkArd could have lived
minute. They had evidently been deep IL
some scheme 70 blow open the forward doc
(which showed signs of attack when
spark from pipe caused the plot to haras
.Ec plottcrs Lounsbury had been the chic