Willmar tribune., 1899-09-20
Copyright, 1897, by D. Aphleton & CO. All
f. rights reserved ss@5 s.
CHAPTER XvIII-CoNr1ruEp.
BY cHAUNcY G. hOTcfiKlsS

rights reservedl e.,-as. \ S:
.$.; : CHAPTER xviii CONTINUED.
As time went, we saying little or nothing
tetwixt US, / marked our followers growth
as she drew on. Little by little out came the
details Of her canvas, and, as picked point
after point, there dawned on me the almost
certainty that our pursuer was none other
than the Sprite, the last vessel Of his mai
ssty's fotilla / cared to meet. 49,. :.
From the, deck of the Ajax I had been
Informed of the Sprite's absence on patrol,
and through the whole morning had held
In my mind the dread of meeting her, only
feeling safe from that particular craft since
noon. Probably, she had been sneaking un-
Ger easy sail along the Long Island coast,
and had only fairly sighted Us after the
westering sun had thrown broad light on
our canvas. Then with keen nose for
anything less than three-decker, she had
riled on her clothes the sooner to come by
about what business trader, had to sail
the kings sea without being under convoy.
dared not unfold my suspicious, but the
girl, with the eye of hawk and, the in
ssinct of woman, saved the necessity.
Turning to me after long and searching
look at our pursuer, she said:
"Capt. Thorndyke, that vessel looks like
the one that took me from Philadelphia to
New York. I hardly know why think
80, but fear me 'tis the same.'
cay" answered, hoarsely, ri have that
fear, and God help us if they overhaul us, as
they are like to do, barring miracle! Have
you aught to offer, Ames?" said I, address,
ing her brother, whose face had taken on a
look of hardness the like of which I had
marked at the Dove when he was posing as
an old man.
"Nay, friend" he returned, suddenly fall
ing into the Quaker style of speech, and
without taking his eyes from the vessel
astern-.'nay, friend, l have but light
knowledge of sea possibilities. To run as
thee be running means to be beaten in the
race. Thee has head for tricks. Are thee
lost? If so, there is but one thing for thee
und me-" And turning his eyes to mine, he
made a quick gesture toward the water,
which motion thought was unobserved by
the girl. But was wrong in my surmise.
Has it come to this them" she ejacu-
lated with sudden terror in face and voice.
"Am to be left alone and at the mercy of
those yonder?-Bever]y! brother! you will
not commit suicide and leave me without a
protector!-Donald Thorndyke,' she con-
,inued, her terror giving place to an i'm
periousness royal in it's effect, "you have
sworn not to desert me! Are you nerveless
at last? Nay, I know You too well. I ask
your pardon" she faltered with bend of
her head and rapid change to humility;
II am wrong. Better give back to the Al
mighty direct the life He gave you rather
than have those yonder, if enemies they be,
take the giving into their merciless hands.
] was wrong. / let the woman in me speak
first. Your, burden is greater than mine!"
Ard with this she placed both hands to her
face and sobbed aloud.
listened in silence to this outburst with
its shifting emotions. There was no an
swer to make. The blackness of the last few
days seemed to gather and settle itself over
me like pail. We had been on the brink of
safety, the threshold of content, honor and
success, and to see the prizes snatched
away at this late hour was beyond human
endurance, The ssoftness of the air. the
mellowing light, the silky yelling on the
sky above us, and the lively sparkle of the
ocean, suddenly changed from gay congrat-
ulation to hideous grin of irony and malice.
Without word in return I grasped the
spokes of the wheel with my whole heart
seemingly bent on meeting each surge in a
manner to save our speed. To comfort the
girl was beyond my power even had it lain
in my province, and in real life no man,
fancy, ever juggles with the truth (be it
never so bitter) while looking squarely into
The face of death.
Neither did Ames go to his sisters rescue.
AS though to let her gather the full import
of the future, he stood apart, only saying,
as the poor girls sobbing decreased: ''There
is God in Heaven, and what must be-,
must be-"
If, however, I had remained silent it was
rot because l was stunned, for, though my
tongue was dumb, my brain was active
enough. There was one chance in a million
that our pursuer was not the Sprite, or
even one of the British fleet. If so, well.
Ii not, would sell myself at such a price
that there would be but little triumph for
them over my carcass. Turning at last to
Ames, I said:
"Until it be made certain that we be lost
to one another, shall hold my life as dearly
as ever. The mere capture of the schooner
unless that fellow astern be the Sprite-
need not bring despair. We will run as long
as run we can, and then fight; after that the
action of each lies with his own conscience.
As for me, I shall not be hanged from q
British prison, but I swear again that while
you or your sister live and can lift an arm
for either will still cling to the breath God
mas given me. If, becoming powerless, 1
choose to cheat the rope, I will but be Ike
many captain who goes down with his
ship take. it 'twould be no common sui
tide, for my honor would not have suf
fcred. = ssS g, s> p n. zs: IS