Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1899-09-14
CHAPTER xv1.-CoNrrsuEp.

"A llSHteu lantern uunS from Cdrllne, the
remains of a meal were spread on the table,
and there, half reclining in a bunk and with
his head in a bandage, was Capt. Scammell,
haggard from fever and somewhat the
worse from liquor, while on the transom
Lounsbury, of Rye, late risen from the dead.
Here, then, were my two arch-enemies;
probably the only living souls whose animos-
ity toward me was both of personal and
political nature, saving perhaps that of
Clinton himself. Possibly my gorge would
have risen sooner against Scammell than at
the man by his side, though the latter was
none the less villain and it seemed as
though fate, having given me friends when
in need, had guided me thither to test my
mettle to extremity.
Giving no thoughts to those in the boat, I
settled myself to hear the opening dialogue
of the two, for it Immediately transpired
that Lounsbury had but just arrived.
"My God! l thought you would never
come" were the first words by Scammell.
'What news do you bring?"
None to warrant grim was the an
swer. y can give We no end O advice,
though, an tits to get from this an have it
out wi Clinton while there's yet chance"
damn your advice! What's your news?"
"Well, Belden goes scot free, an is back
in favor an on the Sprite. He lays the
fault O palming off that devil Thorndyke to
We. He says We called Thorndyke by my
name in the tavern yard, and that he is in
nocent of all fraud"
Course the stunted coward! And is not
Thorndyke caught? or-or-the girl or her
brother?"
"Nay, but peg worse. Thorndyke has
blamed Lowney, whom ye must know, and
then escaped, God knows how, being mixed
up with a Quaker at STRIKERS tavern on the
road. Stryker was arrested, but afterward
let 60, for he was not thought to have had a
finger in the pie. As for the boy an girl,
naught has been seen O. them-not smell
and there We have all know. They say
the girl is in the woods to the north, but
she may ha' gone to Heaven by this!"
what? what?" said Scammel, starting
Up, but sinking back with curse as he
placed his hand on his bandaged head. ''In
the woods! known to be there and not
taken! Are We all cursed babies en- the
trail? Fore God, you are right! | was
fool to fly at shadow! TIL back to Gin
ton and plead fever to explain my absence.
I'll back with you this night. The first tale
told is the best! Is it not known whose
name she mentioned to Clinton?'
NAY, man, she gave no name that can
find Clinton but suspcioned ye. Go to
him, an yer not fool, while l bide here
the while. What made We pick this spot to
hide in?" he continued, carelessly passing
his hand over the smooth woodwork of the
bulllhead.
Because twas right beneath their noses,
and the guard was in my pay. In faith,
Lounsbury," he went on, with something
like relief in the easing away of his body and
the long breath he took while he laid his
hand on the brace of pistols sticking in his
helt, "there was another reason, one with
money"
"Ah! what?' interrupted the other, sud
denly withdrawing his wandering hand and
bending eagerly forward.
GAY, the reward, you know; I'm nigh
done up for cash That and revenge, for,
mind you, thought that Thorndyke might
take it into his head to come aboard his own
ship, thinking, like me, it was the least
likely place to be searched. His paper gave
me the idea 1 hoped to lie by here until
the trouble blew over, or roll in the glory
Of taking the hound if he came. He is equal
TO attempting a surprise, but was ready
for him. The guard is none too bright; had
you not better step up and take look
about?" And with this he patted the
cleaning pistol stocks and looked toward
the companion way.
"There will be no guard to meet him this
night" answered Lounsbury with laugh
which also betokened relief. Il let him go
till SUNRISE and his musket lies fog-soaked
on the deck, the ass! Ye have the vapors.
We be safe enough. The fog lies like fleece,
but-but-"
"But what, you fool?' was the irritable
rejoinder.
II meant twas a new thought, that O
the chance O his coming. Ne'er mind. Go
We ashore with the guard when he gets back,
and I'll bide here against Thorndyke'
boarding the schooner"
For moment or two there was silence,
and during it l fancied 1 could trace the
working of the minds of both; Scammell's
bent on the probable result of delivering
himself to Clinton, and Lounsbury's on the
dawning chance to get his finger on my gold
still safe in the bulkhead. Presently the
cayalrvman smote his knee with his fist and
broke out:
"N1y God! why-why did not spit the
fellow while l had the chance two days
since, or shoe. him? Why did not know
him for spy? 'Twould have saved all this!
Is there no trace of him.
''None since he passed the lines an put
Lowney to sleep. They tell me he killed the
green sentinel with his fist. Faith, my head
aches at the thought O him, an We may
thank God the ever was cracked, else
twas your skull that broke an not the
pitcher. By the powers above, l begin to
fear him, an ye-
.Shut up!" was the ungracious answer.
"IIand out the bottle and help me get on
deck for air. hate this hole! l have been
buried three days." And with this Scam
nell struggled into sitting position, reach
ing out his hand for the dram Lounsbury
was already pouring.
Now that l had these two at saber's
length, it went against me to think of their
coming on deck and possibly spelling the
plans had already Matched in their behalf.
Slipping from my cover, | crawled over the
cabin house and got to the door. There
was lock on it, but the key had long since
gone and I had been used TO make shift
of fastening the companion by paddock,
hasp, and staple. As felt over it | missed
che paddock, though hasp and staple were
still intact. While fumbling for my knife
to use as bolt, in the light from the cabin
window l caught the CLINT of a musket iy-
ing along the deck under the tarpauiln, and,
quickly unshipping its bayonet, thrust the
steel through the iron loop, and the two be-
low We're prisoners. There was another door
in the cabin, but it opened into small space,
or tween decks" and l knew mass of
lead had been piled aft and against it to
give the vessel proper trim, so that mode
of egress was blocked.
My scheme was simple enough. l would
now 90 the whole pace and take with me