The Red Cloud chief., 1899-02-10
Wy CAPTAIN MARRYAT.

"a pioI'lNy
Yes, II you choose to purchase her,
there is no objection" replied a third.
Agreed: how much will you In con-
science sake ask for a pulling girl?"
II say FIVE hundred guilders,'' replied
another.
We'll, be 1t so. but on this condi-
ton, that II my share Of the booty does
not amount to so much, | am to have
her for my share, whatever 1t may be-
That's very fair" replied the other;
but I'm much mistaken IL We don't
turn more than two thousand guilders
out of the old mans chest"
What do you SAYS it agreed
shall Baetans have herr"
"Oh, yes" replied the others.
We'll, then" replied the one who
had stipulated for Mynheer Poots'
daughter, now ! am with you, heart
and soul. ] loved that girl. and tried
70 get her-I positively offered to
marry her, but the old hunks refused
me, an ensign, an officer; but now I'll
have revenge. We must not spare
him"
mo, no. replied the others.
Shall We so now, or wait till IL Is
later? In an hour or more the moon
will be up-we may be seen"
who is to see us? unless. indeed,
some one is sent for him. The later
the better, l say"
How long will IT take us to get
there?, Not hall an hour If we walk.
Suppose we start in half an hour hence.
we shall just have the moon to count
the guilders by"
That's all right. In the meantime,
I'll put a new flint in my lock, and
have my carbine loaded. l can work
in the dark"
"You are used TO it, JAN"
Eyes, ! am-and / intend this ball
to go through the old rascal's head"
"VVell, I'd rather you should kill him
than l." replied one of the others, "for
he saved my life at Middleburgh, when
every one made sure I'd die"
Philip did not want to hear any
more; he crawled behind the bushes
until he gained the grove of trees, and
passing through them, made a detour,
so as not to be seen by these miscre-
ants. That they were disbanded sol
diers, many of whom were infesting
the country, he knew well. All his
thoughts were now to save the old doe
tor and his daughter from the danger
which threatened them; and for a time
Ia. eo,nat hi. fothn, and th. avnttino
revelations of the day. Although Philip
had not been aware in what direction
he had walked when he set off from
the cottage. he knew the country well;
and now that it was necessary to act,
he remembered the direction in which
he should find the lonely house Of Myn-
heer Poots; with the utmost speed he
made his way for it, and in less than
twenty minutes he arrived there out OF
breath.
AS usual, all was silent, and the door
fastened. Philip knocked, but there
was no reply. Again and again he
knocked, and became impatient. Myn-
heer Poots must have been summoned,
and was not in the house; Philip there
fore called out. so as TO be heard
within, Maiden, il you father is out,
as I presume he must be. listen to what
| have to say am Philip V~anderdeck-
en-. But now ! overheard four
wretches, who have planned 70 murder
your father, and rob him Of his gold.
In one hour, or less, they will be here,
and ! have FASTENED to warn and pro-
tect you, if / may. / swear upon the
relic that you delivered TO me this
morning that what ] state is true"
Philip waited a short time, but re-
ceived no answer
Maiden" resumed he, answer me,
II you value that which is more dear
to o than even your fathers gold to
him. Open the casemen above, and
listen to what | have 20 say. In so
doing there is no risk; and even II It
were not dark, already have l seen
you"
A short time after this second ad-
dress, the easement of the upper win
Of the fair daughter of Mynheer Poots
was to be distinguished by Philip
through the gloom.
What wouldst thou, young sir, at
this unseemly hour? and what is II
thou wouldst impart, but imperfectly
heard by me, when thou spokest this
minute at the door,"
Philip then entered into detail OF all
that he had overheard, and concluded
by begging her to admit him, that he
might defend her.
Think, fair maiden, Of what I have
told you. You have been sold to one
Of those %reprobates, whose name ]
think they mentioned was Baetens,
The gold, ! know, you value not; but
think Of thine own dear self-suffer me
to enter the house, and think not for
one moment that my story is feigned,
swear to thee by the soul OF my poor,
dear mother, now, / trust, in Heaven,