Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-03-31

MIC thalf-past nine). replied the pos
SCISSOR of my gold watch. which he
consulted with considerable cumpla-
cencN
'Maldita." growled the others knit
ting their brows. for the dusk was
rapidly becoming darkness. and they
had no desire for killing MS. if we
could b. made profitable. have often
thought since that had Tom actually
procured and returned with the requir-
ed ransom of $500. they would have
pocketrd it and then killed us both
me most certainly. rs they seemed 10
have other views for poor Tom in the
Southern States
We have had a long spell of this
said he, in low voice. Il am going
to escape. if | can.
Escape, but how"
Il don't know exactly how yet: but
we must first have our lashings cast
off
Would to heaven they We're. Tom
My hands are 50 swollen and my
wrists 50 cut and benumbed that my
. arms are well-nigh powerless." /
whispered in a low voice like groan.
Sit with me here, in the shadow Of
this angle of rock: and now. as the
darkness is fairly set in, shall soon
make You free
BY rapid and skillful application
of his strong teeth TO the cord. which
bound my wrists. he untwisted the
knot and freed my hands: and then in
the suddenly given luxury of being
able to stretch my arms, ] almost for
got the necessity for concealing the
fact that Was now unbound.
soon found an opportunity for un-
tying Toms letters. Then We kept
our hands clasped before us. waited
and hoped scarcely knew for what
while in the further end Of this III
ner cave our detainers sat sullenly
smoking. and. by the dim lantern light,
making up cigaritos from their tobacco
pouches and those little rice-paper
books which are now prOcurable nearly
everywhere.
From the conversation OF our captors
|
genie. was visible at anchor in the
roadstead OF Santa Cruz. mile or so
distant.
Three of these Spaniards had placed
their muskcts against the wall of rock
and seemed disposed 10 doze off TO
sleep
Close 10y us lay the plank which
crossed that dread Ventana. like the in
fernal bridge Of Poulsherro. which the
Mahommedans believe crosses the sea
of fire that on the day Of doom shall
separate Good from EVIL. Tom and !
looked at it and exchanged chances of
intelligence from time To time. but
the attempt 20 rush across might prove
doublv fatal TO one or both. \ slip
of he foot would hurl us into eternity;
and if the passage We're achieved We
would be exposed TO the fire of those
we fled from and met by that of the
armed man at the mouth Of the
Srotto.
Thus our position and its perils were
somewhat complicated.
Suddenly the distant report of Il
piece of ordnance. coming from the
seaward. made us look mp ana list
en-.
lei rudo que hace el canon" (the
crack of a gun. exclaimed Il Spaniard.
scrambling mp To the lower end of
the fssure in the arch of the grotto
and looking out.
Ill 81 hot
what does it mean?" asked the other
The English brig at the anchorage
has fired ii. l see q light glitterins on
her deck. and now away it goes up TO
the foremost head"
1t is the Eugene. Master Rodney"
whispered Tom.
Can the captain he about to sail to-
night and without us" said l. with
growing dismay.
No; but he is impatient for us TO
come off lie knows well what a tar
nal slippery set OF imps these Jack
Spaniards are. and has shown light
and fired Il gun as hint for us To
look sharp.
"Companero, said one of the Span
iaIds To the ether, who was looking
out, ARE YOU sure that il is the Eng
fish brig and not ours?"
Yes; but by St Paul. there is
light burning now on the Castle de
Santa Cruz; 80 our craft had better get
her sweeps out and put to sea. even
without us Can the Senior Goberna-
dor have smell a rat -"
This announcement. though we knew
not what il referred TO, had an evident
effect on our captors. who We're proba-
bly, part of 4 slaver's crew; for they
all scrambled up To the opening in the
rocks to look out.
Now. now is the time 10 slip our
cables and run. Follow me-" said
Tom Lambourne. in hOarsc but de
termined whisper as he sprang for
ward, snatched mp two of the muskets
and rushed across the plank. tripping
as lightly as he would have done along
boom OF yard, though ii crossed a
gulf 50 terrible.