Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-03-06
CHAPTER ii.
Flight and Pursuit.

SIlhI- EN- IL.
Flight and Pursuit.
The boys first thought was that
Capt. Beeman was trying to scare him
a little as a practical joke.
Then, discovering that the brig was
really standing down the harbor, the
truth dawned upon him!
Beeman was taking him to sea with
him for that long voyage to the Paci-
fic!
Pounding upon the door, he cried:
Let me out Capt. Beeman, or it will
be the worse for you'll"
No response was made to him, no no.
tice whatever taken Of him.
Il see," he gasped Capt. Beeman
has agreed to make way with mel"
He examined his surroundings. Now
that his eyes had become accustomed
to the gloom he could see that the
stateroom was filled with all sorts of
cheap gewgaws for barter with the ma
tives OF the Pacific islands. Among
other things he noticed small cannon
mounted on an awkward wooden car
riage.
Loading this with the accompanying
ammunition, he trained the muzzle on
the stateroom door and fired. The
close room shook with the impact, the
thick portfolio glass was shivered and
the air was filled with choking smoke.
But through the smoke the boy saw
the door was battered down, and stag
gering forth, he gained the deck.
Seize him!" yelled Capt. Beeman.
1t was easier said than done. Catch
ing sight OF a piece of loose board,
Willie seized it and leaped into the
water, determined to rescue himself by
swimming.
Thunder and lightning!" cried Capt
Beeman, startled beyond expression.
After that boy, two or three of you!
A hundred dollars to the man who first
overtakes him!"
Three men leaped overheard and
swan in pursuit of the boy, while the
brig was hove to and a boat lowered
After a swim of twenty yards Willie
reached a spar-buoy, to which he
clung, facing his pursuers.
Where is he?" asked the captain.
'Yonder at the spar-buoy."
Il see the little rascal" commented
the captain ordering his rowers to ad-
vance rapidly. Guess he thinks it's
time to be moving. All, there he
goes!"
He's making for the topmast of that
sloop that was sunk in the recent gale"
resumed the captain. There, he has
reached it. Pull in quickly now, men.
Thunder! he's gone!"
Gomez" echoed all the rowers in
chorus.
Yes, gone!" and Beeman sprang to
his feet, bending forward. He fell
back into the water and went down
like a stone, without the least sound
or movement! Pull for your lives!"
He may have had a cramp." sug-
gested one of the men, looking around
in the rapidly increasing darkness.
"In any case, he's gone!" returned
Beeman.
The letter Willie had brought to Mrs.
Lyman was horror. In it Major Topp
told her he had long been supporting
her and Ruth, as the estate of his late
partner had been exhausted year pre-
vious And he wound up by telling her
that he could support her no longer
unless she consented to marry him.
"If there isn't Major Topp now" she
exclaimed He's coming this way
and intends to call. He can't mean to
turn us out of doors tonight, can he?"
She became very pale as did Mrs.
Lyman as Major Topp reached the gate
and advanced toward the steps with an
evil glow on his saturnine face and
with a manner full of extreme satisfac-
ton.
GO into the house, mamma" re-
quested Ruth, marking Mrs. Lyman's
agitation. Leave him to mel"
Mrs. Lyman complied to gain a mo-
ments time in which to calm her feel
ings before seeing the unwelcome call
| er.
MY mother begs to be excused, Ma
jor Topp," said Ruth. placing herself
In the doorway. "She does not wish
to see you. She has received your let
ter. which is enough should think,