Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-06

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The ball struck Ames.
the necessity of the order thus brutishly
gwen, as clear as the order itself rose the
voice Of Seammel.
Look, look, Belden! Damn me, but
thought | had brought down buzzard in
missing the hawk, when, after all, | have
struck but peg lower than Thorndyke him
self! BY the crime of Judas, wish it had
been the other way! If this young, old
broad -brim be not Beverly Ames, I'll lose
fifty pounds to any one of you! Quick, man!
See he is not dead! Fore God, but mayhap
be can yet give us some news of his sister
Overheard he goes mott Dead or alive, he
must be taken to Clinton, else your com
mission is in dangerl Know you not that
ne is connected with Mrs Badely? Send off
Tor hepl Is not that long legged lrishman
set aboard you?"
Here number of voices joined in and
turned to a confused roar all words at once
following In the space of a few minutes |
heard a boat putting away from the side, the
thud Of oars in the water making jar on my
car drums almost painful. For a time there
reigned comparative silence, and then came
what was doubtless a marines report
The hold is clear of all life, sir. Nawthin'
ut lead below, an cabin an force sic all
cleaned out barrin' some arms an the cap
tain's old clothes"
"How's this, Scammell?' said Belden, evi-
IDENTIFY turning to that officer We saw
three men aboard, and but two are ac-
counted for Thorndyke has gone to hell
ever the side, and this lad of yours is like to
JON him by another route! Where's the
thrd?'
There was no third, came the sharp
response. Two it was that smothered us
Eclow. | know of none other! no more does
Lounsbury.
Nay" said that worthy, speaking for
the first time, and with thick burr to his
speech, there was never more than four
legs to the lot Mayhap that giant split
h sself in two for the sake O looks-there
was enough o him, Thank God for his loss!
| wouAi ne CT sleep easy again KNOWN HIM
alive.
Here words fell to a murmur until Louns-
bury again spoke, evidently addressing him
self to the one who was in authority on
beard:
Now | take it, leftenant. that by rights
this craft is mine
yours, We toasted mug" demanded the
unknown voice What mean ye?"
"Ay only be right o prize mean" was
the answer Twas | who first laid hand
on her, an got split skull for my pains,
an not damn sovereign to help heal 1t,
Eeithcr SO much glory as shines from the
tuttons O yer coat. Prize be cussed! Now,
II yer capting wills to let me take her into
port-as came nigh doing awhile agone-
twill 90 far to put me right with the adj
miralty an get me a job, mayhap, like that
lost through Thorndyke takin' my name,
damn his soul! Dye see"
"Ay, | see, We sweep And is that all?
No prize money!?
"Ay, all, all Only to sail her home; no
more"
mo more, Ell? Ye are a cursed deep
villain, but I'll touch the captain on it. Go
get the CRIME from your face and look less
like toad Had he seen you, twas no
wonder Thorndyke launched himself over
the rail- What now, Scammell? Does the
lad still liveg,
"IIe lives, indeed" was the answer, 'but
whether or no he will bide long | cannot
saw He was better on deck than he is be-
Low The cabin still stinks. | hope twill
j At be forever before the doctor gets here.
was he druns at mess? 1t is possible he can
i Id the lads life long enough to allow him
= speak he does little now but moan"
At this the two walked forward, and
heard nothing but the coarse voices of the
marines as they sang out to one another or
laughed uncouthly.
The knowledge that Ames stil lived gave
me quick sense of relief-a relief which
fled on the instant as thought of the prob
able future in store for him My own posi-
ton was infinitely better than his, even were
he not suffering from wound, and, as for
mis- sister, after all was done, was she not
better of than either? But was she dead?
Ii not, what could have become of her?
had heard that the vessel had been searched
without finding a trace Of the third party
to whom Belden had referred. On seeing all
was lost, was il possible that She had thrown
herself overheard that she might not wit
ross her brothers tragic end! 1t was like
her Ii would have been an act showing
bcr strength Of character, as well as the
Weakness OF her sex; natural recol from
hyacal and mental suffering without
parpoSc; a heroic selfsaeriiice 1t were as
well she had not suffered captivity and
loug-drawn misery. With her brother at
deaths door, Or perhaps saved TO die by
military law, her property contiscated, with
cut a home or relatives and at the mercy of
Clutons heartless mistress, life would have
held no more Tor her than the doubtful ben
fit Of mere existence in confinement for an
indefinite period
And yet was my reason against the idea of
her self.destrueton. There was mystery in
her disappearance, but its solution lay not in
tnat. The attacking party had boarded us
from either side, yet not an eye had seen her
east herself into the sea. There was more
than this to make me doubtful. For her
Lrother's sake she had sacrificed herself be
fore Clinton, yet on my hand was placed
her last kiss Had she left the world thus,
without word to him, without warning to
ne! 1t was unnatural, unholy; it was mon
strous to think Of, and yet The possible
solution Of the riddle as it drove into my
Grain had scarce time to find Judgment be-
fore it was put to flight by the voice of Bel
Cen, which seemed TO come from directly
overhead, his words showing that the con-
tlnuance Of my present safety was not as
sured.
Think You that diney could be hauled
aboard and repaired Twas a neat shot,
aud the ball seems to have cleft her like a
lnife."
so it looks, came an answer, but I'll
warrant youth find her full of assures. The
work viii barely repav the trouble Better