Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1899-09-07
CHAPTER XIV.
By cHAUNcY G. HOTcHKIss
copyright. 1897. by D. Appleton & Co. All
rights reserved

lug up VI luc UlLLGI GuOuRu. Livery Cu1UR
suggested freedom, from the rolling of the
distant woodland on Long Island to the
sparkle and dance of the water which lay
between it and me, barring me from liberty
and my Unborn right to breathe the free air.
The speck that shot across the brilliant
moon path knew to be a patrol boat, and
NE, as exampled in that small floating thing,
clutched the sill with my fingers until the
casing cracked.
turned back to the others, and we ate
the balance of our meal in silence, even the
girl feeling the growing nearness of the end
and glancing furtively at each mans face in
turn.
think we sat in this state of depression
for much more than an hour, or long after
we had finished eating, and each face was
well-nigh lost in the darkness. The window
being open, no light was made, and, as there
was not breath of wind, the stiffness was
only broken by the sounds of night life with
out. There was a faint simmer of moon
light on the floor which barely gave form to
those at the table, but the only sign of ami
nation existing within doors was the glow
ing of our three pipes as we men sat asd
sucked away, each respecting the thoughts
of the others.
At length Burt spoke. II am bound to
confess that darkness looms ahead" he be-
gan, "and if make suggestion, it is not
to hint that you should take hopeless
chance in order that / may be rid of you.
Could YOU do aught with boat? have one
concealed that might be made ready in an
hour"
The spell of silence and inactivity was
broken, for the girl left her chair and
stepped softly to the window as l replied:
II have thought of boats, but only for the
Hudson side Could we 60 far and not be
picked up by another such snealling devil of
patrol as l saw yonder? Whittier shall we
60? l say we, for we it must be. l have
cast my lot with the Others
He made no answer, and rose and joined
the girl (whom I could hardly yet think OF
as a girl} at the window. But now the as
pect of nature had changed, and the fair
picture had seen below but short time
before was blurred as breath blurs cold
pane. With the quick alteration possible IN
this region and at this season, within the
hour the night had grown damp, and light,
low fog hung over the river and its banks,
SO shallow, so still, and so silvery in the
clear moonlight that it was as though
uuiet inundation had engulfed the land and
turned the world into lake. At the eleva-
ton from which viewed it, l looked down
upon it as one looks down upon the sea from
low headland. A billowy fullness lifted
here and there, slow moving and majestic,
but over it's vast extent the line betwixt Jog
and clear air was sharply drawn. No moon
track cut across this heecy ocean, no sharp
ripple broke it's surface, and breeze would
have wrecked it's strange beauty in second.
The trees rose through the vapor, clear at
their tops but invisible at their bases, and
one dead sycamore stood strongly out
against the light like the masts and rigging
Of a sunken ship. Its similarity struck me.
As ny eye caught it, like flash of light;
ming an idea shot into my brain and my
pipe snapped off at my teeth as l bit
through the stem in the intensity of my
feeling. With cry I sprang for Ames, and
gripping him by the shoulders with force
that made him cry out, l said, or rather
shouted:
II have it! I have it! Now is the time!
Will you follow me and take monstrous
chance? Look, man! Mark the fog! We
will to the boat-drift for the Phantom
cut her cable and trust to the ebb and God
above to carry US past the fleet
The phantom! For the love of God,
what phantom? Are you suddenly daft,
Thorndyke, that you see ghosts" was the
vehment return of the youth, as with
violent twist he tried to free himself from
my grasp.
''Nay, man, no ghost!" I cried, betwixt
laugh and sob, so high was my nervous ex-
element. "My ship-the schooner Phan-
tom! Have l not told you: She lies but
mile below on straight drift. See, man,
see!" said I, hurrying him to the window.
1.-The fog will be our guard! Once away,
we are safe! IT'S death to bdc here when
such a mask stands ready for our use! We
are vet alive We are not spent! Will you
risk the outcome? Let US not stand here
and see those scarlet devils hem us in like
ring of fire! Better strangle in the sweet
brine beneath the vessels keel than be
jerked into the next world by means of
rope! Never shall they dance me! How
now? Shall we sink or .wim together IN
the venture?"
was beside myself with excitement. AS
the meaning of my words, which had been
poured out in disjointed sentences, caught
the youth, he instantly took fire. We were
now all standing, and had released him
from my hold. With bound he gained the
side of his sister, who had stood like
statue as my plan was unfolding, and taking
her hand, he said:
Gertrude! Gertrude! do you follow
him? IT'S grand opening; tits like call
to life! l am for it! We have no home, and
can lose no more than is already lost If we
remain here. Will you cast your lot with
him-with us-aHd risk the danger which
can be no greater beyond than in this place?
Come, Thorndyke, make it clear; show her
tits the last resort, desperate though it be-
There was no need of argument, however,
for with one hand in that of her brother
and the other stretched toward me, she sim
ply answered: Il dare all you dare! Have
yet failed?" and stood with lifted head and
untrembling form as she spoke the words.
Out of sheer respect and admiration for
the heroism of this girl, felt like bending
my knee even as a knight bends before his
sovereign, but the practical mind of Burt
put period to any possibility of mock
heroics, for that individual asked in the
calmest of tones:
els your ship still where she has been? Is
she deserted, or, at least, is she not
guarded
"Three days ago not gasket had been
touched since the broad arrow was painted
on her bow" 1 answered. "By night she is
guarded by a single man, but that troubles
ne less than would fly on hot day. He
has seen his last sun if he thwarts me. care
not for one man nor three if can but guide
my approach. From aught I have seen
and have watched her well-nothing has
been done to her, naught carried away. She
was thought fit to go on an errand to Pigot,
only wanting in men, arms, and provisions;
even the fresh water slowed forward may
be goodv