The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1899-12-21

nestly, "but we are not appointed his
judges. Let be this time. The venge-
ance of God must oyertake"-
A wild veil came from the yacht, and
the men upon her decks gesticulated to
them frantically. The returning boat
shot from her sides and spun across
the little lagoon toward them, impelled
by desperate strokes. They leaped up
on the powders that oyershadowed
them to see what this might mean.
Out of the forest swung a squadron
of cavalry at the gallop, the men bend
ing forward in their saddles, the silt of
the shore rising in a cloud beneath their
horses flying feet, the naked blades
twinkling in their hands. At their
head rode like storm the lieutenant
and roared them on to slaughter. Half
way between the charging line and the
shore Desmond and Hilmar were
wheeling round in hopeless desperation
to flee.
A cry peeled from between the colo
nels lips, a scream kin to the agony
of the dam DER whose young the eagle
hovers, and, springing to the ground,
he rushed toward them. Two hundred
yards were still to run, and the horses
were but a furlong farther distant
What hope was there?
The clang of the iron hoofs and the
jingle of the accouterments split the ST.
lences of the shore. The rattle as
horse and rider rolled over among the
loose, shotlike stones grated out hide
ic+l 10 hnrad hrao t11-
ing of the hard ridden steeds was dis
tinct above the roar Of the charge. In
fancy the fugitives felt the hot nos
trils smoke upon them. With the furi-
Gus despair that has no hope they fed.
Another yell came from the yacht in
Jones' stentorian voice. The thud and
rumble as he ran the little carronade
down from the bow to the stern made
bass accompaniment.
'Duck, sir, duckv' he howled in the
unnatural falsetto of excitement.
"Drop behind bowlder while I riddle
'emw
Desmond flung his arm about the
girls waist and rolled with her to the
ground at the foot Of the bOwlder
that screened the ship from him. With
heaviDg breast and bursting lungs the
fugitives lay face to earth and waited
seconds that reached into cons Of
apprehension. The grinding crash of
the squadron drew down upon them
with swiftness horrible. The below
Of the 6 FOUNDER filled the air. The
scream Of the flying grapeshot sang
over their heads. Behind them the
shrieks of men and the rasp of hoof
and sword on the stones made an in
} ferno Of devilish uproar.
! They sprang to their feet and stun
bled on toward the shore, with scarce
backward look. One fleeting glance
gave them only an indistinct impress
sion Of the crimson flecked tangle out
| of which dismounted men were drag
! ging themselves slowly. Still, without
, a word they met the colonel and he
linked his hands to theirs as they ran
J The shore at last, where the boats
, PROV charged in to meet them as they
reached the sand. Hilmar was aboard
and the colonel following. Desmond
, and the remaining sailors stood beside
: her in the water for the last shove.
The men who were closing rank q
hundred yards away raised their car
; bines. A sheet of flame rolled from
| end to end of their line, and a volley
belched out at the group. In their pas
: sion Of hurry the Cossacks took note
Of no difference between friend and
: foe.
: Paul Preobeslas threw up his hands
and bounded forward with a mighty
!. leap. red blot stared upon his fore
head. He fell forward upon his hands
nor spike again. To him had come thu
8 vengeance of God indeed.
A dozen Of the prisoners rolled upoI
: the sand, calling their comrades to sta!