Willmar tribune., 1899-09-27
copyright, 1897. by D. Appleton & Co All
rights reserved]
CHAPTER XK-CoNr1NUEp.
By ctiAUNcY G. HoTcHKlss

copyright. 1897. by D. Appleton & Co All
rights reservedl
CHAPTER XIX.-CoNr1NUED.
Saving the two shots from the first boat,
not small arm had been fred by them up
to this time, their determination to carry
the vessel by cold steel alone being apparent
all through the attack. As my eye ranged
over the circle of men that spread about us
and hemmed us to the taffrail (yet for all
their numbers were held off by the COM
mand of their oficer), saw many face
we'll known to me ashore, but not one ex-
pressing an atom of mercy. With a watch
full look l anticipated any possible onset,
and yet through all the pent vigor of tight
ened nerves and stitfened muscles my gaze
played beyond their lines and marked the
details of the surroundings.
The broad ocean lay almost like glass save
for the regular heave that passed over it like
q wave over the surface of molten metal.
OFF our starboard beam was an upturned
boat floating lazily away, it probably having
been stove or capsized by the hatch had
cast into it, and near it drifted the hatch
itself. On deck the fallen canvas covered the
vessel amidships, and aloft the ragged stump
of the topmast, standing clear against the
dappled sky, looked like pine shivered by
lightning. A profound silence had fallen
where moment before had been a din of
shouts and crashing timber-profound save
for dull humping forward, which knew
came from the prisoners, who were thus sig
mailing for release. The moment was near
at hand when I should pass my soul to it's
Maker, and yet, though tie resolve was as
strong as ever, wavered, not in fear of the
next world, but dreading the terrible strug-
gle that would come when healthy body
like mine wrestles in the grip of suffocation.
If our captors could not be goaded into
shooting me, nothing was left but to cast
myself into the sea, and this I would not do
SO long as the young Quaker stood at my
side.
A sudden cry from the bow, soon followed
by the sound of metal striking metal, told
me that the prisoners were out and being
freed from their irons. Belden, without
vouchsafng to answer my defiance, hung
hesitating, evidently awaiting the arrival
of his superior to direct future movements
Disarmed save for the bare steel in our
hands, we were an easy prey to him Lad our
deaths now been his object; but as there
had been no show of force after boarding u.s.
the peppery royalist, still smarting from the
disgrace under which had been the means
of placing him, felt sure of his ultimate tri-
umph over me, and, giving the order to hold
us where we stood, turned toward the point
of the disturbance forward and hurried off,
l was step in advance of Ames, who still
leaned against the wheel, when I heard his
voice in my ear.
'There's fair chance for leap, Donald"
lie whispered. "The last tie is gone. Be
thee ready"
"Nay, lad," answered softly. eve are
not yet parted. I still hang to my oath. I
have seen nothing of Gertrude. Where can
she be-"
'She is past the sight of this, thank Cod"
lie returned. "She is dead, man; dead and
gone, and we will soon follow her. l saw
her.
Again he was interrupted, this time by
wild yell from the bow, and the man who ut
tered it started aft chased by half dozen
marines. 1t was Scammell. With little
upon him save shirt and his small clothes,
he broke through the half circle that COM
Tassed US, halting just within its limits. He
was horrible object. His hair hung tan
gled over his shoulders; his eyes were fierce
and bloodshot; his lace was distorted by
rage, and it's pallor was startling. Without
a word of warning he called me vile name,
and with an oath raised pistol he had
probably snatched from some one and, level
ing it at me, fired. The ball passed betwixt
my body and elbow without touching the
skin, but it struck Ames, who was just be.
Find me. heard deep groan as the youth
fell to the deck, his head striking the plank
ing with heavy blow, and number of
hands sprang upon the infuriated officer and
dragged him backward.
It was done in an instant. The shock and
suddenness of the attack came like thun-
derbolt, and yet retained my presence Of
mind. With my eye still fixed on my ene-
mics, stopped to one knee and felt for the
hand of my friend, calling on him to speak;
but no sound came to my repeated appeal,
and the hand found gave no answering
pressure. He was dead past doubt, and had
ner unknown to me, had gone before hin..
It was the eliminating wave of disaster,
and for the moment felt like sinking be-
meath it. Within a quarter hour by vio-
lence I had been bereft of my two COM
panions, and thus was suddenly freed from
my obligation to live. With none left for
whom to combat, surrounded by triumphan:
enemies, and before me ruin in the shape Of
the moose, it was now my right, as well as
considered duty, to preserve myself from the
disgrace of being hanged as spy. 'Twould
he but short struggle, moments wild
agony, perhaps, and then the end. I braced
myself for the ordeal. Rising to my feet,
] gave last glance around, my eye taking in
the vast sweep of the sea, on deck the ma
r,nes still wrestling with the murderous
royalist, and, hurrying aft, Belden, followed
by Lounsbury. Then turning my thoughts
aloft, had a revelation, without the
slightest mental effort, without the slightest
bending Of the mind toward any refuge this
side of the great unknown, a possible
probable-way of escape opened before me.
As the angel of the Lord at the last moment
called on Abraham to desist from the sacri-
fee Of his son, so burst this light out Of
Trick darkness and showed me my work was
rot yet finished. More than willing was to
grasp this more than chance. As though a
stone had been rolled from my chest, I took
a deep breath, and quickly unloosing my
helt, threw both cutlass and scabbard to the
deck, then turning, with a stride I reached
tie rail and cast myself headlong into the
sea.
CHAPTER Xxx.
THE SHELL OF THE DINGY.
Never was my love of life or the cer-
tainty of my saving it greater than when I
shot beneath the surface of the ocean. Like
. plummet I went down, the air bubbles