The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-06-17

W uuvc W tuChAU
1.-THE question rather d, What are
You doing in our cavsf" said he in per.
feet English and with q purity of &C.
cent which Guthrie had not expected
to hear from man Of his color
"We've missed one Of our ships
company" answered the young man.
Again the three others. who seemed
to act az sort Of chorus to the lean
man, INDUCED in an amused laugh.
But the spokesman kept his grim stare
unrelated.
"Are there any more besides you
twof" he asked.
"No. said Guthrie.
don lie now, replied the man sus-
piciously.
The undergraduate retorted botly
that he was net in the habit Of lying
and asked again if they had seen his
shipmate
"What sort Of man Is he3" queried
the spokesman "Fat chapf Stolid sort
Of party. eh3"
Guthrie admitted with smile that
that sounded like him.
"Then Mr.. Whatever your name,
you needn't hunt around any longer.
Your mans here, and I'll tell you an-
other thing, he showed more pluck than
you when be got q gun barrel poked At
aim. He didn't even wink-atood like
tree"
II believe you, returned the young
man lightly. "He isn't the sort Of man
you could brighten easily. He's not ex-
citable, you see-I am-thats just the
difference. But say, whoever you are.
wish you'd bear hand and help US
mp on to dry land again. It's precious
cold standing here between wind and
water, and the lady can't swim, or I
wouldn't ask you"
1.-THE lady exclaimed the lean me-
gro in surprise. "Why, go it is 4 wo-
mani I'm sure beg her pardon, but,
in Der mans clothes and in this dim re-
ligious light I confess hadn t tumbled
to the fact that we'd got female COM
pany. You hear that, boys2 Off with
your toppersl We've got lady paying
us an afternoon CALI"
Again the three negroes chuckled,
and one Of them made a remark in
low tone which called smile from their
leader.
"Here, bear handl' cried Guthrie,
impatiently. "Dont I tell you we're
cold2"
''Not so fast, young gentleman, re.
piled the man with the gun. "On the
whole don't know why you shouldn't
stay where You are. By your own show
ing your companion cant swim, and
If put bullet through one of your
fins you won't be able to help her or
yourself either. 1t really strikes ME as
very neat trap, you know"
"Come, l say, don't be brute,
retorted Guthrie, but he shivered slight
ly, for the lean man looked quite capa-
BILE of being as good az his word.
EXACTLY, my dear sir That's Just
what wish to avoid" explained the
negro with a grin. "If l help you
across here, shall have to be brute to
one Of my men by making him stand
sentry over you to see that You don't
bolt"
"You want to keep us, then' What
for, pray3" asked Guthrie in tone Of
surprise, which was. 1t must be admit
ted, to great extent simulated.
''That's trife we won't discuss"
said the other coolly. "Let it suffice
that as you have poked your meddling
noses in here unasked you've got to
swallow the consequences. You didn't
choose to drown one another when you
had decent chance put in your way.
So now you must understand that you
are prisoners. The only question Is, Do
you prefer to stay where you are like
a couple of seals with their flappers cut
off, or would you rather come up here
high and dry and give promise to
cause no further troubleP'
"You're pinning me rather unfair
ly," said Guthrie.
"Look here. young man, =" returned
the negro savagely, "I'm not going to
stay here palavering. Are you going to
come or are you going to stay2 Settle
quickly or maybe my gun may go off
before you've made up your mind"
"We'll join you up there, thanksl"
"Ah, thought You would Then it
Is understood that neither you nor your
sweetheart in the trousers will attempt
a bolt?"
The young man hesitated for frac-
ton of second, but there was no al
tentative. "I'll promise, said he sulk-
lily, for he recognized that to resist fur
ther was hopeless. At present his ad-
versary held all the trumps.
"Mind you don't break your word"
said the man with the gun threaten
ingly, "or dare say some one will con-
trive to stick bullet in your carcasses
before you've got very far. George, get
a brace Of those paddles to make the
lady BRIDGE
George, one Of the three, departed
and in minute returned with couple
of oars, whose ends he showed out to
the submerged rock. Henrietta swarmed
up nimbly enough, and the undergradu-
ate followed her.
"Now," said the lean man, "you
can go up round this dark angle, and
you'll find your shipmate there. You
may chat with him If he's got tongue.
We can't find it."
The three negroes had taken their
long sheath knives from their belts and
stood now to attention. Guthrie and
the woman marched past them in the
direction which the leader had indi
Gated and tried not to show by their
manner that they found the situation
an ugly one.
They did not find it 60 very dark
round the angle, after all. There was
slab Of smooth rock at the corner where
the cave turned, and the green light
was reflected on without much loss of
intensity. They discovered the farmer
sitting with his back to the rock wall
He recognized them with a microscopic
nod, but as far as his face indicated
seemed neither pleased to see them nor
the reverse. He was truly wonderful
man. After that nod he did not appear
to think it at all necessary to explain |