The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-04-06

WHEN my voice came DdcK TO me,
asked Mortimer what time he thought
it was.
"Daybreak will come in two hours"
he said.
'1Then we must get out of here, and
that very soon. We must make one
more attempt" said. felt desperate.
What would you proposeY' asked
Mortimer.
81 propose" l replied, ''that we go
out on the side of the Waikiki road and
make break for it. If these fellows
shoot at us, their aim is likely to be
bad in the night light. There are
banana and rice fields on the other side
of the road, and | think we can dodge
our pursuers among them. After that
we'll have to take care of ourselves as
best we can"
We had short council of war. We
recognized the fact that we were re.
duced to extremities, and my plan was
the only one that seemed to yield us
the shadow of a chance. Necessity was
behind us with sharp stick, forcing
us up to the issue. Our resolve taken,
we wasted no time, but slipped back
toward the Waikiki road We did not
stop at the edge to see if the spies were
about.
''Now," said Mortimer, ''run for it,
boysv'
We dashed into the road and in a
moment were across it into banana
field. l expected to hear shots and to
feel the twinge of bullet, but neither
gun nor pistol was fired Instead l
heard the thump of footsteps. They
wanted to take us alive and hang us!
Heavens, how the thought made me
run! | dashed down by row of ba-
mana bushes and ran lightly for 80
yards. Then | slipped and fell into one
Of the drains between the rows But
was out again in moment, wiping
the muddy water from my lips, and
ran on. | looked around for my COM
panions, but saw nothing of them, nor
did l hear any footsteps except my
own. l hoped their fortune had been
as good as mine and that they, too, had
escaped. Beyond the banana fields was
a thicket of algaroba bushes, where l
lay for long time, resting. The thick
ct was so dense that lay like a wild
beast in his lair and felt safe from OBJ
servation and pursuit. neither heard
nor saw anything, and / felt sure that
l had evaded pursuit 1 crept out of
the bushes and looked at myself. 1
was plastered with mud, and one of
the tails of my dress coat was gone
What was l to do? 1 did not think
about it long. took the boldest course,
for had gone through so much In one
night that was not willing to go
through any more. 1t was not vet day.
l would go back to the hotel, slip into
the cottage unobserved and go to sleep.
Then things could take care of them
selves. had not done anything that
was hanging matter
| started back to Honolulu and trudg-
ed along unmolested, though am will
ing to confess that was badly scared
several times. Twice, at first glance, 1
took bushes by the wayside, waving
slightly in the sea breeze to be men.
Once native on a pony passed me,
whistling. But reached the cottage
unspoken by soul and with deep
thankfulness entered my bedroom and
again locked the door behind me.
buried my tattered and discolored
evening dress in the bottom of my
trunk. Then l crept into bed and soon
forgot all alarms in a sound slumber.
L awol1e late in the day, dressed N.Y.
self with great care in suit of white
duck and went out on the street.
fhQf q l,NII
less air.
But was struck with surprise and
alarm at what l saw. Many people
were about, and their manner and the
mysterious whispers in which they
talked to each other indicated that
something of great Importance had oc-
CURED. l dared not ask. My fears at
once told me what it was. My friends
had been taken, and the whole plot was
discovered. Should confess my guilt
and suffer with them, or should take
advantage of the present opportunities
and escape?
l sauntered down toward the palace.
Nobody seemed to pay any heed to me,
and | grew bolder. At the main gate
to the palace yard saw armed guards.
Then | was right. The explosion had
come. felt very sorry for Mortimer
and Conway and Hughes. There was
great crowd before the gate, kept
back little by the rifles and bayonets
of the guards.
Ipressed into the crowd and, looking
over the heads of some people shorter
than |, saw three men, in torn and
muddy evening dress, leaning discon-
solately against the iron fence They
were Mortimer, Conway and Hughes,
and they looked as if they had just es-
caped from the bush and the mire
They were not prisoners. The crowd
seemed to care nothing for them.
pushed my way through and tapped
Conway on the shoulder.
what is this? What does it mean?'
/ asked
He raised his crushed silk hat from
his eyes and looked gloomily at me.
why, haven't you heardY' he said.
"The missionaries have dethroned the
queen and established the republic
Long live the republicw