Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1900-04-14
CHAPTER XXIy.

1t was growing DUSK by TINS time, ana
before they reached the turn in the gal
lery kecnc stopped and lighted his lam
tern 1t would be needed in a moment.
in any case, 80 no time was really lost
On coming to the cave-in. Keene put
down the light and pushed his load into
the hole. He craWied in after it, tugget.
1t along-it will be remembered that there
was quite hollow space inside-and
finally thrust il through into the cham
Der He then returned and took Arvas
smaller load through. Lastly he entered
the hole again. assisted the girl herself
along and into Tablet hall. and whistltd
the dog after her. 1t only remained 10
slip back long enough to get his last and
Cleterminative look at the bark and then
return and block up the entrance. He
nut down the lantern hastily and hurried
back, explaining that he would be gone
the shortest time possible. In about ten
minutes he looked in gain. saying brief
No change. Can't make out things
exactly, but satisfied they are bad lot"
He did not wait for Arva's reply, but
scrambled back and began his work of
closing and concealing the entrance 1t
was not a long operation, but one that
needed to be done with care and he did
not allow the necessity of speed to make
ure of precaution he shoveled and then
carefully brushed up the dirt that had
fallen down and scattered some
fine gravel over the place. This
done he crawled through for the
last time and carefully filled MP
the hole. Not content with merely
obstructing it to the extent of a blind
he added shovelful after shoyelfui of
dirt till he had a wall of at least three
feet i'll depth. From the side of the
quarry chamber he deemed il only nee
essary to I'LL up for n foot or so. aud this
seemed to finish the whole undertaking.
He had not forgotten to mix stones with
the earth. so as to make the flled-in part
look natural. and he had finally put one
large stone at the back of his outer wall.
to hinder any dangerously-persstcn
probing. He now felt a great sense of
relief, believing that they were reason
ably secure. Since Arva had suggested
the idea of trying to make their retreat
here concealment as well, he had taken a
new lease of hope. Still. of course, there
was not little danger. Suppose the
crew should land before it was too dark
to hide near objects on the water: or had
good binocular glass? If they were to
carefully use this they would soon con
clude that the persons they had seen
could not have left the island. A NEST
searching hunt might then he inaugu-
rated, and who could say what would
follow! But of course he kept all these
fears from Arva, and affected to think
that they were comparatively safe They
talked over the situation at more length
than they had found time to do before,
and Ill doing so kecne thought of new
idea.
''It may be- he suggested, "that this
crew IS the very one that marOOned
Rompard. Perhaps they have been cruiS-
ing about since, not daring to return 20
any civilized port, and living Il sort of
half -plratical life. / shouldn't be at all
surprised
Then if it is So" she said. with n
shudder, it is well we hid away If they
were as bad as that they would do any
fN-g, and we might as we'll be in the
hands of real prates.''
That is my idea; and / think it is that
crowd, because it doesn't seem probable
that two mutinies would occur so near
togesner iii these same waters
They discussed this still further.
keene's theory looking more and more
reasonable, as they thought of it. But
that the wind was so favorable for the
bark Keene would have ventured out for
few more things, particularly more wa
Ter; but as II was essential to the plan of
misleading the mutineerS to have con
siderable time elapSe after they were last
seen, and as he feared detection at thiE,
near point from their glasses. he cOncluI
ed not to risk it. As the minutes went
by they naturally grew more anxious
1t could not take the bark long before
that wind, to complete the run. and it
was reasonable to suppose the crew
search would undoubtedly begin. OF
course it was as still as death where they
were, and no sound could possibly reach
them till the most imminent moment.
heene had arranged Arva's bedding near
one corner of the chamber-a corner not
IN sight from the passagc-and on this
Sne sat, the lantern burning close by.
There was hardly the possibility that the
hight could betray them. even if the
enemy were in the passage beyond. and
TTt 10
upon box and the dog was wandering
restlessly up and down. To him, as well
MS to the others, past recOlections of the
place We're not enivening.
FINALLY the conversation tagged. the
strain upon them, the stiffness and The.
Sefni-darkneSs. or perhaps all together.
operating TO depreSs them. and there was
silence except for the click of the claws
OF the restless dog. 1t was upward Of an
hour now. since they had left the hutS.
and the bark must have long since
dropped her anchor. Still the minutes
dragged on and nothing occurred. Keene
looked again and again al his watch,
showing this one sign Of nervousness.
Arva, on her part. had protracted spells
Of listening, ending each with Il long
breath. The strain, almost as much as
the dread, was intensely wearing.
But at last Fidele gave sign. He had
lain down. but now raised his head and
pricked up his ears. Then he Snuffed the
ar ana got upon ms feet His human
companions riveted their eyes upon
him. The color left Arva's cheeks for
the second time. The animal walked
slowly across the chamber. snuffed again
ana stopped before the blocked-up tun-
mel. Keene instantly joined him. or
course there were numerous small crev-
ices left in this inner wall, and to one
of these he applied his ear. He almost
held his breath to listen, bur could hear
nothing. A little earth fell down where
ne was unconsciously resting one hand.
and this made him start, Immediately
realizing how strained his nerves were.
The dog constantly looked up in his face
and then at the bank. Arva had risen.
and was leaning against the wall. She.
too, was looking intently at Keene. She
was watching TO see his expression alter.
as sign that the crisis was approach
ing. Suddenly Fidele gave a low growl.
As he did 50 Arva saw keenes eyes
Hash and he Strengthened mp. Then she
herself heard something. 1t might have
been faint, far-off shout.
They are coming" said keene walk