Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-06-01
CHAPTER XIX.-CoNTINUED
By CHAUNcY G. HOTcHKIS

Saving the two shots from the first boat,
not a small arm had been fired 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), I saw many face
we'll known to me ashore, but not one ex-
pressing an atom of mercy. With watch
full look l anticipated any possible onset,
and yet through all the pent vigor of tight
ened nerves and stiffened 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
a wave over the surface of molten metal.
Off 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 a moment before had been din of
shouts and crashing timber-profound save
for dull humping forward, which l knew
came from the prisoners, who were thus sig
mailing for release. The moment was near
at hand when 5 should pass my soul to its
Maker, and yet, though the 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 / 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
vouchsafing to answer my defiance, hung
hestating, evidently awaiting the arrival
of his superior to direct future movements.
nisarmed 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 us,
the peppery royalist, still smarting from the
disgrace under which had been the means
of placing him, felt sure of his ultimate 4ri-
umph over me, and, giving the order to hold
US where stood, turned toward the point
of the disturbance forward and hurried off.
I was a step in advance of Ames, who still
leaned against the wheel, when heard his
voice in my ear.
There's fair chance for leap, Donald"
he whispered. "The last tie is gone. Be
thee ready?"
NAY, lad" I answered softly eve are
not yet parted. still hang to my oath. I
have seen nothing of Gertrude. Where can
she be?"
''She is past the sight of this, thank God!"
lie returned. She is dead, man; dead and
gone, and we viii soon follow her. I saw
her"
Again he was interrupted, this time by a
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
raised US, hating just within IT'S 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 its pallor was startling. Without
word of warning he called me vile name,
and with an oath raised a 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-
lind me-. / heard deep groan as the youth
fell to the deck, his head striking the plank
ing with heavy blow, and a number of
hands sprang upon the infurlated officer and
dragged him backward.
1t was done in an instant. The shock and
suddenness of the attack came like thun-
derbolt, and yet retained my presence of
paind. With my eye still fixed on my enc
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
quickly joined his sister, who, in some man
ner unknown to me, had gone before him.
It was the eliminating wave of disaster,
and for the moment / felt like sinking be-
meath it.. Within quarter hour by vio-
lence / had been bereft of my two COM
Ipanions, and thus was suddenly freed from
my Obligation to live. With none left for
whom to combat, surrounded by triumphant
,enemies, and before me ruin in the shape Of