Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-05-11

For q moment or Two there was silence,
and during it l fancied l could trace the
working of the minds of both; Scammell' 8
bent on the probable result of delivering
himself to Clinton, and Lounsbury's on the
dawning chance to get his finger on my gold
still safe in the bulkhead. Presently the
cavalryman smote his knee with his fist and
broke out:
..A1y God! why-why did I not spit the
fellow while l had the chance two days
since, or shoot him? Why did not know
him for spy? 'Twould have saved all this!
Is there no trace of him?"
"None since he passed the lines an put
Lowney to sleep. They tell me he killed the
green sentinel with his fist. Faith, my head
aches at the thought O him, an ye may
thank God the ever was cracked, else
twas your skull that broke an not the
pitcher. By the powers above, l begin to
fear him, an ye-
"Shut up." was the ungracious answer.
'IIand out the bottle and help me get on
deck for air. l hate this hole! l have been
buried three days!" And with this Scam
nell struggled into a sitting position, reach
ing out his hand for the dram Lounsbury
was already pouring.
Now that had these two at saber's
length, it went against me to think of their
coming on deck and possibly spelling the
plans | had already Matched in their behalf.
Slipping from my cover, crawled over the
cabin house and got to the door. There
was lock on it, but the key had long since
gone and l had been used to make shift
of fastening the companion by paddock,
hasp, and staple. AS felt over it missed
the paddock, though hasp and staple were
still intact. While fumbling for my knife
to use as bolt, in the light from the cabin
window l caught the CLINT of a musket ly
ing along the deck under the tarpauIin, and,
quickly unshipping its bayonet, thrust the
steel through the iron loop, and the two be-
low were prisoners. There was another door
in the cabin, but it opened into small space,
or Tween decks" and I knew mass of
lead had been piled aft and against it to
give the vessel proper trim, SO that mode
of egress was blocked.
My scheme was simple enough. / would
go the whole pace and take with me
couple of prisoners, and if / failed / would
be no worse off than before. In any event
there would be sudden ending to my diff
cuties if l was to be taken, and the kidnap-
ing would not hasten my final swing
Still unshod and silent, l made my way
forward, and with some difficulty, owing to
the darkness and need of stealth, the scow
was emptied of her load, and at last we three
stood on the deck. So far all had gone well
My next move was to away the ground
tackle, leaving the boats painter still be-
layed to the cable. As the last strand part
eG and the schooner shot away, leaving the
scow still fast, fancied the establishment
CT the guard on finding the Phantom had
dwindled to rusty, mud-spattered con-
trivance but peg removed from a raft.
As the schooner gathered force and fed,
now broadsiGe to the ebb, told in whispers
what l had found and what done. I was
we'll aware that not many minutes would
elapse before those below would discover
something out of gear. Between the COW
cred headlights and the fog they could have
no notion that the schooner was free, for the
water was as fiat as ice, there being no more
apparent motion now than before. Unless
we fouled something, they could make no
guess at what had happened, but the door
would bother them, and in all likelihood
it down.
To balk this 1 led the way aft, bidding
Ames be spokesman if it came to words, and
to act as he saw fit if it came to blows.
Placing Mistress Gertrude on the top of the
house, and SO out of harms way, Ames and
1 bent our ears to the door, though 1 kept
my eye open for what might at any minute
confront us from out the depths of the fog.
We had not long to wait ere hearing from
those within, for soon a hand was placed on
the fastening, and the door ratified in the
open was followed by a round oath, and
we plainly heard the voice of Scammell sug-
costing that it be broken doyn. After
parley betwixt them as to what was the
probable cause of the trouble, another at
tempt was made to force the door by shak-
ing, and then there was worked through the
joint of the companion way the blade of a
sword. This ! could not see, but felt the
steel with my hand, and, thinking the stu
haI hot{n tyvo ~ 7 ,oty
up the musket and with a blow of its stock
broke the protruding weapon close to the
panel.
To the two below this was the first in
tmation that aught was going wrong, and
their CONSERVATION must have made fine
show. Possibly ten seconds elapsed before
they recovered from their surprise, and
then the voice of Lounsbury demanded:
who's on the deck?" but on receiving no
force that well-nigh sprung them from their
frames. Now l babe Ames speak, and,
placing his head conveniently near q dead
light, he called out:
Below there, Scanned and Lounsbury,
you two be prisoners in the name of the
United Colonies, and demand the surren-
der of your arms! If you force the COM
panion, it will mean death to both; you are
outnumbered.
Who are your: came from within, this
time from Scammell.
Call me the ghost of Donald Thorndyke,
if you will, but pass out your arms" At
which laughed outright, despite the stu
alton
The laugh must have been heard by them
and my locality fairly well marked, for there
came volley of curses, and then through
the door two pistol shots in quick success
sion.
1t was fortunate that was well at the
side of the companion, else the assault would
have finished me. 1t showed the temper of
my captives, as we'll as the necessity for pro-
lection against another similar attack, for
should 1t come to our getting off and using