Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1900-05-23
Copyright, 1897, by D. Appleton Co. All
rights reserved
CHAPTER XvIH.-CoyTryUEp.
CHAUNcY c. HOTCHKISS

As time went, we saying little or nothing
betwiXt us, | marked our followers growth
as she drew or. Little by little out came the
details of her canvas, and, as picked point
after point, there dawned on NE the almost
certainty that our pursuer was none other
than the Sprite, the last vessel of his ma
esty's hotilla / cared to meet
From the deck of the Ajax / had been
informed of the Sprite's absence on patrol,
and through the whole morning had held
in my mind the dread of meeting her, only
feeling safe from that particular craft since
noon Probably she had been sneaking I'M
Ger easy sail along the Long Island coast.
and had only fairly sighted us after the
westering sun had thrown broad light on
our canvas. Then with u keen nose for
anything less than three-decker, she had
piled on her clothes the soonce to come by
about what business a trader had to sail
the kings sea without being under convoy.
! dared not unfold my suspicious, but the
girl, with the eye of a hawk and the in
ssinct of woman, saved the necessity.
Turning to me after long and searching
lcok at our pursuer, she said:
Capt. Thorndyke, that vessel looks like
the one that took me from Philadelphia to
New York. 1 hardly know why l think
so, but fear me tits the same"
'Ay," L answered, hoarsely, II have that
fear, and God help us if they overhaul us, as
they are like to do, barring mirace!-Have
you aught to offer, Ames?" said /, address
ing her brother, whose face had taken on a
look of hardness the like of which / had
marked at the Dove when he was posing as
an old man.
NAY, friend" he returned, suddenly fall
ing into the Quaker style of speech, and
without taking his eyes from the vessel
astern-"nay, friend, / have but a light
knowledge of sea possibilities. forum as
thee be running means to be beaten in the
race. Thee has head for tricks. Are thee
lost? If SO, there is but one thing for thee
and me- And turning. his eyes to mine, he
made n quick gesture toward the water
which motion l thought was unobserved by
the girl. But was wrong in my surmise.
Has it come to this then?% she ejacu
lated with sudden terror in face and voice
Am l to be left alone and at the mercy Of
those yonder?-3everlyi brother! you viii
not commit suicide and leave me without {
protector!-Donald Thorndyke," she con
linued, her terror giving place to an i'm
periousnCss royal in it's effect, you have
sworn not to desert me. Are you nerveless
1T last? Nay, | know you too we'll. l ask
Your pardon" she faltered with a bend OF
HSI nCoQ anu a idpAu W uuLulllg
Il am wrong. Better give back to the AL
mighty direct the life He gave you rather
than have those yonder, if enemies they be
take the giving into their merciless hands
/ was wrong. / let the woman in me speak
first. Your burden is greater than mine!'
Ard with this she placed both hands to heI
face and sobbed aloud.
l listened in silence to this outburst with
It's shifting emotions. There was no an
swer to make. The blackness of the last few
days seemed to gather and settle itself ovel
me like pail We had been on the brink oi
safety, the threshold of content, honor anC
success, and to see the prizes snatcheC
away at this late hour was beyond human
endurance. The softness of the air, the
mellowing light, the silky yelling on the
sky above MS, and the lively sparkle of the
ocean, suddenly changed from gay congrat
I,lation to hideous grin of irony and malice
Without a word in return / grasped the
spokes of the wheel with my whole hear;
seemingly bent on meeting each surge in
manner to save our speed. 70 comfort the
girl was beyond my power even had it lair
in my province, and in real life no man,
fancy, ever juggles with the truth tbe il
never so bitter while looking squarely into
he face of death.
Neither did Ames 20 to his sisters rescue
AS though to let her gather the full import
of the future, he stood apart, only saying
as the poor girls sobbing decreased: There
IS God in Heaven, and what must be
n!lsst be-.
If. however, had remained silent it wa:
not because was stunned, for, though my
tongue was dumb, my brain was active
enough. Fhere was one chance in a million
that our pursuer was not the Sprite. OF
even one of the British feet. If so, well
III not, | would sell myself at such price
that there would be but little triumph for
Lbem over my carcass. Turning at last tC
-Ames, / said:
Until it be made certain that we be lost
10 one another, / shall hold my life as dearly
as ever. The mere capture of the schooner
--rnless that fellow astern be the Sprite-
need not bring despair. We will run as lone
as run. we can, and then fight; after that the
action OF each lies with his own conscience
~ for me, i shall not be hanged from q
British prison, but swear again that while
you or your sister live and can lift an arm
for either ! will still cling to the breath God
mas given me. If, becoming powerless,
choose to cheat the rope, / will but be like
many captain who goes down with hi:
ship. l take it 'twould be no common sui
aide, for my honor would not have suf
fcred."
"Ay, / said naught to mean the cowardly
taking of ones own life, answered the