Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1900-05-30
CHAPTER XIX.-CoNT1NUEp.
By CHAUNCY c. HOTCtiE

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
Dand of their oficer) l saw many face
well 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 .z--s.-..s.--s-
The broad ocean lay almost like glass save
for the regular heave that passed over it like
Il wave over the surface of molten metal
OF our 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 a pine shivered by
lightning. A profound silence had fallen
where n moment before had been din of
shouts and crashing timber-profound save
for dull humping forward, which l knew
mailing for release. The moment was near
at hand when l should pass my soul to its
Maker, and yet, though lie resolve was as
strong as ever, 1 wavered, not in fear of the
next world, but dreading the terrible strug-
gle that would come when a 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 l 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
svouchsafing to answer my defiance, hung
hesitating, evidently awaiting the arrival
lof his superior to direct future movements.
Disarmed 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 royalst, still smarting from the
disgrace under which had been the means
of placing him, felt sure of his ultimate tri-
nmph over me, and, giving the order to hold
ns where we stood, turned toward the point
of the disturbance forward and hurried off.
] 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"
lie whispered. The last tie is gone. BE
thee ready?"
not yet parted. / still hang to my oath. ]
have seen nothing of Gertrude. Where can
she be?"
"She is past the sight of this, thank Cod!"
he returned. She is dead man; dead and
gone, and we will soon follow her. 1 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 a shirt and his small clothes,
A.e broke through the half circle that COM
passed us, halting just within its limits. He
nyas q 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
n word of warning he called me vile name,
and with an oath raised pistol he had
probably snatehed from some one and, level
sng it at me- fired. The ball passed betwixt
my body and elbow without touching the
skin, but it struck Ames, who was just be-
tind me. heard q deep groan as the youth
fell to the deck, his head striking the plank
ing with a heavy blow, and a number of
hands sprang upon the infuriated officer and
dragged hjm backward.
1t was done in an instant. The shock and
suddenness of the attack came like thun-
derbolt, and yet l retained my presence of
plind. With my eye still fixed on my enc
sries, / 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.
II was the eliminating wave of disaster,
and for the moment felt like sinking be-
meath it. Within quarter hour by vio-
3ence had been bereft of my two COM
Ipanions, and thus was Isuddenly freed from
INV obligation to live. With none left for
whom to combat, surrounded by triumphant
lenemies, and before me ruin in the shape OF