The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1900-02-16
CHAPTER XIX.-CoNT1xUED.

CHAPTER XIX-CoNTINUED.
Saving the two shots from the first boat,
not a small arm had been fired by them up
70 this time, their determination TO carry
the vessel by cold steel alone being apparent
al through the attack. As my eye ranged
over the circle Of men that spread about US
and hemmed us TO the taffrsil yet Tor al
their numbers were held of by the COM
mand Of their officer, / saw many face
vel known 70 me ashore, but not one eX-
pressing an atom OF mercy. With a watch
ful look / anticipated any possible onset,
und yet through al the pent vigOr Of tight
fned 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
q wave over the surface OF molten metal
OF our starboard beam was an upturned
boat floating lazily away, it probably having
been stove OF capsized by the hatch / had
cast into II, 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
Gappled sky, looked Ike pine shivered BY
lirhtning. A profound silence had fallen
where O moment before had been 4 din Of
shouts and crashing timber-pr0found save
for a dull humping forward, which / knew
came from the prisoners, who were thus sig
mailing for release. The moment was near
al hand when / should pass my soul TO Its
Maker, and yet. though tie resolve was as
strong as ever, j 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 suifocation.
If our captors could not be goaded into
shooting me, nothing was left but 10 cast
myself into the sea, and this / would not do
50 long as the young Quaker stood at my
SIDE.
4 sudden CRY from the bow, soon followed
by the sound of metal striking metal, told
me that the prisoners were ont and being
freed from their irons. Belden, without
vouchsafnc TO answer my defiance, hung
hesitating, evidently awaiting the arrival
Of his superior 10 direct future movements.
fsarmed save for the bare steel in our
hands, we were an easy prey TO him Lad our
deaths now been his object; but there
had been no show Of force after boarding u,
the peppery royalist, still smarting from the
disgrace under which / had been the means
Of placing him, felt sure Of his ultimate tn
umph over me. and, giving the order TO hold
OF the disturbance forward and hurried of.
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 a leap, Donald"
lie whispered. The last tie is gone. BE
thee ready"
NAY. lad" I answered softly eve are
rot vet parted / still hang 10 my oath. ]
have seen nothing Of Gertrude Where can
she be-"
ssShe Is past the sight Of this, thank Cod
Ie returned. she is dead. man; dead and
gone. and we viii soon follow her / saw
her"
AGAIN he was interrupted. this time by a
Wild ven from the bow, and the man who ut
tered il started aft chased by half a dozen
marines. Il was Scanned. With little
upon him save a shirt and his small clothes
T. broke through the half circle that com
raised US. hating Just within Its limits HC
vas a horrible object. His hair hung tan
zled over his shoulders; his eyes were hercC
and hloodshot. his lace was distorted 10y
rare. and its pallOr was startling Without
q word OF warning he called me a vile name
ard with an. oath raised a pistol he had
rrohablv snatched from some one and, level
NO III al me. fired. The ball passed betwlx
nv BODY and elbow without touching the
am. but i struck Ames, who was Just be
hind me. ] heard a deep groan as the you'll
fell 70 the deck, his head striking the plank
irr with q heavy blow, and a number o
hands sprang upon the infuriated otlicer and
urarged HIM backward
Ii was done IN an instant. The shock and
audiences Of the attack came like thun
derbolt. ana yet / retained my presence o
pi;nd. With my eye still fixed on my enc
r-ies. I STOPPED to one knee and felt Tor tn
rsn6 Of my friend, calling on him 10 speak
INT no sound. came 10 my repeated appeal
and the hand / found gave no answerlnl
pressure. lie was dead past doubt, and Lao
-uiokly 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 q quarter hour by VIC
ienoe ] had been bereft Of my two com
nauions, and thus was ] suddenly freed iron
rnv Obligation 10 live. With none left fO
whom 70 combat, surrounded by triumphan
enenies, and before me ruin in the shape o