Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-05-25
CHAPTER XVIII.-CoNT1NUED.

CHAPTER XVIII.-CoNTINUED
AS time went, we saying little or nothing
JetwiXt us, l marked our followers growth
as she drew on. Little by little out came the
details of her canvas, and, as picked point
after point, there dawned on me the almost
certainty that our pursuer was none other
than the Sprite, the last vessel of his mai
esty's fotila cared to meet.
From the deck of the Ajax had been
informed of the Sprite's absence on patrd,
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
,restering sun had thrown a broad light on
our canvas. Then with a keen nose for
anything less than three-decker, she had
ciled on her clothes the soonc. to come by
about what business trader had to sail
the kings without being under convoy.
l dared not unfold my suspicious, but the
girl, with the eye of hawk and the in
sSinct of a woman, saved the necessity.
Turning to me after a long and searching
lcok at our apursuer, she said
Capt. Thorndyke, that vessel looks like
the that took me from Philadelphia to
New York. I hardly know why I think
so, but fear me tits the same.i'
cay" I answered, hoarsely, 'I have that
fear, and God help us if they overhaul us, as
they are like to do, barring amiracle!-Have
you aught to offer, Ames?" said 1, address,
ing her brother, whose face had taken on
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
or T h,,t 1irb
knowledge of sea possibilities. To run as
thee be running means to be beaten in the
race. Thee has G. 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 quick gesture toward the water,
which motion l thought was unobserved by
the girl. But I was wrong in my surmise.
HAS it come to this them" she ejacu-
lated with sudden terror in face and voice.
<:Am to be left alone and at the mercy of
those yonder?-Beverly! brother! you will
not commit suicide and leave me without
protector!-Donald Thorndyke," she con-
Iinued, her terror giving place to an i'm
periousness royal in its effect, "you have
sworn not to desert mel Are you nerveless
at last? Nay, know you too we'll. ask
your pardon" she faltered with bend of
t,er head and rapid change to humility;
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 I let the woman in me speak
first. Your burden is greater than mine!"
And with this she placed both hands to her
face and sobbed aloud.
1 listened in silence to this outburst with
its shifting emotions. There was no an
swer to make. TIE blackness of the last few
days seemed to gather and settle itself over
me like a pail. We had been on the brink of
IL r \
success, and to see the prizes snatched
away at this late hour was beyond human
endurance. The softness of the air, the
mellowing light, the silky yelling on the
sky above US, and the lively sparkle of the
ocean, suddenly changed from gay congrat-
Niation to hideous grin of irony and malice.
Without word in return l grasped the
spokes of the wheel with my whole heart
seemingly bent on meeting each surge in a
manner to save our speed. To comfort the
girl was beyond my power even had it lain
in my province, and in real life no man, ]
fancy, ever juggles with the truth (be it
never so bitter while looking squarely into
The face of death. 8
Neither did Ames go % 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,
must be-
If. however, l had remained silent it was
not because l was stunned, for, though my
tongue was dumb, my brain was active
enough. There was one chance in a million
aEat our pursuer was not the Sprite, or
even one of the British feet. If SO, we'll
III not, would sell myself at such a price
that there would be but little triumph for
chem over my carcass. Turning at last to
Ames, said:
Until it be made certain that we be lost
Sto one another, shall hold my life as dearly
as ever. The mere capture of the schooner
unless that fellow astern be the Sprite-s
need not bring despair. We will run as long
;'as run We can, and then fight; after that the
action of each lies with his own conscience.
As for me, / shall not be hanged from a
British prison, but swear again that while
you or your sister live and can lift an arm
fer either will still cling to the breath God
has given me. If, becoming powerless, /
choose to cheat the rope, viii but be like
many captain who goes down with his
ship. I take 1t 'twould be no common sui
eide, for my honor would not have suf-
tered"
GAY, I said naught to mean the cowardly
taking Of ones own life, answered the