Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-28
CHA.pTDR XVII.


nearly as far as the hamlet and bridge, fol-
lowing, but farther inshorc, tho course
which Master Lindstrom and / had taken
when on our way to bury the Spaninrd.
A certain point gained, at o signal from
our host we struck out into the open and
rowed swiftly toward the edge OF the
marsh. This Was the critical moment;
but, so far as We could learn, our passage
was unnoticed. We reached the fringe
Of rushes. With prolonged Kissing sound
the boat pushed through them. A flight
Of waterfowl rose, xhirring and clapping
about us, and we doated out into q dim,
misty lake, whose shores and surface
stretched away on every side, alike dark,
shifting and uncertain.
Across this tho Dutchmnn steered us,
bringing US presently to o narrow opening,
through which we glided into second and
smaller mere At the farther end of this
one tho way seemed barred by a black, i'm
penetrable will OF rushes, which rose far
above our heads But tho tall stems bent
slowly with many whispered protest be-
fore our silent onset, and we slid into
deep water lane, here narrow, there wild
enina into q pool, in ono place dark, in
another roflecting tho gray night sky.
Down this we sped swiftly, the sullen
plas. OF the oars and the walls of rushes
always with us. For ourselves, we
crouched still and silent, shiyering and
listening for sounds OF pursuit now start.
ing at tho splash Of frog. again shudder-
inr ut tho crv Of a night bird. eiduch-
ess, her child and / were in this bows,
Master Lindstrom, his daughter and Mis-
tress Ammo in the stern. They had made
me comfortable with the baggage and
some warm coverings and would insist on
treating me as helpless. Even when the
othcrs began to talk in whispers the Ouch.
ess enioinetl silence on me and bade mo
sleep, Presently 1 did 30, my last inpres.
sion one Of unending waterways and
shoreless stndowy lakes.
When awoke, the sur was high, and
the scene was changed indeed. We lay on
( the bosom Of a broad river. our boat seem
ing now to stand still as the sail tapped
idly, now to heal over and shoot forward
as tho light breeze struck us. The shores
abreast Of US were still low and reedy, but
ahead the slopes OF green wooded hills
rose gently from the stream. Master Ber-
tie was steering, and seeing mo lift my
head greeted me with smile. The girls
in the sI.rn We're covered up and asleep.
Amidships, too, Master Lindstrom and
Van Tree had curled themselves up be-
tween tho thwarts and were slumbering
peacefully. turned to look for the duch-
ess and found her sitting wide awake ut
my. elbow, her eyes on her husband.
well" she snid, smiling, do you feel
better nowi You have had o good sleep. = !
How long have / been asleep, pleases"
asked, bewildered by the sunshine, by
the shining river and the green hills, by
the fresh morning air, by the change in
everything, and answering in question,
as people freshly aroused do nine times out
OF ten, Where are wei"
You have been asleep nearly six hours,
and We arc on the Rhine, near Emmerich, =
she answered, smiling. She was pale. and
the long hours of watching had drawn
dark circles round her eyes. But the old
undaunted courage shone in them still,