The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1901-06-14
a Brave Coward.
By Robert Louis Stevenson.

aud there, from the northern corner of
the Sea-Wood, beheld thin column Of
smoke rising steadily against the now
cloudless sky.
"Northmour," said 1--WE still contin-
ued to talk in whispers), sit is not pos
sible to endure this suspense. prefer
death fifty times over. Stay you here
to watch the pavilion; will go for
ward and make sure, if have to walk
right into their camp"
He looked once again all around him
with puckered eyes and then nodded
assentingly to my proposal.
My heart beat like sledge-hammer
as set out, walking rapidly in the di
rection of the smoke; and though up
to that moment I had felt chill and
| shivering, was suddenly conscious of
a glow Of heat over all my body. The
ground in this direction was very I'M
even; hundred men might have lain
hidden In as many square yards about
my path. But had not practiced the
business In vain; chose such routes as
cut at the very root of concealment,
and, by keeping along the most con-
venient ridges, commanded several
hollows at time
| 1t was not long before was reward
| ed for my caution. Coming suddenly
on to mount somewhat more elevated
than the surrounding hummocks saw,
not thirty yards away, man bent al
most double and running as fast as
his attitude permitted along the bot
| tom OF gully. had dislodged one of
| the spies from his ambush. AS soon as
I sighted him called loudly in Eng
lish and Italian, and he, seeing Conceal
ment was no longer possible, straight
ened himself out, leaped from the gully
and made off as straight as an arrow
for the borders of the wood.
1t was none of my business to pursue;
l had learned what I wanted-that we
were beleaguered and watched in the
pavilion. and I returned at once, and
walking as nearly as possible in my old
footsteps, to where Northmour await
ed me beside the dispatch-box. He
was even paler than when I had left
him and his voice shook a little.
Gould you see what he was like?"
he asked
He kept his back turned, replied.
Let us go into the house, Frank. T
don't think I'm coward, but can
stand no more of this" he whispered.
All was still and sunshiny about the
pavilion as we turned to re-enter it,
even the gulls had flown in wider
circuit, and were seen Pickering along
the beach and sandhills, and this lone
illness terrified me more than regi-
ment under arms. 1t was not until the
door was barricaded that could draw
a full inspiration and relieve the
weight that lay upon my bosom North
mour and exchanged steady glance
and l suppose each made his own re-
Elections on the white and startled as
| pect of the other.
'You were right" said Cali is
over. Shake hands, old man. for the
| last time"
eyes, replied he, "I will shake hands
! for as sure as I am here bear no
malice. But. remember if by some
impossible accident we should give the
slip to these blackguardS. I'll take the
upper hand of you by fair or foul"
"O!" said I. "you weary me"
He seemed hurt. and walked away in
silence to the foot of the stairs.
The remainder of the day was PASSED
in the same dreadful tedium and sus
pense. l laid the table for dinner.
while Northmour and Clara prepared
the meal together in the kitchen. I
could hear their talk as went to and
fro, and was surprised to find it ran
all the time upon myself. Northmour
again bracketed us together, and raj
I lied Clara on choice of husbands, but
| he continued to speak of NE with some
| feeling, and uttered nothing to NV
prejudice unless he included himself
| in the condemnation. This awakened
sense Of gratitude in my heart which
combined with the ilnmediateness OF
our peril to fill my eyes with tears.
After all, thought-and perhaps the
thought was laughably vain-we were
here three very noble human beings to
perish in defense of thieving banker.
Before we sat down to table, 1 looked
forth from an upstairs window. The
day was beginning to decline; the links
were utterly deserted; the dispatch box
still lay untouched where we had left
it hours before.
Mr.. Huddlestone, In a long yellow
dressing-gown, took the end of the
table, Clara the other, while North
mour and faced each other from the
sides. The lamp was brightly trim
med; the wine was good; the viands,
although mostly cold, excellent Of their
sort.
Mr.. Huddlestone was certainly no or
binary character; he had read and OBJ
served for himself; his gifts were
sound, and, though could never have
learned to love the man, began to
understand his success ia business, and
the great respect in which he had been
held before his failure He had, above
all, the talent of society; and though
never heard him speak but on this one
| and most uniavnrahle oroasi0Yr set