The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1901-05-24
A Brave Coward.
By Robert Louis Stevenson.
{ CHAPTER II.-(Continued.)

-ANAANA,NNAN<AA<NNNNNN
CHAPTER -(Continued.)
Ny wife and I, a man and woman.
Aave often agreed to wonder how a per-
con could be at the same time so hand-
some and so repulsive as Northmour.
He had the appearance Of finished
.Gsntleman; his face bore every mark
.se intelligence and courage, but you on
" had to look at him, even in his most
s1miable moment. to see that he had
'the temper Of slave captain.
never knew character that was
both explosive and revengeful to the
came degree: he combined the vivacity
az the South with the sustained and
deadly hatreds of the North; and both
.traits were plainly written on his face,
which was sort Of danger signal. In
.Derson he was tall, strong and active;
his hair and complexion very dark; his
features handsomely designed. but
spoiled by menacing expression.
At that moment he was somewhat
:paler than by nature; he wore heavy
frown; and his lips worked, and he
looked sharply round as he walked, like
u man besieged with apprehensions.
And yet thought he had a look Of
triumph underlying all, as though he
had already done much, and was near
the end of an achievement.
Partly from a scruple Of delicacy-
which dare say came too late-partly
from the pleasure Of startling an ac-
1uaintance, l desired to make my pres
-ence known to him without delay.
I got suddenly to my feet, and STEP
..ped forward.
t4Northmourw said I.
have never had so shocking sur
prise in all my days. He leaped on me
without a word; something shone in
his hand; and he struck for my heart
with a dagger. At the same moment
: i knocked him head over heels. Wheth-
or It was my quickness, or his own I'M
certainty, know not; but the blade
: only grazed my shoulder, while the
*AiIt and his fist struck me violently
on the mouth.
fled, but not far. had often and
often observed the capabilities of the
sand hills for protracted ambush on
-Stealthy advances and retreats; and,
not ten yards from the scene of the
scufhe, pumped down again upon the
grass. The lantern had fallen and gone
-out. But what was my establishment
60 see Northmour slip at bound into
the pavilion, and hear him bar the
door behind him with clang of iron!
He had not pursued me. He had run
r
the most tmplacable and daring of
men, had run away!
As thus stood transfxed with
wonder, began to grow painfully con-
Scious of the injuries I had received
In the scufle; skulked around among
the sand hills; and, by devious path,
'1egained the shelter of the wood. On
the way. the old nurse passed again
Wtthta several yards of me, still car
'sying her lantern, on the return jour-
fney to the mansion house OF Graden.
This made seventh suspicious feature
In the case. Northmour and his guests.
ne appeared, were to cook and do the
cleaning for themselves, while the old
woman continued to inhabit the big
empty barrack among the policies.
There must surely be great cause for
secrecy. when so many Inconvenience
were confronted to preserve it.
SO thinking, 1 made my way to the
den For greater security, I trod out
the embers of the fire, and lit my Ian
tern to examine the wound upon my
shoulder. It was trif1ing hurt,
though it bled freely, and I dressed if
'as well as could (for its position made
IL difficult to reacN with some rags
and cold water from the spring While
i was thus busted, mentally declar-
cd war against Northmour and his
mystery.