The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-01-24

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mense relief, she felt the horrid cloth
being united. The next moment 1t
was drawn from her head. and then
light, blessed light. albeit 1t was only
a faint gray dawn as yet, flooded her
eyes. Bluebell uttered a h~alf-sobbing
cry and looked around at her compan-
ions, then at herself.
They we're in the midst Of a great
stretch of arid "karoo'-nothing but
red sand, unrelieved by bush, grass or
sign Of water, stretched about them.
Around, however, rose great black
eraggy rocks. with what seemed like
a sandy ravine between, but the light
was so dim Bluebell could not be sure.
She was sure OF one thing: That she
had never been there before. She
could only guess that they were about
to enter q pass In the mountain which
separated Natal from the Transvaal
and the Orange Free State.
She looked at her companions. A
native boy" sho~rt-statured and at
tired almost in rags, with a v~illainous
expression, walked beside her. On the
other side. mounted on a large bay
horse, his dark. evil face turned to-
wards her, was Gerald Moore.
Then her eyes came back to herself.
She had on the dark gown which she
had thrown on when she had been
aroused by the approach of the COM
mando; a heavy tweed cloak covered
it down to her feet. On the latter she
had only the house slippers she had
put on when she left her A lit
tie tweed cap covered her disheveled
hair. That and the cloak, she con-
cluded, had been supplied by Moore.
She turned to him, her face like that
Of n who had passed through a
frightful vigil. and come out of it pale
and worn, hollow-eyed and heart
broken. A momentary fash OF her old
courage came to her as she saw the
evil lock in Moore's eyes.
Where are you taking me to-" she
exclaimed. Are you a man at all,
that you can drag me from my home
at such a time as this, when my
father lies dead or dying, killed by
your treachery?"
II took you for your own safety" he
replied with a cold smile. "Oh, you
are quite safe with me, Miss Bluebell;
don't be afraid. We are within a day
and a nights journey of our destina-
ton. Once We are safely on Dutch soil
you shall become my wife, and then
we shall cross over to England as soon
as may be-"
"You are the worst man that God
has left upon EARTH" said the girl de-
liberately. But do you think you
will brighten me into what you wish,
Gerald Moore. | am not afraid to die,
and | will die rather than marry you.
You have done your worst when you
tempted and betrayed my poor father;
you cannot do me any harm now. God
will help me against YOU"
He laughed insultingly.
IF it pleases you to think so, my
dear lady, l have no objections. As for
dying-well, we shall see about that.
There are different ways of dying"
All the morning hours they jolted,
stumbled and bumped their way over
y ? rutty and uneven plain. The full
dawn broke. and the sun rose in all the
glorious majesty of day.
Then, as they entered the pass be-
tween the rocky hills, the full heat Of
the sun began to beat down upon them.
1t beat on Bluebell's unsheltered head
and gave her a racking headache. Soon
she became intensely thirsty, but no
water was to be seen; but the pain and
WEAKNESS of her body was as nothing
compared to the anxiety, the fear, the
anguish that racked her mind.
God, God, help mel There is none
but Thou!" she prayed again and
again. Then there came to her mind
the remembrance of Adair Rothes'
quiet, brave, strong face. and her heart
bounded. Oh, If he only knew what
had happened, would he not try to
save her from this awful fate?
About midday Moore called a halt.
He came forward to help Bluebell OF
her horse, but she scornfully waved
him aside and slipped off herself.
You can easily catch me II at
tempt to u away" she said. Even
as the words passed her lips her heart
beat high.
Run away! Why should she not
make q bold attempt? They could not
be very far distant from some town
when Moore had spoken of a day and
a nights journey. And ever II she
lost herself on that terrible trackless
plain, among those rocky mountains
better that fate than the one with
which she was threatened.
Her chance was to come sooner thar
she expected.
CHAPTER VII.
ut is impossible! l cannot believe