Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-11-25
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AUraoR OF the NAN IN BLACK,
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CHAPTER XVIII.
A murmur Of G,slnay broke out at the
lower end OF the table. But the Cornish
man rose to the situation, "What mat
ter?" be orled boisterously. what we
have lost in Bray we have gained in Mas.
ter Berthe. Ho will raise Lincolnshire for
us and tho duchess tenants. There should
be 500 stout mon OF the latter and two
thirds Of than Professionals at heart. II
Bray has been seized there Is the more
call for haste that we may release him.. !"
This appeal was answered by ON out
burst Of cries. One or two even rose, and
waving their weapons swore q speedy
vengeance. But Master Berthe sat silent till
the noise had subsidized. Then he spoke.
You must not count on them either, Sir
Thomas, he said firmly. i cannot find
it in my conscience to bring my wifes
tenants into plan SO desperate as this APP
pears to be. To appeal to the people gen.
orally is ono thing; to VI on those who
are bound to us, and who cannot in honor
refuse, is another. And will not risk in
hopeless struggle the lives of mon whose
fathers looked for guidance to me and
mine"
A silence, the silence of utter nstonish-
ment, fell upon the plotters round the ta-
BILE In every face-aDd they were all
turned upon my compartment read rage
and distrust and dismay. They had chafed
under his cold criticisms and his calm rea-
sonings. But this went beyond all, and
there were hands which stole instinctively
to daggers and eyes which waited scowl-
ing for signal But Penruddocke, san
guine by nature and rendered reckless by
circumstances, had still the feelings OF q
gentleman, and something in him respond
ell to the appeal which underlay Muster
Berties words He remained silent, gaz-
ing gloomily at the table, his eyes perhaps
opened at this late hour to the hopeless
ness Of the attempts he mcditated.
1t was Walter Kingston who came to
tho fore and put into words the thoughts
OF the coarser and more selfish spirits
round him. Leaping from his seat, he
dashed his slender hand on the table,
ssWhat does this meant he sneered, o
dangerous light in his dark eyes. Those
only are here or should be here who are
willing to stake all-all, mind you-on
the cause Let US have no sneaksl Let
us have no men with q foot on either
bank! Let us have no Courtenays nor
towards! Such men ruined Wyatt and
hanged my brother A curse on themP
he DRIED, his voice rising almost to q
scream.
Master Kingston, do you refer to me'"
BERTHE rejoined in naughty surprise.
AYE, do'' cried the young man holly.
.Then must beg leave Of these gentle
men to explain my position.
Your positionY So! More wordsp"
quoth the other mockingly.
Aye, as many words az please, /" re-
torted Master BERTHE, his color rising
.Afterward will be as ready with deeds,
dare swear, as any other! My tenants
and my wife's I will not draw into an nl-
most hopeless struggle. But my own life
and my friend g, since we have obtained
your secrets must risk, and will do so
In honor to the death. For tho rest, who
doubts my courage may test 1t below
ground or above"
The young man laughed rudcly. "You
will risk your life, but not your lands,
Master Bertie2 That is the position, is it?'
My companion was about to utter re-
ioinder, ficrce for him, when /, who had
hitherto sat silent, interposed. Tho old
witch told the truth, l cried bitterly.
.She said II we came hither we should
perish, and perish we shall, through be-
Ing linked to dozen mon as brave as l
could wish, but the biggest fools under
heaven"
''Foolsa" shouted Kingston.
faye, FOOLS" repeated For who but
fools, being at sea In boat in which all
must sink or swim, would fall a-quarrel-
ingp Tell me thatl' I cried, slapping the
table.
"You are about right" Penruddocko
said, and half dozen voices muttered as
sent.
About right, is hef" shrieked King
ston. But who knows we are in boat
together2 Who knows that. I'd like to
hear"
II do" said, standing up and over
topping him by eight inches, land II any
man hints that Master BERTHE Is here for
any other purpose or with any other In
tent than to honestly risk his life in this
endeavor as becomes gentleman let him
stand out, lot him stand out, and will
break his neck! Fie gentleman, 1e!' !
continued, after short pause, which I
did not make too long lest Master King
ston S passion should get the better OF his
prudence. Though I am young, have
seen service. But ! never saw battle won
yet with dissension in the camp For
shame Let us to business and make the
best dispositions we may"
You talk sense, Master Carey! Pen
ruddocke cried, with a great oath. Give
mo your hand, and do you, Kingston, hold
your peace II Master Bcrtie will not
raise his men to save his own skin, he will
hardly do it for ours. Now, Sir Richard
Bray being taken, what is to be done, my
lads? Come, let US look to that.
So the storm blew over. But it was
with heavy hearts that two Of us fell to
the discussion which followed counting
over weapons and assigning posts and de-
batting this ones fidelity and that ones
lukewarmness. Our first impressions had
not deceived US. The plot was desperate,
every element which should command
angement-everyt thing save sheer audao-
ity. When, after prolonged and miser-
able sitting, 1t was proposed that all
should take the oath of association on the
gospels, Master Bcrtie and 1 assented
gloomily. 1t would mako our position no
worse, for already we were fully commit
ted. Inc poSltlon was lnueeo DAD enough.
We had only persuaded the others to a
short delay, and even this meant that we
must remain in hiding in England, ex-
posed from day to day to all the chances
OF detection and treachery.
Sir Thomas brought out from some se-
cret place about him tiny roll of paper
wrapped in quill, and while we stood
about him looking over his shoulders he
laboriously added, letter by letter, three
or four names The stern, anxious faces