Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-09-13
A SISTERS VENGEANCE
CHAPTER x1v.-tContinued.)
ey GEORGE MANvILLG PENN

Il
Il was the sccundrcls companion come
at the call for help. thought Humphrey
and he chung still In silence, wondering
whether II was too late as his strained
eyeballs glared upward.
voice.
1t was to save his life; but though
Humphrey recognized the voice, he could
not speak, for his tongue and throat were
dry.
"Are yen hercY Hold onv' cried the
voice again: and then there was the
sound Of someone feeling about, but dis
lodging stsnes, which kept rafting down
aAd splashing below.
"Wherc are your cried the voice above
Humphrey; but still he could not reply.
His hands were giving way. and he felt
that his whole energy must be devoted
20 the one effort Of clinging to the last
ere he was plunged down into that awful
gulf.
But the man who chung to him heard
tho hoarscly whispered question:. and
broke out into wild series of appeals
for help-for mercy-for pity.
For heavens sake. captain! he yelled,
Save me--savc me! 1t was Black MAJ
card! lie made me come! DO you hear
Help! I can't hold no longer! I'm fall
ing! Help! Curse you-help"
AZ these cries thrilled him through and
through, Humphrey was conscious In the
darkness that the hands he heard rust.
Ling above him and dislodging stones. ev-
cry fall Of which brought forth a shrek
from the wretch below. suddenly touch.
ed his, and then, as IL systematically, leap.
ed to his wrists, round which they fast.
ened with grip like steel.
10 Humphrey Armstrong 1t was all
now like one hidcous nightmare, during
which he suffered, but could do nothing
to free himself. The wretch's shrieks
were growing fainter. and he chung In an
inert way now, while someone seemed to
be muttering above:
II can do nothing more! can do notli.
ing morew but the grip about Hum
phrey's wrists frightened. and two arms
rested upon his hands and seemed to press
them closer to the stones to which they
chung.
''Captain-captain! Are you thercy'
YES" came from close to Humphreys
face.
"Forgive me, skipper. and help me up
I'll be faithful to you! Ill kill Black
Maxxarlw
II can do nothing" said the buccanecr
Aoarsely. "You are beyond my reach
Then 20 and fetch the lads and .
rope. Don't let me fall into this cursed
watesy grave"
nc quit my hold here, man, You will
both 70 down; unless help comes, moth
ing can be DONE"
'Then call help! Call help now, cup
tain, and Ill be your slave! Curse hin
for leaving me here! Where's 10.
ThorpeT'
HE was killed BY Maxxard with q
blow meant for me-" said the buccaneer
slowly.
Curse him! Curse himw shriekcd thu
man. "Oh. captain. save me, and II
kill him for you. He wants to be skip
per. and III kill him for you II you'll
only AIR
He uttered a despairing shrek, for q
be spoke 4 sharp, tearing sound wal
4eaed; the cloth he chung to gave way
and before he could get q fresh hold b,
was hsngin. suspended by the half.torn
% garb. He swung to and fro 40 b,
uttered one cry, and then there was a.
0Wful silence, followed by = plunge "a
6elow.
Again silence and the whispering and
tapping against the sides more faint; theI
. gurglinS sound, the water beat onct
or twice, . fainter echo or two, and thel
what sounded like sigh Of relief, and ,
sileuce that was indeed the silence o.
death.
Suddenly the silence In that darkness
was broken. for hoarsc voice said:
"Climb upv'
Climb exclaimed Humphrey, wh'
seemed to have recovered his voice, Will
his frozen energies appeared to expand
Eyes. climb. can hold you thus. bu
no mere. Try and obtain foOthold."
Humphrey Obeyed as one obeys VIII
<eeis Q stronger will acting upon him.
"Can you keep my hands fast" b
oaid. "rhey are numbed."
Eyes. You shall not slip now. Climb.
Humphrey obeyed, and placed his Zee
upon . projection, str0ve and strained
and hsw he knew not, found foothold
drew himself up, and half crawling, hal
dragged by the buccaneer as he backe
up the slope, reached the level part Of til
passage between the entrance and tn
doorway Of the inner temple, where h
subsidized ON the stones, painting, exhaust
ed. aad with IN icy feeling runnin
through his nerves.
Commodore junk" he whispered
hoarsely, as he lay In the semi-darknes,
-.y0u have saved my life."
''As you saved NINE"
Those two lay there In the gloomy pas
sage listening to the solemn whispering
and lsppings Of the water. BY degrees
though. as the heavy labored painting q
their breasts ceased, and their heart
ceased beating 30 unanimously, a NOR
matter-0f-fact way Of looking ut thei
position came over them.
'Try IL you can walk now," said tn
buccaneer In low voice. you will b
better In your own place."
"Yes-tsO0il" replied Humphrey, ah
ruptly; and once more there was silenc,
a silence broken at last by the buccs
neer.
captain Armstrong" he said, softl!
at last, "surely we can now be friends
"Friends? No! Why can wei" erie
Humphrey, angrily.
Because l claim your life. the III
that saved, as mine-because ow
you mine"
mo, NO! I tell you 1t is impossible
Enemies, sir. enemies to the bitter en-,
You forget why came out here"
mo-" said the buccaneer, sadly. "Yo
came to take my life-to destroy my pc
ple--but Fate said otherwise. and yO
became my ,prisoner--your life forfeite
to mev'
UA Ns~ so, 5o,o NM toLaV, or;od HIM