Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-12-18


"Thc prisoners cannot escape through
the forest; there is no way but the sea,
and that must be properly watched. Due
notice must be given to all that any at
tempt to escape will be followed by the
punishment of death"
81 hear" said Bart. Gam | to tell the
captain that"
"No. He. must know it; but I give him
into your charge. You must watch over
him, and protect him from himself and
from anyone else"
BLACK MazzardY
"From anyone likely to do him HARM"
said the captain, sternly. "You under
stand|'
Yes. I'm going" replied Bart, in a
low growl, as he gazed in his leaders
eyes, and then, with a curious, thought
'ul look in his own, he went out of the
'aptain's quarters and in the direction Of
The prison of the kings officer.
AS Bart approached he became aware
" a faint rusting sound, as of someone
tetreating from the window among the
trees. and starting forward, he looked
nut. But all was still; not long rope
ike Llama quivering, no leaf crushed.
"Some monkey" muttered Bart, and
turning back, he gazed down with a
leavy frown at the frank, handsome face
If the young officer, till he saw the fea-
lures twitch, the eyes open and stare
Sonderingly into his; and once more the
prisoner, reused by the presence of an
pther gazing upon his sleeping face, sud
lenly sprang up.
You here!'
al
What for? Why?"
Nothing much, sir; only to tell you
that you can GO"
Cor cried the captain, excitedly.
"Yes, sir. Captain Jacks orders
where you like, so long as you don't try
10 escape"
But must escaped cried Humphrey,
lngrily. Tell the captain | will not give
ny parole"
"He don't want it, sir. You can go
where you like, only if you try to escape
you will be shot"
Humphrey Armstrong rose from where
he had been lying and made as If to go to
the door, his face full of excitement, his
eyes flashing, and his hands all of u
tremble.
There, the sickness has passed off.
Now help me out into the sunshine"
Humphrey Armstrong was weaker
from his wounds than he believed; but
the change from being shut up in the dim
temple chamber with the great stone idol
for company to the comparatively free
open air of the forest clearing rapidly
restored the elasticity of his nature, and
gave him ample opportunity for studying
the state of affairs.
He found that the buccaneers went out
but seldom, and that when expeditions
were made they would be fairly divided.
AT one time the captain would be in COM
mand, at another the lieutenant, so that
their settlement was never left unpro-
tected.
AS far as he could judge, they were
about a hundred in number, and great
dilapidated chambers in the range of
temples and palaces formed admirable
barracks and means of defense, such as in
time of need could easily be held against
attack.
But Humphreys great idea was to es-
cape; and to accomplish this it seemed to
him that his first need was to open up
communication with his men.
This he determined to accomplish, for
with the liberty given it seemed to be a
very easy thing to walk to some heap of
stones at the edge of the forest and there
seat himself till he was unobseryed, when
he could quietly step into the dense thick
ct, and make his way to where his fol
lowers were imprisoned.
He had not long to wait for it seemed
that, after being closely watched for the
first few days. the latitude allowed to him
was greater. He had but to walk to the
edge of the forest and wait for the op
portunity was sure to come.
The forest path had evidently beer
rarely used of late, for the soft earth
showed no imprints, the tender sickly
growth of these deep shades had not beer
crushed; and as Humphrey realized thes,
facts, he glanced back, to see how easl,
his trail could be followed-each stel
he had taken being either impressed il
the vegetable soil or marked by tn,
crushing down of moss or herb.
| The sight of this impelled him to addi
tional effort, so that he might gain SOM
definite information about his people, an,
perhaps seek them by night, when one
he had found the means of communica
ton. In this spirit he was hurrying OF
when he came suddenly, in one OF tn
darkest paths. upon figure which bar
red his way, and it was with the addition
of rage-wrung savage exclamation tina
he uttered his captor's name.
There was dead silence In the dar
forest as these two stood face to face
buried, as it were, in a gloomy tunne
After Humphreys impatient ejaculation
quite a minute elapsed; and then, hal
mockingly, came in deep, low voice:
Yes! Commodore Junk!'
Humphrey stood glazing down at tn
obstacle in his path. He was tall an
athletic, and, in spite of his weakness
and the tales he had heard OF the other
powers, he felt that he could seize thi
man. hurl him down and plant his foe
upon his chest; for the buccaneer capital
was without weapons, and stood lookin
up at him with one hand resting upon hi
hips, the other raised to his beardes
face, with well-shaped, small indie
finger slightly impressing his rounde
cheek.
YES" he said mockingly, "Commodor
Jurkl Well, Humphrey Armstron.