Chicago eagle., 1902-09-20
A SISTERS VENGEANCE
sy GEORGE MANvILLe FgMN

down among some dense herbage, he
stared with astonishment at the sight
before him, a couple Of hundred yards
away.
For there. beyond one Of the piles Of
crumbling ruins. was a perfectly familiar
pathway, out Of which he saw step into
the broad sunshine the picturesque hg-
ure Of the buccaneer captain, who strobe
toward a group of waiting men.
A discussion seemed to take place, there
were some sharp orders, and then the
whole party disappeared.
why. Dinny, man, are you mad"
whispered Humphrey. Il trusted to you
to take me to some place of hiding, and
you've brought me right into the lions
den.'
swell. sor, and a mighty purity place,
too. 40 long as the lions not at home.
Sure and ye just saw him go out"
"But, Dinny-"
"Whisht! Don't spake so loud, sor.
Sure. now, II cannon ball made hole
In the side Of n ship, isn't that the safest
place to put your head so as not to be
hurt. They niver hit the same place
twice."
"rhcn your hiding place is my old lodg.
ing-my prisonw
"Av coorse II Is! The skipper has been
there to max sure that ye are really
gone; and now he knows, he'll say to him
self that this Is the last place ye'd 20
and hide In; and trOth, he's quite roight,
isn't he2"
Humphrey hesitated for few mo-
ments. and then, feeling how true the
mans words were, he gave way.
"Sure. sor, and It's all roight," whis-
pered Dinny. "Ar'n't I thrying to keep
my head out Of moose, and dye think
I'd be for coming here X 1t wasn't the
safest place? Come along; sure, It's a
lions den, as ye call It, and the best spot
l know"
He whispered to Humphrey to follow
cautiously, and crept on all.fours among
the dense growth, and In and out among
the loose stones at the very edge Of the
forest, till the tuhnehlike pathway was
reached In safety, when. after crawling
few yards out OF the binding sunshine
into the shadowy gloom, Dinny rose to
his feet.
"There, sor," he said. I'VE can walk
like Christians now, and not like animal
bastes.'
There was an ample supply Of food In
the place for week, and water. Dinny's
ideas respecting their safety seemed to
be quite correct, for though voices we're
heard at a distance, no one approached
the place. They had the hidden subter.
ranean tomb.like chamber Into which
they could retreat; and on the second
night, while Dinny was watching and
Humphrey. utterly worn out, was sleep.
ing feverishly and trying to forget the
troubles and dlsappointments Of his fall
urc, there was faint rustlinx noise
heard, and directly after his name was
whispered softly from above.
"Aurther!' cried Dinny. unable to con-
tain himself as he sprang up.
His exclamation and the noise he made
brought Humphrey from his couch, alert,
and ready for any struggle.
what Is III" he said.
"Dinnyw came In voice from above.
"Aiistress Greenhcys" cried Hum.
phrey. "You thcrew
Eyes. I came to try and learn tidlngs
Of you. did not know you were 10th
prisoners"
"Sure an we're not. darlin'," said Din.
\
1 be near You. An where have you been p
woman. "and reached It without having
been missed"
"Then ye're quite free to come and soT'
"Yes-quitc."
.go.braghw cried Dinny, excited.
ly. "rhen what we've got to do, darling,
II to 90 back and come agen as soon az ye
can wild something to ate, for we shall
soon be starved"
"Yes. Dinny; Ill come again tonight y
The night had not passed before the
faithful little woman was back again
with such provisions as she could bring
and lower down to them.
This went on for two nights, during
which time they had no alVrm. Not q
soul beside approached the place; and tn,
same report was brought them that theil
hiding place bafiled all. but the captain
was fercely determined that the prison
ers should be found.
"Thcn why not try to escape inland
Dinny" said Humphrey, at last. "Surely
It cannot be impossible"
Haven't we all thried It again ant
again wild the captain, sOrw said Dinny
In remonstrance. "He set us all to worl
40 w to make sure that we couldn't b,
attacked from the land, and ye can't ge
In mile anywhere, for thick fores
worked together like powerful big hur
die that's all solid. aud beyant that,
mountains. Sure, and ye can't get tina
way ut all wid0ut an army OF wood cut
tcrs. and a life hundred years longw
A week went by, food was wanting
the prisoners were In despair, and the,
had both crept ont again and again {,
the end Of the corridor, and listened 4
try and make out something; but all out
side was solemnly still, and the plac,
might have been once more the abode o.
death, had not couple Of sentries al
ways been visible keeping watch, 80 tina
1t was impossible to stir.
Dinny went to the window opening
and leaned there, while Humphrey seat
I'd himself upon the edge Of the cOucl
to watch the opening above his head, II
Expectation that Mistress Greenhey
might arrive and put an end to the ter
rifle suspense as to her silence.
The still. sultry heat was terrible. no
leaf moved outside, and the darkness
came ON more obscure than usual; for a
Humphrey looked out Of the window
from time to time, to gaze along the for
est arcade, there was not FREELY yisi
BILE. and the heavy, oppressive state o
the air seemed to announce q c0min
storm.
Dinny's figure had long been visible, bu