The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-09-20
Peril Island J !. n !.

CHAPTER XXI.
The Last Attack.

All through the afternoon nhd FAR into
the black rainy night, the men ftoile ed,
Trenches we're dug round the three sides
~ the bungalow. and walls OF snnd and
fnggot built Croydon Garth himself
shared lii the labor. lie knew why Hans.
VANDERBILT lad sent olt his armed boats.
and what the 10litchmnn's A Intentions
were. TO save his own carcasc, he must
xii them ALL Z,
The night pissed and n splendltl morn e :.
Ing came. Honest sam, having splced
liz wooden leg. Ind changed Ills colors.
Ieckburr sct him to wash lip plates and
dishes. Lcckbrn, Give aid Hector
WITH Terry Nuldoop OH guard had n
glorious dip II, the crystal pool below the
weir, and camo back like giants re-
frcshed. The canoe wns descending tho
stream stink almost TO tho gun@ y a. py
The cnrcase OF fnt buck. Graydon
rlnrth's lnrder had to be kept very full
IA feed the mouths now dependent upon
'''"1xcep your rifles down, lads cried
Leclsburn, "or tho sun may gvo US
away" Z, }, z, !,
was IIcctors command. The walls had
been loopholed Hector was kenn5innd
ready. Climbing upon tho'Froof. 1.ecls-
burn scanned the landscape. u.
C,raydon Garth sat beneath the vcrnll
dab dexterously making trout nles,$ He
had changed his twecds for q suit \: OF
white duck, Under tumbler Il live
bronze and blue water fly was tapping
and crawling, and the millionaire occn-
sionally glanced at 1t to make sure that
his imitation WIS accurate
5.'Yo,l Must mako the best OF It, Ned.
he drawlecl There Is q famous trout
up yonder that have sworn to catch.
He will never rise at anything except
this particular ny, and only then when
| there nre plenty OF them on the water.
This is just the morning ! have been
waiting for. That trout has laughed me
to scorn numbcrless times. Send up one
OF the little balloons II you nrc hard
pressed. And be careful of cartridges.
lad. \ Mine will not fit your rifles"
"FIow many rifles have YOU. my lord y
Il Two. IL
The ammunition they had brought
ashore was at low ebb. 1t PANIED
out at nine rounds man for rifles, ana
twenty for revolvcrs. The millionaire
! tied a couple OF flies to the lash ana
picked up his rod.
| .I shall not be far away" he said. IF
| YOU beat off the attack Ned. and kill
the monster trout. It will be n red letter
day. Remember my wife is IN your
keeping.
He drove the canoe up stream. and the
green branches that bent to kiss the
silver water hid him.
| The heat seemed to rise out OF the
ground, and tho whole air shimmered
with 1t. AS Leckburn passed the kitchen
he heard the Queen singing light heart
eddy. Leckburn was slightly worried by
the Lascar's absence, far more, In fact.
Than Hector The two men who had
escaped at the capture OF the rife pit
had rejolned thcm and Glaishers wound
was healing rapidly.
The young nobleman made last in
spection OF the defences. He had an idea
that VANDERBILT would make final effort
to bring him to terms. The day dragged
on. Both parties were seen TO be mounts
| ing the guns. They We're within shot,
and Leckburn ragged lnwardly ut the fate
which compelled him to allow them to
work unmolested. But he could not af-
lford to throw away a cartridge.
AS the clock In the hall Of the bunga-
| low chimed ten. litter moved from the
river 1t was carried by four men. 1t
| glided in and out between the low trees.
/ Leckburu -~-h5 not resist the tempta-
ton Rectins his me ON the ridge OF
the roof. he snacked up tho site to
! twelve hundred yards, and fired. Then
1 he clapped the binoculars to his eyes.
/ Though the bullet had done no dam
age, it had gone close enough to cause
/ some CONSERVATION. The bearers had
dropped the litter and were running in
i various directions. a thick-set figure
/ sprang up. and Leckburn saw VANDERBILT
waving his arms and dancing with rage.
you made them jump that time,
Neddy," said Give. who was lying on
i the roof beside his lordhip. $50 they
carry the old man about now. ch?"
| Tim stark mad" growled Lcckburn.
He absolutely rolled off the roof. Garth
had two rifles and plenty OF ammuni-
/ ton. Leckburn could have kicked HIM
self for such criminal forgctfuness. He
came from the house at a full speed, the
rifle In his hand and his pockets cram
i crack! spat the weapon. and VANDERBILT,
fat as he was, ran for his life. From
the stable beneath rose the thunderous
laughter OF Terry Mudoon.
1 A BLUR OF smoke lowered over the
brown heap OF frcshly-dug earth as Van
{ derIet dashed behind the shelter, and a
shell pumped down In tho very center
& OF the paddock where 5yanessa's fowls
were feeding, 1t burst with a heavy
crash, nlng the air with dust. smoke
and feathers. The accuracy OF what
4 could only have been flying shot stag
gered them ALL Five or six men sprang
! upon the mound to watch the effect, but
J rolled into cover again as I.eckburn fired.
"'rhe next one will be smack into the
house, Cllve.'' said I4eckburn, modify,
\ Lucky dogs! The laundering idiots
iuked the range first try, What did ]
tell you?"
q a shell from tho gun on the bank OF
the stream caused flutter OF excitement
II was far too high, The shell exploded
on bed of osiers three hundred yards
from tho house. Terry was compelled
TO kick the en-legged man to keep
him Mt the work they had started,
The Irshman's pick hacked Mt the
brick foundation and finding that the
tool was sure but SLOW he brought a
4 >crowbar and a great sledge hammer.
Terry was making another outlet to the
cellar RI the building collapsed under
the fire, Terry argued that the grating
would be blocked, 3 The cellar Itself was
an excellent bomb-pro shelter. but he
did not want 1t to become a prison,
J Terry's contempt for shells was amaz-
ing. 1t takes q ton Of rifle bullets, It Is
said. to kill n man, and Terry estimated
It needed hundred tons OF she-lror
to kill anything at all. SO he pounded