Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-01-01
CHAPTER XIv.--tContinuedJ

1t was the scoundrcls companion come
al the call for help thought humphrey
aud he chung still in silence, wondering
whether it was too late AS his strained
eyeballs glared upward.
Where are your" came in a husky
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 you here2 Hold onW cried the
voice again; and then there was the
sound of someone feeling about, but dis
lodging stones, which kept rafting down
and splashing below.
Where are your cried the voice above
Humphrey; but still he could not reply.
His hands were giving way, and he fcIt
that his whole energy must be devoted
to the one effort of cinging to the last
ere he was plunged down into that awful
gulf.
But the man who chung to him heard
the hoarsely whispered question, and
broke out into a wild series OF appeals
for helpfor mercy-for pity.
"For heavens sake, captain! he yelled,
Save me-save me! 1t was Black MAJ
EdIul ne maui ~ ~" ''NN'
Help! | can't hold no longer! I'm fall
ing! Help! Curse you-help!'
As 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, ey-
cry fall Of which brought forth 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.
To Humphrey Armstrong it was all
now like one hideous nightmare, during
which he suffered, but could do nothing
TO free himself. The wretch's shreks
were growing fainter. and he chung in an
inert way now, while someone seemed to
be muttering above:
IL can do nothing more! l can do notm-
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 there|
YES" came from close to Humphrey S
face.
Forgive me, skipper, and help me up!
Ill be faithful to you! I'll kill Black
Mazzard!"
81 can do nothing" said the buccaneer,
hoarsely. "You are beyond my reach"
'"rhen go and fetch the lads and n
rope. Don't let me fall into this cursed
watery grave"
IF quit my hold here, man, you will
both go down. unless help comes, moth
Ing can be done"
"Then call help! Call help now, cap
tain, and I'll be your slave! Curse him
for leaving me here! Where's Joe
Thorper
"He was killed by Mazzard with a
blow meant for me-" said the buccaneer,
slowly.
Course him! Curse him!" shrieked the
man. "Oh, captain, save me, and I'll
kill him for you. He wants to be skip
per, and I'll kill him for you IL you'll
only Abr
He uttered despairing shrek, for as
he spoke sharp, tearing sound was
heard; the cloth he chung to gave way,
and before he could get fresh hold he
was hanging suspended by the half-torn-
off garb. He swung to and fro as he
uttered one cry, and then there was an
awful silence, followed by a plunge far
below.
Again silence and the whispering and
tapping against the sides more faint; then
a gurgling sound, the water beat once
or twice, fainter echo or two, and then
what sounded like sigh of relief, and Il
silence that was indeed the silence Of
death.
Suddenly the silence In that darkness
was broken, for hoarse voice said:
'Climb up"
Climb exclaimed Humphrey who
seemed to have recovered his voice, while
his frozen energies appeared to expand.
Eyes, climb. can hold you thus, but
no more. Try and obtain a foothoId."
Humphrey obeyed as one obeys who
feels stronger will acting upon him.
Can you keep my hands fast?" he
said. "They are numbed."
Eyes. You shall not slip now. Climb
Humphrey obeyed, and placed his feet
upon a projection. strove and strained,
and how he knew not, found foothold,
drew himself up, and half crawling half
dragged by the buccaneer as he backed
up the slope, reached the level part of the
passage between the entrance and the
doorway of the inner temple, where he
subsidized on the stones, painting, exhaust
eu, anu Win an ICY ieeunB running
through his nerves.
Commodore Junk" he whispered,
hoarsely, as he lay in the semi-darkness,
you have saved my life"
''As you saved mine"
Those two lay there in the gloomy pas
sage listening to the solemn whisperings
and lappings OF the water. BY degrees
though, as the heavy labored painting OF
their breasts ceased, and their hearts
ceased beating so unanimously, NOR,
matter-of-fact way of looking at theil
position came over them.
"Try If you can walk now" said III,
buccaneer In low voice. You will be
better in your own place"
"YesIsoon." replied Humphrey, alb
ruptly; and once more there was silence
silence broken at last by the bucca
neer.
Captain Armstrong" he said. softly
at last, "surely we can now be friends? 2
Friends? No! Why can WEI" crieC
Humphrey, angrily.
Because | claim your life, the lf,
that / saved, as mine-because 1 ow,
you miner