The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-09-15

cotild see hin, far below fishing luzily IN
b deep pool when he returned no hnd
three huge cod tho smallest 'llt welgnlng
more than twenty pounds. And 80 they
made their first meal In thelr rocky For
tress. which Give ;chrlstencd "srhe Black
Hole.n ,, @s Fl iE5 " VI Il
NOV, Hcc..," said Leckburn, Us no
nung IL bandolicr ovor his massive
shoulders. "we must not be idle We
want fresh meat. This Is sort Of cold .tll.
4 month. we'll leave Give IT, command
ana 70 hunting. Get your little gun" I.
,Dot,'t 80 too far, said Give. II snall
| be Jolly anxious 4 it ca s6ii
l.You needn't worry old chap. We car,
! look after ourselves. Mutnps, bring n,
shotgun nnd n bng. Well cut across tlio
snndhills and DO back before dark Mt
1 atcst." ",
Leckburn glanced into the rifle-plt and
warned Marsden to keep a bright look
out. They turned inland and began 70
climb tho yellow sandhills. When they
reached the summit a patch Of coarse
grass grown land lay below dotted with
sand. Beyond that what looked q dis
tant mass OF trecs--tho edge of the forest
where. according to Black Junn's MAP
were "inany fierce beasts"
They came upon d few pools OF wafer
which swarmcd with the queer benkcd
animals and nm occasional flamingo or
| stork tapped screaming away
They were nearing tho forest. Tho
trees were a species OF FIR with tall. req
stems and fcathcry branches.
Hector pecrcd into the green depths
of the forest longlngly. The sun was
still high
| and cones.
"whnts that?'' said Iockburn, turn.
| Ing swiftly.
L.eckburn began to run back, and they
bounded after him. They gained the
wnter's edge. A canoe, pulled by soil
tary figure, was flying down the stream.
i They shouted but the canoe sped on, ana
1 was lost in q green avenue OF tangled
troes
They broke into trot.
! '"There no Isl cried Hector
l A paddle flashed In the sunlight far
i down the stream. and again the canoe
Vanished under the overhanglng branches.
i They quckencd their pace. Why did tho
4 unknown man fly from them? Whit was
i his object in conccalng himself? Hector
4 was famous runner, and he soon boz
4 gan to draw ahead The Unknown had
the current in his favor. and twlgs,
bramb1es and little runncls mpcded
i Dano. He sprang over the obstacles like
IL
4 all at once. and Hector pulled up Sharp
4 ly.
The canoe was not I'M sight. Ho rubbed
z his eyes and breathed heavily. Before
E him lay stretch OF water as blue, clear
and unruffled as tho sky above a few
black swans wero mirrored on Its
bosom and the branches bent rs II to
+ kiss It, And on Its banks. stood as trim
y and neat bungalow as any that grnccd
/. the banks Of Englnnd's fair Thames. y
!. velvet; lawn soped down to the edge OF
{ the stream. and q punt was moored TO
a rustic landing stage. Smoke rose from
the chimneys; pigeons cooed on inc
j matched caves. and q COW broWsed on u
( paddock behind.
Again Hector rubbed his eyes, and
Leckburn cnmo numbering up. both men
" stared at the rose clad bungalow. a dog
i began to bark and a little terrier darted
q through the open door. On the steps q
cat was summing Itself, and canary III
brass cage sang Justify.
l-I'm-hanged! SAID l-cckpurh.
Jerking out his words.
80 am r." said Hector.
"And I'm going on, II get shot" add
ed Leckburn., shoulderinE his rifle.
"I,m with you,, said Hector Dane.
Both garden and paddock were strong
ly guarded by network OF barbed wire.
The gate was unfastened. Dane Knock
= ed at the open door, WHile li'e teii ~
frisked round them. The knocks were
not answered. Leckburn, promptly strobe
over the threshold and entered the
square hall.
There was a fireplace at one end.
Guns fishing rods, stuffed animals, and
the heads OF deer. tigers and bears hung
on the walls. Rugs covered the floor,
and an open tackle-book. containing
+ artificial salmon and trout flies. lay on
the table. There were silver vases con-
tanning freshly-cut flowers After one
glance and subdued whistle. Leckburn
, opened the nearest door.
All at once a sound Of hoofs made them
, rush to the window.
A horse rose into the air like q bird
and SKINNED the barb-wirc fence
,, "a woman, by Heaven!" Leckburn
cried.
He dashed across the room, followed
by Hector A darl-faced, beautiful wo-
man had leapt from n thll. black morse,
Leckburn staggered against the door.
,, post. Had the earth opened he could not
, have been more nstounded.
i, "vanessa!'' he cried 1.-THE Quecn!"