The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-09-18
CHAPTER XIII.
TILE

THE les.
Upon the conclusion of breakfast I
saw Enid Vaughan cast a significant
glance towar her brother; I had OBJ
served tina not once had she spoken
to, or even looked in BE direction of,
Sir Arthur.
What is to be lone with the prison
ers shut up there. sir?" asked Owain.
Ought they not receive food?"
My uncle started, as If from a rev.
| erie, but did not raise his eyes as he
answered. 81 have formed my plans for
dealing with them. and things are In
train"
"And what is the first step?"
ITO secure them in bonds, that they
may do us no further mischief"
He rose as he spoke, and went from
the room, Owain and I followed him
at once. He made for the courtyard,
and by the instant information or
Owain, who was uneasy when anything
was said in my presence which I did
not understand, l was enabled to fol-
low perfectly every incident which now
tool place.
Hal" cried Sir Arthur, in a tone OF
satisfaction, and we saw the Two
marksnen. Evan and Mocyn, each
posted at a window with the muzle
of his piece between the bars, and
pointing inward.
Are they going to shoot the poor
wretches in their prison?" I asked.
" l. uOll - L Il ~, pa "AAA
but I certainly cannot answer for what
he is going to do with them"
Owain's tone showed that he put but
little faith in my uncle's mercy, and we
continued to follow the latter as he
walked toward the nearer window.
A glance through the unglazed iron
bars showed that the captives were six
in number. Bitter as was the season,
their nakedness was covered with but
a few rags, n they lay on the stone
door of the large, low room as COM
posedly as a man lies on a bed. Four
Of them were lying down. the other
two were leaning against the wall.
blinking carelessly at the muskets
pointed directly upon them. Mocyn
and Evan had watched their opportun-
) ity, slipped the guns in at the window,
, and hidden them remain as they were,
Offering to shoot the first man that
moved. Sc the pixies, which were their
[ only save for large, savage
knives, lay on the floor as they had
placed them. and they slept or stared
idly about them, awaiting, with an APP
/ pearance Of perfect unconcern, the
pleasure Of their captors.
Sir Arthur counted them over and
over again, drawing deep breaths OF
satisfaction. Then he put his face close
t to the bars and began speaking In
sharp, clear tones. He made a short
speech, and paused. He spoke again,
= 1 llA / NA~
paused once more.
"He Is bidding them submit them
: selves to be %piniOned, one at a time, OF
4 they shall be shot down as they stand
g whispered Owain in my ear. He is
also" and this was said very drily
t making them a great quantity OF
t promises, which I DON'T Owair
4 stopped in a little confusion, and
d looked upon the prisoners. One of then
was a long, lean, elderly man, and the
f others, without a word having beer
spoken among them, all turned theil
8 eyes upon him. Sir Arthur begar
q speaking again, but instantly stopped
as the tall man Strengthened himsel
a from the wall, flung his knife to the
q other side and went to the door Weap.
e onless. My uncle blew a loud shTil
h cali on the whistle which hung at hi:
t button, and the door was cauttousl,
g opened; and the prisoner disappeared.
The same process was gone through
with each of the other five, and then W!
t. went round to the hall, where we fount
the captives ranged along a bench
Their arms were closely pinioned be
hind, and their ankles were bound witt
leathern pony shackles in such fashion
r hat they could move at a shufhinl
walk and no faster. A guard of sever
or eight men stood over them, an
t. women's faces peeped from the lowe
N end Of the hall, eager to catch
- VI Az
>" Dusk. M latter bore themselves wit.
I'd the stoicism Of true savages. h
barely deigned to look round them, an
when by chance I met a glance fror
IN one, he eyed me as coldly and hardly a
>, if he stood in a purely Indifferent stu
)" alton.
OF Sir Arthur uttered a few words c
command, and the line of prisoner
with their guards was set in motion.
e. "ShalI we go with them" sal
Owain.
"Will the house be safe? ?" I asked.
n Several men will be left to watch 1t
nv he replied, "and if you wish for m
at opinion, I 10 not think we shall go far
sh Sir Arthur took his place betWee
two we'll armed attendants at the hea
on Of the procession, and it moved up tn
C. mountain road, a couple Of active feI
as lows on either side OF the way search
tn ing every hollow where an Enemy mug g
ur lie concealed, q asaiLie. euli
a nrise, Owain and I brought up tt
1T rear. Our pace was timed to that (
er, the shackled. shutting prisoners az