The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-10-23

but a reprieve until tomorrow Build
no hope upon it."
eve will not wait for the morrow.
my dearest" she answered softly. FOR
| the boat swings under the counter Won
der. When night falls and it is quite
dark we will slip out of the port and
go away together. In few moments
| it will be time"
The Irishman caught eagerly 1T the
suggested idea. 1t was fall of i'm
probability, but it did present bare
possibility of escape if they were for
tunate.
very good,'' he whispered; excel
lent. But the sentry there?'
I'VE will wait until there is some
hustle on the deck" she answered,
and in the confusion and noise they
will not hear. At any rate, we must
risk it." Something told her she would
better not inform him that Coventry
was keeping watch.
How did you prevail upon the ad-
miral to grant the reprieve?" he asked
after another pause, not unemployed,
however.
'1-well, you see-oh, | scarcely
know how. The admiral loves me, you
know-I cannot explain it. 1t seems
like bewildering, frightful dream to
me" said the girl, passing her hand
over her hair and turning shade paler
as she spoke, and studiously avoiding
his eye. do not speak of it now. You
are safe for the moment-you saw the
pnper-Edward also-it was all right.
Let that suffice"
He soothed her with tender words
and loving caresses. The sound of them
was death to the pale faced young
man, alone with his own broken
thoughts, on the other side of the
screen. Unheeded the night came steal
twinkled here and there; the boat
SWANS whistle rang out between
decks on the frigate. There was a call,
a hoarse cry or two, hurrying of feet.
little confusion.
"Now is the time" said Elizabeth,
releasing herself from his unwilling
arms and looking out through the port.
hS 10 L Illcl 1lIll OH
the strand as | was seeking for boat
to bring me out t6you. He is faithful;
he says he knows you-has served I'M
der YOU
Knows me-" said O'Neill, surprised,
thrusting his head through the open
port. There. right beneath him, little
skiff was being brought up deftly and
without noise from where it had lain
unnoticed under the counter in the
confusion since the girls arrival The
side of the ship was in deep shadow,
and the broad main chains extending
over their heads above the ports fur
Their concealed them from notice.
Gathering her skirts about her, Eliz-
abeth slipped first through the port
O'Neill held her firmly until the man
below lifted her gently into the stern
of the boat. Noiselessly and as quick
ly as possible O'Neill followed her.
By Elizabeth's direction he lay down
In the bottom of the boat and she COW
cred him entirely with her boat cloak
had not recognized in the shadow and
who had said nothing, slowly worked
the boat back under the counter again,
then with a strong thrust showed her
clear Of the ship. The flooding tide
carried them slowly away. In a few
moments he cautiously got out his oars
and by very gentle pulling added
little to the way of the boat.
The ear Of the watchful Coventry
had at once apprised him of their de- |
parture. He could scarcely resist the |
temptation to enter the screen-to call |
them back that he might see her once !
again. But he had duty to do So |
soon as he was persuaded that they |
had left the ship he called the sentry |
from the opposite side of the deck and |
told him to mount guard again and on |
no account to disturb the prisoners. |
Then he ran rapidly up to the quarter |
deck and made his way aft to the ma
rine on guard there. The man was |
looking out into the darkness at dark i
blur on the water-a boat. Two fig |
ures could be distinguished in it. one
of them woman. Coventry saw them
at once, and as he looked they disap- |
peared-the last sight of her, he |
thought bitterly. The marine had just |
opened his mouth to give the alarm
when the clear voice of the officer rang
in his ear
Sentry said Coventry. The man
sprang to attention at |
once and for the moment forgot the
boat
Have you seen any signals from the
castle?"
mo, sir. But / seen little boat off |
there that looked suspicious like"
whereabouts did you see itY'
'"There, sir; right off there"
NO" said Coventry. straining his I
eyes through the darkness. 'There is
no boat there. You have been mistak- !
en-. think" he added indifferently. his
gaze still fixed on the place where they
had drifted away and disappeared. He
knew what was coming. since they had
gone. He must pay for it. so he leaned
later large barge full manned darted !,
out of the darkness, coming toward the
ship. Coventry knew what it was. of
course
"Boat ahoyw shouted the watchful
sentry at the gangway.
Flag" was the answer as the admi-
raj dashed alongside. Almost before /
the officer of the watch could reach the
the old man clambered to the
deck. |
"Good evening. SIR" he said in re-
spouse to the formers salutation.
Captain Pearson?"