The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-17

coulQ sense tne peatlnB OIL nor nedft
| and the convusive distress OF the breast
| pressing near his arm.
Then you'll make me one promise
say that you will" she cried. anxiously.
with eyes pleading to his. II am Lord
Somers' daughter, OF London. II we two
are kllled-mama and Land you are
| left alive. promise me my father shall
know our fate. You will do this? You
will promise this2 Say that you will
If we are killed-and you are lett"
With his sunbrowned face pale and
drawn as If by hlden agony, Walton
looked down Mt her. and said:
| II will promlse-yes. But what use2
| What use?"
IF you are killed, or even harmed.
shall not be left to fulfill the promised"
There could be but one Significance.
| He had told her that only with his own
death should harm befal her. And he
had told her in way that touched
every chord OF sentiment In the girls
soul. She caught her breath. while a
swift flush came and went in her pale
cheeks. Then both her hands glided
down his arm, and both closed hard
round his.
IT understand you. nnd-nnd words
cannot repay" she murmured... tremu-
lousy. half sobbing. III in after time
we both are spared will try
You'd better take yourself below,
Emily" !nterposed harshly command
Ing voice near by, and Vail. with an
ugly frown on his white face when ho
| observed tho scene, strobe nearer.
what are YOU doing up here. anyhow?
Making that low fo'castle hand your
confidant?"
She swept round with flush which
fear of the impending peril was pow
erless 10 dispel. With quick ring in her
subdued voice. she cried sharply:
You forget to whom you are speak
/ mn po1,n rf Vail h r
20, no. don't!" retorted Vail. whose
jealousy was piqued despite waltons
| humble station. 'Thls Ia no place for
you-and no company! Your life"
Gould not possibly be under manier
apas ama 1 Bmy cut IN Ys with rta5tne
below" she quickly added. with touch
OF scorn. such discord III becomes so
dreadful an hour"
And with but glance Mt Walton. yet
ono remembered to his dying hour. she
returned down the companion and dis
appeared In tho cabin.
Vail could not have been more chastity
pale. yet the fire OF bitter fury glowed
In his frowning eyes. He strobe step
nearer tho man suddenly regarded with
dlstrIstful resentment and demanded
virulently:
who In hi are you. anyway"
Your superior In courtesy to ladies!"
said Walton. bluntly, yet with an air OF
provoking Indifference.
You blackguard-"
Shut up II you don't. I'll toss you
overheard and save these Tartars soil
Ing their hands. You can get cutlass
| forward, II you want one-or do you,
| too. contemplate seeking shelter in the
cabin?",
Vail grew crimson In an instant. The
fact that he was still unarmed had
evoked the others cutting insinuation.
For a moment this lieutenant of the
British navy could frame no reply. but at
length gasped fercely. shaking his clenci,ed
| hand:
"You presumptuous cur! We yet shall
| see who strikes the hardest blow!"
| But he at once went below, and Wal
! ton smiled In the face Of all danger and
1 shrugged his broad shoulders in n mean
| Ing way.
The scene described had quickly passed,
| however. and a sudden catspaw OF wind.
| the harbinger OF an early morning breeze.
instantly diverted his attention and awak-
ened thrill OF hope. The breath was
Ing the wet. dropping sails; and 1t chiefly
served the worst purpose Of lifting tho
mists that yelled the surface of the sea.
Their partial dissipation was like the
| raising OF a curtain, and for q moment
the heart of every man aboard tho brig
sunk like lead.
A half-mile away, over the port quar-
ter. there suddenly doomed the uncouth
| outlines of the huge junk, which had
| passed even nearer In tho earlier dark
ness. and now was veerng round toward
| the brig, with her deck and sweeps fairly
| alive with men.
| There no longer was occasion for ST.
lence. and the voice of Captain Van Hau-
sen rang over the Nord Brandt's deck,
I'VE are sighted, lads!" he shouted,
springtng to the larboard main shrouds.
ITO the bulwarks. every man OF you,
! that our force may be known They are
] ton to our one. but It's fight at those
odds or be slaughtered like sheep In
pen, Let every man sell his life dearly!'
A ringing cheer answered the words,
| and though the sunburnt faces of the
men thronging the port rail were blanched
| TO slckly Wilderness. their stern set fea-
lures and glowing eyes bespoke courage
and resolution, even In thatthour or al
praying for sudden breeze and some
| felt then as Archie Walton dld-that they
| had met a Just punishment for the con-
| templated transgression, But not for one
moment did he wish to DO elsewhere,
"Begin to fire the moment they come
in range!" roared Van Hansen. mount
! Ing the poop deck. Every man picked
| off will be- one less at close quarters!"
The junk was less than half mile
away, and bearing steadily towards the
| briggs port quarter. on course that
would shortly bring her alongside, and
| every pair Of anxious eyes was hxeo
| upon her.
The "Yar no! Var ho!" OF the pirate
horde, as they labored furiously at the
enormous sweeps. began to sound on
the morning air. and Increasing day
| light now revealed them In all their
| hdeous uncouthness, They were armed
to the teeth. their almond eyes cruelty
cleaning. while their horrible activity
their Wild gestures of exuberant exul-
tation, their incessant noise and unin-
telligihle gibberish, We're far moro like
| the manifestations of madly excited mon
keys than of human creatures. to which
indeed they could scarce be compared
lust then Lieut. Vail came bounding
| from the cabin. now wearing his SIDE
arms, and with such a look Of despera-
alton on his face as could have resulted
only from some most appalling realiza-
! ton. And let 1t here be said that. though
capable of outrageous treachery to serve
his own ends. he was by no means q
| oo~, fo,- tn tho 6arca q nd hlOOdV COnl-