The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-07-02
+ r a N r.. st O C IA

DlNMSAJ 1puluH you whistle
couldn't you gendy2"
mo- said .ickor: IF did that
their sharp ears wo Id hear and Ian
terms would be flashed or us. and per.
maps things would be cast down upon
US. That wolld be the quickest way
Of getting rid of you Bur now must
yet ont Of sight, or somebody will come
and suot everything
4 DieEory Charter had not told Miss
Kats Bonnet all that he mad heard
when he was stealthiIy wandering
about the ship lie had slipped down
into the chains near a p0rt-hoIe, on
4 the other side Of which Big Sam and
The black haired man were taking sup
per, and he heard great deal Of talk.
Among other things he heard bit of
conversation which, when expurgated
Of its oaths and unpleasant expressions.
was like this.
you arc sure YOU can trust the
men2" said Black-hair.
"oh, yesl" replied the other, they're
all right
Then why don't you GO now? At
any time officers may be rowing out
here to search the vessel
"And well they might For what
needs an Old farmer with an empty yes
sci, crew Of 70 men, ard ten guns2
He is in trouble you may wager your
life on that, OF he would be coming to
see about his girl"
And what viii you do about her?'
"Oh, she'll not be in the way" an
swered Big Sam with a laugh IF he
doesn't take her off before 1 sail. that's
his business If am Obliged to leave
port without his cash box. will marry
his daughter and become his son-iSr
Law don't doubt we can find par
son among all the rascals on board
then, perhaps. he will think it his duty
to send me drafts to the different ports
touch al"
Az this good joke. both of them
laughed.
The minutes moved slowly. very
slowly indeed, as Kate sat, listening
for the sound Of the old clock, and at
the same time listening for the sound
Of approaching footsteps
1t was now so dark that she could
not have seen anybody without a light,
but she could hear as If she possessed
The ears Of a eat.
Presently the old clock struck, one,
two In moment sac was climbing
over the rail In the darkness she
missed the heavy bit Of rope which
Dickory had showed her, but feeling
about she clutched 1t and let herself
down to the ledge below. Her nerves
We're quite firm now 1t was necessary
to be so very particular to follow Dick
ory's directions 10 the. letter. that her |
nerves were obliged to be firm. She |
slipped still farther down and sat side. I
ways upon the narrow ledge So mar
row that if the vessel had rolled she
could not have remained upon it,
There she waited.
Then there came, sharper and clearer
out of the darkness in the direction OF
the town the first stroke Of nine
o'clock from the tower OF the new
church. Before the second stroke had
sounded SIZE was hanging by her two !
hands from the ledge She hung al her
'ull length; she put her feet together;
ihe hoped that she would so down
and make no splash Three
our-fve--stx-seven-- eight - nine
ma she lei her fingers slip. from the
edge Down she went, into me dark
less and into The water, not knowing
where ore ended and the other began
Ter eyes were closed. but they might
IS wei have been open; there was
iOthing for her 20 see in all that
,lacknesS. Down she went. as II n
we're to the very bottom Of black air
nd black water And then, suddenly
ne felt an arm around her
Dickory was there.
She fclt herself rising. and Dickory
vas rising. still with his arm around !
er. In a moment her head was in the
ir, anu she could breathe. Now she
cit thar he was swimming. with one
rm and both legs. lnsunctively she
ried to help him. for she had learned
. swim. They went on a dozen strokes
r more. with much lcbor. until they
)uchcd something hard.
MY boat, said D!clory. in the low
81 Of whispers; take bold OF it,
Kate did 50. and ho moved from her
he knew that he was clamtasing into
be boat. although she could not see Ut
car him. Soon he took hold of her
ndcr her arms. and he lifted with the
rensth ol young lion. yet SO slowly.
> warily. that not drop Of water
luld be heard dripping from her gar
ents And when she was drawn I'D
igh enough to help herself. he pulled
sr IN. SUI wariiy and slowly Then 2
e slipped 20 the bow and ca.t of the
ne with which the canoe h1d been
lctoren. Il was his only rope. but he
lulG not risk the danger Of pulling MP
le bit Of rock to which the other end
ID was fastened Then. with q pad
e. worked a. silently as If IL had
.en handled by an Indian. the canoe
oyed away. farther and farther. into
.o darkness.
as all well with you?" said Dickorv.
linking Re might now safe.v murmuT
few words.
@All vel she murmured back. "ex-