The Bowbells tribune., 1905-01-13
CHAPTER xxx-Continucd.


the appeal instantly. Dave and Sam
among them. Tripp soon left them
behind. Then was manifest one at
least OF the qualities which had given
him the ascendancy over that rough
and savage crew. In spite OF all he
had gone through he seemed fresher
and more vigorous than the young fell
lows who had passed for his ncphews.
But ether qualities showed themselves.
too. Never for moment did he seem
Ill a loss, never did he hesitate or lose
heart RufTan no doubt he was but
neither coward nor fool.
The beach rose in successive ridges.
Halfway up the second he stumbled
over prcstratc figure. STOPPING down
he sa Wit was ouc Of the enemy, sore
ly wounded. Spurning him with a
cruel Kick and Il curse at the delay,
he hurried on. Farther UP lay two or
three more bodies. but not the one he
was seeking.
''lt's NO good cried Sam. painting
behind: "he's as dead as last Christ
mas. You'll only run your head into
a Moose for nothing
"l'I shove It anywhere rather than
leave old Dick to the hanginan. Get
back. il you want to. | said I wanted
mer."
you've no cause to grumble," said
Sam; aren't w-a backing you up?'
To this Tripp voucLsafcd no answer,
for his quick eyes had lii upon group
just outside the cellar door. a tall
man. whom he recognized instantly,
was bending over huGdled mass,
dark and shapeless, while another man
witt: lanthorn turned q tickering
glow upon the object.
A voice shouted "RufIidse. Shoot
him" but he took nu heed, nor was
he aware that a shot whizzed by him.
With mighty bound he flung hinselp
upon the curate. hurting him on his
back; then, Kicking the lanthoTn from
the holders grasp. he stopped down.
"Dick:' he cried. Dick, old mate,
can you walk?"
AS he bent low he caught sight of
the face. and cry OF horror and grief
broke from his lips. One whole side,
from the hair 10 far down the neck.
was fearfully scorched. the skin all
b!ackened and hloated. The acrid
smell Of fire on clothes and flesh sick
ened him.
Never mind, Dick" he said. "l''l not
Leave you: never fear"
He tried to life him bodily in mis-
arms. but the dull, inert weight was
more than he could manage ON the
treacherous shingle.
"Dave! Sam! Jacll:" he shouted.
but glance over his shoulder revealed
the fact that. they had been surround
cd and were fighting fiercely on the
ridge below. Perhaps it was better
for him that this was SO. With char
acteristic swiftness Of decision he
snatched at the ono chance left him.
Selling the body under the armpits
with his right arm SO that the feet and
lower parts of the legs trailed on the
ground. he dashed Gown the beach
with a great conyulsiye effort. Once
he stumbled, but recovered himself:
once he fell outright and shuddered
as his own face touched for a moment
the dreadful face beneath. But, though
terrible to look upon, it was warm.
and his wicked, blasphemous lips
broke forth into praise.
"Thank heaven! He's not dead he
cried, and resumed his headlong rush.
And now he saw that the boat itself
was the object of a desperate strug-
gle. Only few feet from her the
combatsnts fought and yelled. while
the shapely craft, half in and half out
of the water, swaved from side to
side. Under cover of the darkness he
essayed q daring mancuver. Making
q wide circuit, he plunged into the wa
ter and waded out till he could only
Just keep his footing, while, rs best he
could, he supported his helpless bur
den The cold water seemed to revive
the weasel who began to stir and even
make feeble attempts to push out his
arms as il swimming.
Crouching as low as possible. Tripp
reached the stern Of the boat without
being observed, and with a desperate
strain heaved the Weasel in. Then he
clambered in himself. and crawling to
the bows watched the progress of the
fight. He saw that his crew was prac-
tically beaten. Leaving out of count
the four who had followed him up the
beach and who We're still engaged on
the second ridge, there were only Ave
left to withstand eight or nine. So
fierce was the struggle that even now
he escaped detection. Very cautiously
he shipped an car, and, exposing him
self as little as possible. pushed gently
from the beach. Quickly the curtain
of the darkness fell heavy and i'm
penetrable betwiXt him and the shore.
shutting out the sight and dulling the
sounds of the furious conflict
CHAPTER XXX.
Then for the first time Tripp began
to feel the effects of all that he had