Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1905-12-22

who, indeea. 81 Pines adVice, was
kept in ignorance of the whole matter
-Vickers ordered all the men, save
those who had been on guard during the
day, to be under arms IN the barracK,
forbade communication with the upper
deck, and placed as sentry at the par
rack door his own servant, an old SOL
der, on whose fidelity ne could thor
oughly rely. He then doubled the
guards; took the keys of the prison HIM
self from the non-commissioned officer
whose duty it was to keep them, and
saw that the howitzer on the lower deck
was loaded with craps. 1t was quar-
ter to when Pine and he took their
station at the main hatchway, determln-
ed to watch until morning.
At a quarter past any curious per-
son looking through the window of Cap
| tain Blunt's cabin would have seen an
unusual sight. That gallant commander
was sitting on a chair, and the hand
some waiting maid of Mrs. Vickers was
standing by his side. His gray hair
was matted all ways about his REDEEMED
| face, and he was blinking like an owl in
| the sunshine. He had drunk larger
| quantity of wine than usual at dinner.
| "Cuc-come, Sarah," he hiccoughed.
"It's all very fine, my lass, but you
needn't be so-hic-proud, you know.
I'm a plain sailor-plain s'lor, Srr'h.
| Ph'n'as Bub-blunt, commander OF the
Observation-Disclosures. Wors' Ssh good talk
in? You lovsh me, and I-hic-lovsh
you, Sarah"
The ships bell struck seven. Now or
never was the time. She seized the mo-
ment, drew from her pocket the lauda-
mum bottle and, passing her hand over
his shoulder, poured half its contents
into the glass.
"Come, finish that and be quiet, or
| I'll go away" she said.
He balanced himself on his heels for
moment, and, holding by the molding
of the cabin, stared at her with fatu-
Gus smile of drunken admiration, then
looked at the glass in his hand, hic-
coughed with much solemnity thrice,
and, as though struck with a sudden
sense of duty unfultlled, swallowed the
contents at a gulp. The effect was al
most instantaneous. He dropped the
tumbler, lurched toward the woman at
| the door, ard then making a half-turn
in accordaH e with the motion of the
vessel, fell into his bunk, and snored
| like a grampus.
| Sarah Purfoy watched him for a few
| minutes, and then having blown out the
| light, stepped out of the cabin, and clos
ed the door behind her. The dusky gloom
which had held the deck on the previous
night enveloped all forward of the main
mast. A lantern swung in the forecas-
| tie, and swayed with the motion of the
| ship. The light at the prison door threw
a glow through the open hatch, and in
the cuddy at her right hand the usual
| row of oil lamps burned. She looked
mechanically for Nickers, who was ordi'
narily there at that hour, but the cuddy
was empty. So much the better, she
thought, as she drew her dark cloak
around her and passed Frere's door. AS
| she did so, Il strange pain shot through
| her temples, and her knees trembled.
| With a strong effort she dispelled the
dizziness that had almost overpoWered
| her, and held herself erect 1t would
never do to break down now.
She seemed to be listening for some
thing. Her nervous system was wound
up to the highest pitch Of excitement.
The success of the plot depended on the
next five minutes. At that instant the
report of a musket shot broke the 81
lence. The mutiny had begun!
The sound awoke the soldier to a
sense of his duty. He sprang to his
feet, made for the door, The moment
for which the convict's accomplce had
waited approached. She chung to him
with all her weight. Suddenly the rich
crimson died away from her lips leaving
them an ashen gray color. Her eyes
closed in agony: loosng her hold of him,
she staggered to her feet, pressed her
hands upon her bosom, and uttered a
sharp cry Of pain.
The fever which had been on her for
two days, and which, by strong exer-
else of will, she had struggled again,
encouraged by the violent excitement of
the occasion, had attacked her at this
supreme moment. Deathly pale and sick,
she reeled to the side of the cabin.
There was another shot, and a violent
clashing of arms, and Frere, leaving
! the miserable woman to her fate, leaped
| out on to the deck.
| Go be ccntinued)