The Holly chieftain., 1905-02-17

StItam WHICH, kttk. anu grew, l
was a red river flowing over the table,
and washing it away. and | awoke,
shivering. to see Ehewah standing by
my bunk. telling me that a craft was
in sight which looked like the English
man"
Laro's bearing, so changed and soft
ened. no less than the dream he had
related mace Lafitte feel at loss
what to say. He could not deny that
the recital rad affected him strangely.
seeming to bring him into closer touch
with Laro as the latter added, Il have
always known that to dream Of this
Indian and his black horse means
death to one of my family"
The pressure of his hand grew heav-
ier upon Lafitte's shoulder, and he
raised his eyes. now filed with soft
er expression than the young man had
ever seen them hold.
Jean. my lad. If anything happens
to me. YOU will always take care Of
Laza'ie? Even though you have no
love to give the girl. you will let no
harm come to herr
The sound of her name brought La
ftte to his proper senses, and the per.
picked look vanished from his face as
he exclaimed, Mon dieu. Laro-what
nonsense are you talking? You. to be
so upset by a mere dream, Drop all
thought of it, and give your mind to
more important matters. for if we are
to reach the Barra de Hero this
night We must put aside such unsub-
stantial things as dreams. and keep a
lookout for the Englishman.'
The stranger was surely drawing
nearer. and the past twenty minutes
had brought her close enough to be
made out distinctly. She was, beyond
doubt, man-of-war, and presumably
the same that had been the brigan-
tires neighbor in Fort Royal harbor.
Have You the gun in prime order,
Lopez" asked Lafitte, who now came
and stood beside the old gunner. "Ah,
that you have, l see,' he added with
smile. after glancing at it. now di.
| Vested Of its tarpaulin covering, land
l look to you for its proper handling,
| should occasion arise"
Lopez. who stood with his assistants
clustered around him, replied with a
grin. Never you fear. my captain. but
that the gun and myself will give q
proper account of ourselves"
There Enw came shout from aloft,
the lookout announcing that the ap-
and that she seemed to be preparing
for action.
Curse the wind-why won't 1t hold
with us?" muttered Garonne, standing
near the group about the gun. and
Lafitte noted the gleam of hatred that.
for the second. made Ehewahs face
fiendish as he glanced at the speaker.
Wind or no wind" returned Lopez,
in growl. Eve are taking our own
course. and if yonder gentlemen
trouble us. their own fault it will be
ii burnt fingers they get for meddling.
Stand by to take in the stun-sails'
the voice of Laro broke in. The cap.
tain seemed to have recovered fully
from his recent mood and to have for
gotten the dream that inspire it.
Lively. you dogs" he shouted.
Lively, there, and if that craft wants
to overhaul us, let her make the
trial"
The "Black Petrel' now changed
her course, and the other vessel did
the same, this indicating that she in,
tended to give chase, but the brigan.
tine was by far the better sailer. and,
had Laro chosen to run southwark, he
might have escaped.
This, however, would have carried
the BLACK Petrel' away from her
proposed destination, thing that La.
fitte, no less than Laro. scorned to per
nit. especially as the pursuer was of a
nation hated by both of them They
were therefore of one mind in the de.
termination not to submit to personal
inconvenience on account of the Eng.
lishman.
The latter drew still closer as the
day wore on. when little after noon,
the fog bank. which had been prom.
ised at sunrise. rolled in over the sea
enveloping pursuer and pursued as in
/ the folds of heavy Blanket.
Lafitte was fer keeping straight to
their course, but Iaro. with sulky
persistence. claimed that their better
plan would be to anchor He knew
that early the next morning-should
the fog lift by sunset-he could reckon
upon reaching the channel flowing in.
ward to the Barra de Hero, and, al.
though it's bars and reefs. while ia.
miliar to himself and his men. guarded
course the stranger could not follow
in safety. ne did not care to risk point
ing out the way to his island retreat
Ito be continued.)