The Washington herald., 1906-10-26
CHAPTER XIV.


/ The adventureTS arrived AZ the beach
at last and apparently without having
/ been observed Cressingham cast an anN-
+ iOUs glance behind him as they reached
tho boats. but no one could he see, nor
any sign II liie With trembling fingers
lac unlocked the paddock OF the boat that
was already equipped, and drew it swiftly
toward them from the sea
/ Il was then that they heard a loud,
hooking laugh. and. turning, saw the
I figure Of the Count d'Attala supported on
I the aims of his slaves and accompanied
\ by half score Of negroes. issue from
tunnel ia the rock some fifty yards away.
/ But Cressingham was desperate SeiZ-
ing Francine in his arms be- threw her IN
the boat, and Springing aboard himself.
caught up the oars and rtted them into
/ their row-locks. He saW that some of
I the negroes carried souls upon their
shoulders. and that all were armed, but
with . mutteTed CRY TO Providence he re-
fused 10 let himself think. and bent all
4 his energies for a mad race with death.
4 Miss Elliott croUched down in the stern
and covered her face with her hands. for
she could only see one Upshot OF tho
/ struggle. and had abandoned herself 10
despair.
Crcssingham heard the count give
stern order; NO, do uot shoot. After
them, take them alive.
Putting forth his utmost strength. he
strained at the oars. but the boat was
/ huge and cumbersome, the cars were
heavy. long and difficult 10 manage He
saw the negroes enter the other boat and
push from the beach. He marked their
course, four strong men at the oars.
/ They passed him wide. intent on heading
him off. Accomplishing their purpose.
they stopped and leisurely awaited him.
/ With an angry cry he ceased his toll. see
ms the mad vanity of further travail.
for he was hCpelessly entrapped.
Its oil up with US. FTanCinc." he NUT
tered hoaTsely.
The girl stood up and gazed with wild
( eyes into his.
The time has come to keep your prom
Use. Frank she cried.
lie got 10 his feet, too. and glanced de-
spairingly about him. as though taking
last look at the bright world before de-
parting on that unknown voyage from
which there can be no return.
The negroes were backing water ant
slowly approaching him. still eighty yards
/ distant. His own boat lay idle on the
water Immediately opposite the portcul-
/ Used mouth Of the stone boathousc OF
/ The Count a. Alfalfa
/ The boy Desire stood upon the beach
outside the door gazing III them intently.
while two hundred PAGES 10 the right the
/ count himself sat on rock smoking
cigarette and waiting unconceruedly for
/ his prisoners TO be brought back TO him.
/ Suddenly Cressingham gave a start I'VE
/ have one hope LETT he cried.
What is it. dcar?
THE bo1thousc. / must leave you
dear. Ii Is 4 chance. and desperate one
/ but il may save us vet Sec. darling. the
/ sea door OF the boaIhOuse only just dps
/ into the sea l shall pretend to stab my
self. and then jump overheard. Then I
shall dive, and swimming under water
tTv and reach the bosthouse door. under
which shall swim. ana afteTward throw
myself upon Desires mercy. II he is the
/ lad YOU think, he viii help US; who
/ knows? Shall l chance it. dear?"
Yes. Frank, go. and God be with you.
/ II there is a God. lie viii surely help
yuu-
Then kiss me, dear.
They embraced. and then. in full view
Of all the watchers. Cressingham took the
dagger from his pocket, brandished it be-
fore the eyes of his pursuers. and TO all
seeming plunged it deep into his heart
He gave q sharp scream, and, topping
overheard, disappeared instantly beneath
the surface of the waters. Miss Elliott ut
tered a terrible Shrek and threw herself
at fun length in the bottom of the boat.
/ The negroes. with fierce cultural cries
propelled their own boat swiftly for
ward
The boy Desire stood as if turned to
stone, while the Count dAttala started
to his feet, let fall his cigarette. and
sWorc savage oath at the man who had
dared to balk him thus.
Miss Elliott was soon roughly reused
from her position, but she did not heed
/ the negroes insolence Every second
that passed seemed TO her an agonizcd
/ enternity, for every second she expected
/ to hear the outcry which would proclaim
her lovers failure. his capture and his
/ death She held her eyes tightly closed
and scarcely dared 70 breathe. so fercely
terrible was her anxiety. but minutes pass
ed and nothing happened Could it be pos.
sible, Size asked herself that be had ac-
/ tually succeeded?
! With q fearful effort she opened her
4 eyes and glanced at the shore. No. il
I seemed incredible. The boathouse was
/ fully sixty yards away. But yet, and yet
/ her lover haG not appeared again. Per-
/ haps he had deceived her, PERHAPS he
] lad really klllcd himself In oIdeT to force