Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-05-03
(CoNTINUED.l

now ais clear:
"'What's your game:' l asked.
give got a boat down by the Ray
he said. and we can make for the
channel
"'Well, it sounds good l replied,
though it's risky. But The Greeks are
all sailors. and we can manage at a
shift
AT that he looked rather strangely
at me and was silent. He moved Off a
bit and peeped into the cavern through
the bushes: then he came back. They
sleep pretty sound he said and again
gave me an odd glance.
"'What is it| l asked. for knew his
ways and that there must be something
underneath.
1.-THE Greeks are q nuisance he OBJ
served, watching me. We can do we'll
enough without them.
81 thought I began to see now. and
said 1: L am not in much need Of
them myself. but how can we give
them the slip? We can't fetch out the
cart and harness and get away with
out waking the whole brood
"'No,' said he softly: 4 wasn't think
ing of that
"'Well, let's have it, said l.
He stared at me a moment. We
don't want any evidence against US.
and we don't want partners he said.
eve don't l agreed.
There's another way out he said.
with his furtive eyes upon me.
Suddenly the whole business flash
ed upon me. And, gentlemen, what do
you suppose he was proposing: Moth
ing less than the murder Of those poor
devils as they lay in their sleep. You
think judged too quickly. Wait a bit.
The thing came upon NE in an illumi-
nation. l believe it was his eyes that
did it. But I said nothing of What l
felt; what l said was this:
There's no other way out that l
can see, and if there was another way
I wouldn't take it and l looked at him
very closely, SO that he should see
what l meant. He dropped his eyes.
".All right he said. You'd better
go and lie down. I'll think it out
Il went, for l was pretty sleepy, and,
besides, l thought l had disposed of
that worm in his head. And presently
l got to sleep. but it couldn't have been
for long. for l was awaked by some
sound in the night and sat up. The
Greeks were snoring about me. but
somewhere l could hear a regular
noise, struck at intervals and coming
from q little way off. 1t was still dark,
but l guided my steps to the sound, and
what do YOU think l found: Mr.. Great
orex, gentlemen. it has a nasty sound,
and might very we'll go for a lie in an
other mans mouth"
Sercombe took a sip from his glass.
II struck q match, and there We're some
feet of earth piled just in front of me
and below that a man digging-digging,
with his head at the level Of my feet.
He started at my light and uttered an
exclamation, and then stopped, looking
at me. We watched one another till
the light went out. Then stepped
forward and grabbed his neck.
"'By the Lord I cried, I am in two
minds to throttle you and make this
place q grave for yourself. And, by
George, I would have done it for two
pins. He wriggled in my grasp, and
l Jerked him up and landed him on the
surface.
Look here, Hood said I. releasing
him, I've known your bad qualities
for ten years. and I've seer YOU do
things that beat most things I've seen.
but l haven't come to this. nor YOU
won't, while I'm by
every we'll said he, like a lamb.
TIL I'll it liz AND he never said an
other word.
Il went back to the gave. but This
time | was not gong to sleep, for /
would not trust THAT black 4ryil any
more than B~eelZebub. =. little after
1 TOOK q sleepy tit Oh lI". Gui | iJl iii
against it tooth ana hail. sat up.
with my back TO the rock. am! lvJG.r !.
out OF that window. as you might call
1T, at the growing light. Of Hood |
got no sign, and there | sat ana yawn-
ed and sWOre and pinchel myselt to
keep my eyes open until one by one the
Greeks stirred about me, kicked their
legs and opened heir eyes. Then |
knew that my vigil was oven, and when
btamboulos got up, shook himself and
went outside to look at the morning |
reckon fell asleep.
II slept very heavily for an hour or
Two, for when | awoke the sun stood
nigh i'll the heavens. But not Il sirn Of
living human creatures was there about
me-. sat up sharply, thinking that Hood
had played the trick upon me as | had
thought of playing it Oh the Greeks.
so up got, wondering where the deuce
they all We're, and | issued out Of the
mouth of the AS | came forth
my eyes fell On a group Of them stand
ing together III close conference lust
before the cavern, but there was 10
Hood. | went up to SHAREHOLDERS. the
very man | had with me in the Ionlan
ISLANDS. ANA to my n~lnnZcncnt he turn
ed sharply away.
"1elle, sonny" said | in surprise,
but without reply they all vanished
into the wood and left me staring after
them with II mouth wide open What