Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1906-02-02

Far into the night there was revelr,
on board the Filter. more guests hav
ing come out from the city. The darl
hours before the dawn of day had ar
rived before they put off for shore. bu
the fisher boats still were bobbint
about in the black waters of the har
Dor. The lights gradually disappear
ed from the portfolios of the yacht. ant
the tired watch was about to be re
lieved. Monty Brewster and Peggy re
manned on deck after the guests hat
gone over the side of the vessel They
were leaning over the rail aft listening
to the iovial voices of the visitors as
they grew fainter and fainter in the
distance. The lights of the town WERE
few. but they could plainly he seen
from the ohing.
"Are you tired. Peggy" asked Brew.
ster with touch of tenderness Some
how of late he had often felt strange
desire to take her in his arms. and now
it was strong upon him. She was very
near and there was a dropping weari-
ness in her attitude which seemed to
demand protection.
Il have queer feeling that some
thing awful is going to happen tonight,
Monty" she answered, trouble in her
soft voice
you're nervous: that's ALL" he said,
land you should go to sleep. Good
night" Their hands touched in the
darkness, and the thrill that went over
him told a truth of which he had been
only vaguely conscious. The power of
it made him exutant. Yet when he
thought of her and her too quiet affec-
ton for him it left him Respondent.
Something bumped against the side
of the ship. and a grating sound follow
ed Then came other gentle thuds com
bned with the soft swish of water dis
turbed. Peggy and Brewster were on
the point Of going below when their at
tention was caught by these strange
sounds.
What is it?" she asked as they paus-
ed irreSolutely. He strobe to the rail.
the girl following close behind. Three
sharp little whistles came from above
and behind them, but before they had
time even to speculate as to their
meaning the result was in evidence.
Over the sides Of the ship came shad-
owy forms as if by magic at their
backs panther-like bodies dropped to
the deck with stealthy thuds. as if COM
l. ...'-i the inky sky above. There
a. an instant of dreadful calm and
...en he crisis. y dozen sinewy forms
81 nj
,..>en completely by surprise, was
'.-:J"n to the deck in an instant, his
.i,,cnpt to cry out for help being check
81 by heavy hands. Peggy's scream
was cut off as quickly. and, paralyzed
by terror, she felt herself engulfed In
strong arms and smothered into silence.
1t all happened so quickly that there
was no chance to give the alarm, no op-
portunity to resist.
Brewster felt himself lifted bodily,
and then there was the sensation of
falling. lie struck something forcibly
with all his weight and fell back with
crash to the deck. Afterward he
found that the effort to throw him
overheard had failed only because his
assailants in their haste had hurled
him against an unseen stanchion.
Peggy was borne forward and low
cred swiftly into arms that deposited
her roughly upon something hard.
There was a jerky, rocking motion,
the sudden splash Of oars, and then
she knew no more.
The invaders had planned with a
craftness and patience that deserved
success. For hours they had waited,
silently, watchfully and with deadly
assurance. How they crept up to the
FILTER in such numbers and how the
more daring came aboard long before