Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1906-05-04

them as little trouble as possible.
"All is right. Watch me when | come
up tomorrow evening at three bells If
l drop my handkerchief. get to work
at the time agreed on. The sentry will
be safe"
Rufus Dawes. though his eyelids
would scarcely keep open, and terrible
lassitude almost paralyzed his limbs
eagerly drank in the whispered sentence.
There was conspiracy to seize the ship.
Sarah Purfoy was in league with the
/ convicts. She had come on board armed
with plot, and this plot was about to
be put in execution
True, that the head of this formida-
BILE chimera-John Rex, the forger-was
absent, but the two hands, or rather
claws-the burglar and the prison break
er-were present, and the slimly made.
efeminate Crow, If he had not the brains
of his master, yet made up for his fac
cid muscles and nerveless frame by a
cat-like cunning and a spirit of volatility
that nothing could subdue. With such
powerful ally outside as the mock
maid servant, the chance of success was
enormously Increased. There were one
hundred and eighty convicts and but fifty
soldiers. If the first rush proved sue
cessful, the vessel was theirs Rufus
Dawes thought of the little bright-hair-
ed child who had run so confdingly to
meet him, and shuddered.
'"Therep' said the Crow, with a sheer
ing laugh. what do you think of that?
Does the girl look like disappointing us
now?'
There was silence for minute or two.
pria -, h
stractiOn, and Netch and the MoOcher
interchanged a significant glance. Cab
bett had been ten years al the colonial
penal settlement of Macquarie Harbor,
and he had memories that he did not
confide to his companions When he in
dulged in one of these fits of recollection.
his friends found it best to leave him
to himself
Rufus Dawes was no longer stimulat
ed by outward sounds, his senses appear
ed to fail him. The blood hushed into
his eyes and ears. He made a violent.
vain effort to retain his consciousness,
but with a faint cry fell back striking
his head against the edge of the bunk.
The noise reused the burglar in an in
slant. There was some one in the berth!
The three looked into each others eyes.
in guilty alarm, and then Gabbett dash
ed round the partition.
ITS Dawesw said the Moocher. 1--WE
| had forgotten him.
He'll join us, mate, he'll join u.s."
cried Vetch, fearful of bloodshed.
Gabbett tiinging himself on to the
PROSTATE figure. dragged it, head fore
most, to the floor The sudden vertigo
had saved Rufus Dawes life. The rob
Der twisted one brawny hand in his
shirt, and pressing the knuckles down.
prepared to deliver a blow that should
forever silence the listener when Vetch
caught his arm. He's been asleep" he
cried "Don't hit him! See, he's not
awake yet"
A crowd gathered round. The giant
relaxed his grip, but the convict gave
only a deep groan, and allowed his head
to fall on his shoulder.
Gabbett took another look at the purp-
ling face and the believed forehead, and
then sprang erect, rubbing at his right
hand, as though he would rub off some
thing sticking there.
He's got the feverw he roared, with
a terror-stricken grimace. "I've seen
it before to-day. The typhus is aboard
and he's the fourth man DOWN.
The circle of beast-like faces, stretched
forward to 'see the fight" widened at
the half-comprehended, ill-omened word.
1t was as though a bOmbshell had fallen
into the group. Rufus Dawes lay on the
deck motiOnless, breathing heavily. The
savage circle glared at his PROSTATE
body. The alarm ran round, and all the
prison crowded down to stare at him.
All at once he uttered a groan, and turn
| ing prOpped his body on his two rigid
arms, and made an effort to speak. But
no sound issued from his convulsed jaws
He's DONE" said the Moocher brutal
| ly. HE didn't hear muffin"
The noise of the heavy bolts shooting
back broke the spell. The first detach-
ment were coming down from Exercise"
| The door was flung back, and the bayO-
nets of the guard cleaned in a ray of
sunshine that shot down the hatchway.
This glimpse of sunlight-sparkling at
the entrance of the fetid and sitting
prison-seemed to mock their miseries.
| 1t was as though heaven laughed at
them. BY one of those terrible and
strange impulses which animate crowds,
the mass turning from the sick man,
leaped toward the doorway. The inte-
rior of the prison flashed white with
suddenly turned faces. The gloom scin-
tillated with rapidly moving hands. Air
air! Give us airr'
THAT'S itr said Sanders to his COM
panions. 81 thought the news would
rouse 'em."
Gabbett-all the savage in his blood
stirred by the sight of flashing eyes and
wrathful faces-would have thrown him
self forward with the rest, but Vetch
plucked him back.
eth be over in a moment" he said
Its only fit they've got"
ITO he cOntinuedl