Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-09-04
9 ga
Madame Midas
BY Fergus Hume
CHAPTER L
BY Fergus Hume

N~NN~NH-6
rocirs. Two of these headlands ran out
for a considerable distance, and at the,
base of each ragged cruel-loeking rocks
stretched still further out into the ocean
until they entirely disappeared beneath
the heaving waste of waters Suddenly
on the red waters there appeared black
speck, rising and falling with the restless
waves, and ever drawing nearer and near
er TO the gloomy cliffs and sandy beach
When within a quarter of mile OF the
shore the specK resolved itself into boat,
a mere shalIop, painted dingy white,
and much battered BY the waves as 1t
tossed lightly On the crimson waters. 1t
had one mast and a small sail all torn and
patched In this frail craft were two
men, one Of whom was kneeling in the
prov of the boat shading his eyes from
the sunlight with his hands and gazing
eagerly at the cliffs, while the other sat
in the center with bowed head, in an at
titude of resignation, holding the straining
sail by a stout rope twisted round MS
srm. Neither of them spoke word TIL
within a short distance of the beach, when
the man at the lookout arose, tall and
gaunt, and stretched out his hands to the
inhospitable-looking coast with harsh
exulting laugh.
AT last" he cried, in a hoarse, strain
ed voice, and in a foreign tongue; free
dom at last"
The other man made no comment on
this outburst of his companion, but kept
his eyes steadfastly on the bottom OF the
boat, where lay a small barrel and bag
of mouldy biscuits.
There was a strong contrast between
these two waits of the sea which the ocean
had just thrown up on the desolate coast.
One was a tall, slightly built young fel-
low, apparently about thirty years of age,
with leonine masses of reddish colored
hair, and a short, stubby beard of the
same tint. His face, pale and attenu-
ated by famine, looked sharp and clever;
and his eyes were quite black, with thin,
delicately drawn eyebrows above them.
They scintillated with peculiar light
which gave any one looking at him an
uncomfortable feeling of insecurity. The
young mans hands, though hardened and
discolored were yet finely formed, while
even the coarse, heavy boots he wore
could not disguise the delicacy of his feet.
He was dressed in a rough blue suit of
clothes, all torn and much stained by sea
water, and his head was covered with a
red cap of woodwork which rested lightly
on his tangled masses of hair. The man
at his feet was a rough, heavy-looking
fellow, squarely and massively built, with
black hair and heavy beard of the same
somber hue His hands were long and
sinewy; his feet large and ungainly; and
his whole appearance was that of man
In a low station of life. No one could
have told the color of his eyes, for he
looked obstinately at the ground; and the
expression of his face was sullen and for
bidding. His companion eyed him for a
short time in cool, calculating manner,
and then rose painfully to his feet.
80" he said rapidly in Frenchfi way
ing his hand toward the frowning cliffs,
$50, my Pierre, we are in the land of
promise; though | must confess it Ger
tainly does not look very promising still,
we are on dry land, and that is something
after tossing about so long in that stupid
boat, with only a plank between us and
death. Bahr'-with another impressive
shrug-''why should j call it stupid? 1t
carried us all the way from New Gale
donia and landed us safely in what may
turn out Paradise. We must not be un-
grateful to the bridge that carried us over
-eh, my friend?"
The man addressed as Pierre nodded an
assent, then pointed toward the boat;
the ether looked up and saw that the tide
had risen, and that the boat was drifting
slowly away from the land.
at goes" he said cooly, back again
to its proper owner, suppose. Well, let
10 of 70
are no longer conviets from French
prison, my friend. but shipwrecked sail
ors; YOU hears"-with a sudden scintilla-
ton from his black eyes-"shipwrecked
sailors and I will tell the story of the
wreck. Luckily, | can depend on your
discretion. as yen have not even tongue
20 contradict, which you wouldn't do if
II you had
The dumb man rose slowly to his feet
and pointed 10 the cliffs frowning above
them The other answered his thoughts
with careless shrug of the shoulders.
I'VE must climb he said lightly. land
let lis hope the top viii prove less in
hospitable tAan this place. Where we
are l don't know. except that this is Aus
tralia there is gold here, my friend, and
we must get our share of it, We will
match our Gallie wit against these Eng
fish fools, and see who comes off best. You
have strength, | have brains; so we will
do great things; but"-laying his hand
lmpressively on the others breast-'no
quarter. no yielding. you see ="
He crept along the narrow ledge and
scrambled with great difficulty into
niche above, holding ON By the weeds and
sparse grasses which grew out of the
erannies of the barren ersg. Followed by
his companion, he went steadily up. cling
ing to projecting rocks-long trails of
tough grass and anything else he could
hold on TO. Every now and then some
seabird would dash out into their faces
with wild cries and nearly cause them to
lose their foothold in the sudden start.
Then the heritage began to grow more lux.
urious and the cliff TO slope in an easy
incline At last, after half an hour
hard work, they managed TO get to the
top, and threw themselves breathlessly on
the short dry grass which fringed the
rough cliff. Lying there half fsinting
with fatigue and hunger, they could hear
the drowsy thunder of the waves below.
The rest did them good and in a short
time they were able 10 rise TO their feet
and survey the situation. In front was
the sea. and at the back the grassy un-
dulating country. dotted here and there
with ciumps of trees. now becoming faint
and indistinct in the rapidly falling shad-
ows of the night. They could also see
horses and cattle moving in the distant
fields, which showed that there must be
some human habftation near. and sudden
In from a far distant house which they
had not observed shone a bright light.
which became 20 these weary waits of the
ocean a star OF hope.
They looked at one another in silence.
snd then the young man turned toward
the ocean again.
Behind" he said, pointing to, the east,
''nes a French prison and two ruined
lives-yours and mine-but in front,
swinging round to the Rich fields, there
is fortune. food and freedom. Come. my
friend, let us follow that light. which is
our star of hope, and who knows what
viory NAV await us. The ord life is dead.