Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1906-05-11
CHAPTER VII.

IL was late in the afternoon when
Sarah Purfoy awoke from her uneasy
slumber. She had been dreaming of the
deed she was about to do, and was flush.
ed and feverish, but, mindful Of the
consequences which hung upon the sue
cess or failure Of the enterprise, she
rallied herself and assembled, with as
calm an air as she could assume, to the
deck
The Malabar seemed to be enveloped
In an electric cloud, whose sullen gloom
chance spark might fash into blaze
that should consume her. The woman
who held her in her hands the two ends
Of the chain that would produce this
spark looked down into the barricade.
Three men, leaning carelessly against
the bulwarks, watched her every motion.
There she is, right enough" growled
Mr.. Gabbett, as if in continuation of
a previous remark. Flash as ever,
and looking this way, 90. There, look
at that" he added, as the figure Of
Maurice Frere appeared side by side
with that of the waiting maid, and the
two turned away up the deck together.
Maurice Frere had come behind her
and touched her on the shoulder. Since
their conversation the previous evening.
he had made up his mind to be fooled
no longer, The girl was evidently play
ing with him, and he would show her
that he was not to be trihed with
swell. Sarah"
well Mr.. Frere" dropping her hand
and turning round with smile.
"HOw well you are looking to-dayl
Positively lovely. say, though, what
Is the use of playing fast and loose with
fellow this wayT
She cast her eyes down to the deck,
and a modest flush rose on her cheeks.
II have so much to do" she said in
half whisper. "Ehere are so many ewes
upon me, cannot stir without being
SEEN"
She raised her head az she spoke, and
to give effect to her words, looked round
the deck. Her glance crossed that Of
the young soldier on the forecastle, and,
though the distance was too great Tor
her to distinguish his features, she
guessed who he-was-Miles was jealous.
Frere, smiling with delight at her change
Of manner, came close to her. and whis-
pered in her ear. She affected to start,
and took the opportunity of exchanging
a signal with the Crow.
IT win walk with you at o'clock, F."
said she.
'They relieve guard at g." he said,
deprecatingly.
She tossed her head. every we'll. then,
attend to your guard; don't care"
"But. Sarah, consider"
"As If a women in love ever consid-
ersg" said she, turning upon him burn
ing glance, which In truth might have
melted a, more icy man than he She
loved him, thenl What fool he would
be to refuse. The guard could relieve
itself for once without his supervision.
Every well; at 8, then"
"Hush! said she. Here comes that
stupid captain"
And as Frere left her she turned, and.
with her eyes fixed on the convict bar
ricade, dropped the handkerchief she held
in her hand over the railing. 1t fell at
the feet of the captain. and with a quick
upward glance that worthy fellow picked
It up and brought it to her.
"Oh, thank you, Captain Blunt" said
she, and her eyes spoke more than her
tongue.
Ibid you take the laudanum?" whis-
pered Blunt, with a twinkle in his eye
"Some of il" said she. II win bring
you back the bottle"
Blunt walked aft, humming cheerily
and saluted Frere with a slap on the
back. The two men laughed, each at
his own thoughts. but their laughter only
made the surrounding gloom seem deep.
er than before.
Sarah Purfoy, casting her eyes toward