Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-04-10

CHAPTER xx11-continued

houses and some lights OF the niue
craft riding in the road. Waste land,
scattered with furze and low growing
bushes, lay at the back Of the village,
and here we halted to decide upon our
action.
1--WE have got to find out what
Hoods after" / said. Hell be In
Portagree shortly We must watch
him"
That's the only course" agreed Ser
combe. 1--WE can do nothing till we
know that And see here, this is no
business for party, but for picket.
I'll take that job myself. Give me
half an hour, and I'll engage to fix the
business
To that we agreed, and the captain
departed, moving cautiously toward
the village, while we three threw our
selves upon the ground in our damp
we might summon.
1t must have been fully half an hour
later when / perceived Sercombe ap-
preaching. He walked quickly and as
one under excitement.
"Well?" we asked in breath.
give done it," he said, though ]
take back my words about terra firma.
Hoods going to sea-"
Sheppard whistled.
81 got good post behind cottage
and spied on him He's transferred his
luggage to yacht BY thunder. but
he must have made his preparations
well! couldn't see much of the crew,
but that could see. He's got the load
aboard by this time"
'"Then we're done!' l cried.
''No, not bit" said Sercombe cheer
fully 1--WE taken French leave with
a bit of boat down yonder. Daren't
stop to wake 'em up for permission,
you know, Mr.. Greatorex 'Twould
take too long and delay us and make
1t public. We can pay coming back"
We did not stop to discuss the eth
les of the question, but the feeling that
the time was past for argument and
that henceforward we were committed
by our original decision to a certain
course Of action showed aside sophis-
tries and ran down to the beach. Here
Sercombe had secured numbering and
ugly boat. furnished with dipping lugs
sit doesn't look very much" he whis-
pered, "but it's the only craft sufficient
ly far from them to keep our move
ments quiet
Sheppard stared down at it dubious
ly Its not I rig like" he said.
But here Montgomery pointed with
his finger, Selling me by the arm.
"There they go" he said.
"Then here we CO." returned Ser
combe, leaping into the boat.
Sure enough, in the lessening dark
ness l could catch sight of q blacker
spot moving slowly outward. We ran
up the Jugs under Sheppard's direction
and the boat stood out.
1--WE shall have more wind,' whis
pered Sheppard to me. Il don't think
we see the end Of this yet"
I'm sure we don't" returned mood
lily. "What are we going to do now?
We have played the fool and must go
on playing the fool, suppose"
SpOhC bOluSMudI UJlICI4y, 1Ol "
that moment an interval of sanity
reigned in my mind, and seemed to
see in flash the portentous conse-
quences of this adventure.
anyhow we must go on" said Shep-
pard briefly and put up his tiller to
fetch the nose of the boat about.
Even as we ceased speaking the wind
came down in roaring from the wide
spaces of the channel and blew out our
Tugs till they rang like drumheads. A
great noise filled the seas, and the
blocks were straining and shrieking.
Sheppard was skilled hand, and he
kept his head cool. He came up to the
wind as near as the abominable Jugs
would let him. There was no sign Of
the other boat.
"she'll beat down the estuary" said
Sercombe, land make for some point
upon the Somersetshire coast, proba-
bly,"
mo, no; he's bound for Newport"
said Sheppard. Gle can get away
from Newport like any honest skipper
Anyway, we'll try it at that"
The gale tore ut the canvas as though
It would strip it in ribbons. We had
great way on, the boat scudding
through the rough water with her port
gunwales ripping under the foam. We
got out some distance, and then he
said:
II must fetch her round. Well have
to try long board in this wind"
We said nothing, but jumped to the
lug Down dropped the sail, heavy
lump of damp canvas, and Montgom-
cry and I hauled till we dragged It
into position.
Lord, what beast!' said Shep-
pard. He put over the tiller, and round
yhe swung, the Jugs cracking and the
blocks jumping. She lurched as though
she would go over, and then, the white
water streaming over her bows, she
started off like hare upon her new
course.
'By thunder" said Sercombe, "she
goes well!'
Anything would go in this weather"
returned Sheppard.
Sercombe laughed. "It's good
night for u.s. he observed.
Montgomery at this juncture raised
cry which took our eyes to him. The
light was rising over the water, and
:, l,I