The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-07-05
For The Term of His Natural Life
BY MARCUS CLARKE


Between Eaglehawk and Signal Hill
were, for the absconders, other dangers
Along the indented coast of Port Bunche
were constables' stations, and to avoid
them IL would be necessary to make
circuit into the scrub. Unwilling as he
was TO lose time, John Rex saw that TO
attempt to run the gauntlet of these
four stations would be destruction. He
ranged his men in single file; and. quit
ting the road near Norfolk Bay, made
straight for the Neck. After nearly two
hours of painful progress, Jenny vetch
stopped and whispered them TO approach.
They were on sandy rise To the left
WIS a black object-a constabie's hut
TO the right was a dim white line-the
ocean; in front was a row of lamps
and between every two lamps leaped
and ran dusky, indistinct body. Jem-
my Vetch pointed with his lean fore
finger.
The dogs.
Instinctively they crouch down, lest
even at that distance the two sentries.
so plainly visible in the red light OF the
guard house fire, sh ould see them
WELL" said Gai,bett, whats to be
done nowy'
As he spoke, long. low howl broke
from one Of the chained hounds, and the
whole kennel burst into hideous cutlery.
John Rex, who perhaps was the brav-
est of the party, shuddered. They have
smelled u.s. he said I'VE must go
on. Make for the right-hand side of
the jetty. think see a boat there. 1t
Is our only chance now. We can never
break through the station. Are We
ready? Nowl All together"
Gabbett was fast outstripping the 9TH
ers by some three feet Of distance.
There were eleven dogs, two of which
were placed on stages set out in the
water, and they were so chained that
their muzzles nearly touched. The giant
ieaped into the line, and with blow of
his Ak split the skull of the beast on his
right This action unluckily took him
within reach of the other dog, which
seized him by the thigh.
Fire. cried McNab, from the other
side Of the lamps.
The giant uttered a cry of rage and
pain, and fell with the dog under him.
1t was, however. the dog that had pulled
him down, and the musket ball intended
for him struck Travers in the jaw. The
unhappy villain fell.
Gabbett clutched the mastiffs throat
with iron hand. and forced him to loose
his hold; then following with fury, seiz-
ed his ak, and sprang forward. mangled
as he was, upon the nearest soldier.
Jenny vetch had been beforehand with
him. Uttering low snarl of hate. he
fired. and shot the sentry through the
breast. The others rushed through the
now broken Gordon and made headlong
for the boat
Fools cried Rex, behind them. "You
have wasted shot, Look to your .eftr'
Burgess hurried down the tram-road
by his men. had tarried at Signal Hill
only long enough TO loose the surprised
guard from their bonds, and taking the
Woody Island boat. was pulling with n
fresh crew to tie Neck The reinforce
ment was not ten yards from the jetty
The Crow saw the danger, and, flingilg
himself into the water, desperately siz-
ed McNab's boat.
I'm with you for your livesv' he cried
Another volley from the guard spat-
tered the water around the fugitives. but
In the darkness the ill-aimed bullets fell
harmless Gabbett swung himself over
the sheets and seized an oar
Cox, Bohemian, Greenhill, Now.
push her of Jump. Tom. jump and
as Burgess leaped to land. Cornelius was
dragged over the stern, and the whale
boat Aoated into deep vater. McNab.
seeing this. ran down t. the water side
TO aid the commandment.
Lift her over the bar. men, he
shouted with will-sor And, rails
ed in twelve strong arms, the pursuing
craft slid across the isthmus.
Then, for the first time. the six pris-
oners, fairly in the net again, became
aware that John Rex was not among
them
At o'clock the next morning the
Pretty Mary stood Out to sea with ev-
cry stitch Of canvas set allow and aIoft.
The skipper's fishing had come to an
end He had caught a shipwrecked sea
man, who had been brought on hoard AT
daylight and was then at breakfast in
the cabin. The crew winked at each
other wnen the haggard mariner, attired
In garments that seemed remarkably
well preserved, mounted the side. But
they, none of them, were In q position to
controvert the shippers statement.
asked
John Rex. I'm entirely in your hands
my worthy Blunt"
My orders are to cruise about the
whaling grounds until I meet sly con.
sort" returned Blunt, "and put Won
aboard Ger. She'll take you back 70
Sydney. I'm victualed for a twelve
months trip"
Right cried Rex, clapping his pre-
server ON the back. I'm bound TO %,
TO Sydney somehow; but, as the Philis-
tines are abroad, may as well tarry in
Jericho till my beard be grown. Dom,
stare at my scriptural quotation be
added. inspirited by creature comforts
and secure amidst his purchased friends
Il assure you that I've had the very
best religious instruction Indeed. II /
chiefly owing to my worthy spiritual
pastor and master that l am enabled
to smoke this very villainous tobacco Of
yours at the present moment"
CHAPTER XIV.
The lost son of Sir Richard Devin,