Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1906-08-24
CHAPTER xXIv.-1Continued.l

circuit into the BcFuD. OnWuilnB as ne
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 a sandy rise. To the leg
was a black object-a cOnstable'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 a dusky, indistinct body. Jem-
my Vetch pointed with his lean fore
finger.
1.-The dogsr'
Instinctively they crouch down, lest
even at that distance the two ssntries,
so plainly visible in the red light Of the
guard house FIRE, should see them.
We'll" said Gnbbett, whats to be
done now"
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. "We must go
on. Make for the right-hand side Of
the jetty. l think see a boat there. 1t
10 our only chance now. We can never
break through the station. Are we
ready2 NowI 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 50 chained that
their muzzles nearly touched. The giant
leaped 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.
"Firev 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 mastiff's throat
with iron hand, and forced him to loose
his hold; then believing 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 a low snarl of hate, he
fred, 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 a shot! Look to your leftV'
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
fresh crew to the Neck The reinforce
ment was not ten yards from the ietty.
The Grow saw the danger, and, fiinging
himself into the water, desperately seiz-
ed McNab's boat
"In with you for your livesw 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 off! Jump, Tom, jump and
as Burgess leaped to land, Cornelius was
dragged over the stern, and the whale
boat foated into deep water. McNab.
seeing this, ran down to the water side
to aid the commandant.
'Lift her over the bar, menu he
shouted. with a will-so!" 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 8 o'clock the next morning the
Pretty Mary stood out to sea with ev-
cry stitch of canvas set allow and aloft.
The shippers fishing had come to an
end. He had caught a shipwrecked sea
man, who had been brought on board at
daylight and was then at breakfast in
the cabin. The crew winked at each
other when the haggard mariner, attired
in garments that seemed remarkably
well preserved, mounted the side. But
they, none Of them, were in a position to
eontrOvert the shippers statement.
where are we bound forF' asked
John Rex. I'm entirely In your hands
my worthy Blunt"
my orders are to cruise about the
whaling grounds until 1 meet nav con.
sort, returned Blunt, land put you
aboard her. She'll take you back t
Sydney. I'm victualed for a twelve
months trip"
''Rightp' cried Rex, clapping his pre-
server on the back. I'm bound to ge
to Sydney somehow; but, as the Philis
tines are abroad, may as well tarry II
Jericho till my beard be grown. Dom
stare at my scriptural quotation" b,
added, inspirited by creature comforts
and secure amidst his purchased friends
81 assure you that I've had the yer,
best religious instruction. Indeed, It /
chiefly owing to my worthy spiritua