Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-04-27

having taken off his prison cap, held 1t
at arms length with one hand, while
he wiped his brow with the other. Her
signal had been observed. During all
this, Rufus Dawes, removed to the hos
pital, was lying fat on his back, staring
at the deck above him, trying to think
Of something he wanted to say.
The place where he lay was but dim
ly lighted. He could but just see the
deck above his head, and distinguish
the outlines of three other berths, ap-
parently similar to his own. He could
hear gasps and means and mutterings
the signs that his companions yet
lived.
All at once a voice called out: "Of
course his bills are worth four hundred
pounds; but, my good sir, four hundred
pounds to a man in my position is not
worth the getting. Why, I've given four
hundred pounds for a smile Of my girl
Sarah! She's a good girl, as girls go.
Mrs. Lionel Crofton, of the Crofts, Sew
enoaks, Kent-Sevenoaks, Kent-Seven
| -"
A gleam of light broke in on the dark
ness which. wrapped Rufus Dawes tor
tured brain. The man was John Rex,
his berth-mate With an effort he spoke.
REX"
Eyes, yes I'm coming; don't be In a
hurry. The sentry's safe, and the how
itzer is but five PAGES from the door. A
rush upon deck, lads, and she's ours!
That is, mine. Mine and my wife's,
Mrs. Lionel Crofton, Of Seven Crofts,
no, Oaks-Sarah Purfoy, lady's maid
and nurse-ha! ha!-lady's maid and
nursew
This last sentence contained the name
clue to the labyrinth In which Rufus
Dawes bewildered intellects were wan
dering. Sarah Purfoy" He remem-
bered now each detail of the conversa-
ton he had so strangely overheard, and
how imperative 1t was that he should,
without delay, reveal the plot that
threatened the ship. How that plot was
to be carried out, he did not pause to
consider; he was conscious that he was
hanging over the brink of delirium, and
that, unless he made himself understood
before his senses utterly deserted him,
all was lost.
He attempted to rise, but found that
his fever-thralled limbs refused to obey
the impulse of his will. He made an eff
fort to speak, but his tongue Glove to the
roof of his mouth, and his jaws stuck
together. He could not raise a finger
. nor utter sound. He closed his eyes
with a terrible sigh of despair, and re
, signed himself to his fate. At that in
. stant the door opened. 1t was 6 o'clock
and Pine had come to have a last lool
at his patients before dinner. 1t seemed
that there was somebody with him. fol
kind, though somewhat pompous voic,
remarked upon the scantlness of accom-
{ modation.
r Here they are," said Pine; "six O.
Q 'em. This fellow"-going to the side O.
Rex-"is the worst. If he had not {
! constitution like horse, don't think h,
: could live out the night"
r Three, eighteen, seven, four" nut
tered Rex; "dot and carry one. Is tina
an occupation for gentleman? No, sir
/ Good night, my lord, good night. Hark
the clock is striking 8; FIVE, six, seven
! eight! Well, you've had your day, an,
I can't complain"
h "a dangerous fellow" says Pine Will
the light upraised. "a very dangerou
fellow. This is the place, you see
!, regular rat hole but what can one do :?
q Come, let us get on deck" said Wick
G ers, with a shudder of disgust.
q Rufus Dawes felt the sweat break ou
into beads on his forehead. They sus
pected nothing. They were going away
A He must warn them. With a violent ef
f fort, in his agony he turned over in tn
, bunk, and thrust out his hand from tn
- blankets.
a "Halloo! what's this?" cried Pine
!, bringing the lantern to bear upon II
q Lie down, my man. Eh?-water, is it
! There, steady with 1t now" and he lift
+ ed a pannikin to the blackened, froth
Q fringed lips. The cool draught mois
ened his parched gullet, and the convic
- made last effort to speak.
Sarah Purfoy-to-night- priso
, -Mutinyw
> The last word, almost shrieked ou
, in the sufferers desperate efforts to al
ticulate, recalled the wandering sense
of John Rex.
J. "Hush" he cried. 'Is that you, Jem
J. my? Sarahs right. Wait till she give
"a the word"
,e Hes raving," said Vickers.
a Pine caught the convict by the shou
% der. "What do you say, my man? .
mutiny of the prisonersT
With his mouth agape and his hand
IT clinched, Rufus Dawes, incapable c
further speech, made last effort to no
4 assent, but his head fell upon his breas
r the next moment, the flickering ligh
Ia the gloomy prison, the eager face of tn
NJ doctor, and the astonished face of Vicl
X ers, vanished from before his stranin
N eyes.
III CHAPTER VIII.
Tho two disonvararc nf th;S u, &,