Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-11-21
CHAPTER XXI.

L presently appeared that Tom had
not Travelled above a dozen miles
toward the sea he fancied he had
smelled at eighteen, but this he
declined to believe until the gray man
produced a tattered map and pricked
out the positions with his hook. Tom
then gave in, but climbed into De
.Gruchy's saddle with incomplete con-
victions upon the point. The delirium
OF his famished fight still magnifed
both the time and the space which it
lac covered. Thinking of the murder
done before his eyes and looking on
these villains whom he had Joined, he
could half believe he was delirious
still. The Incredible thing was that in
two more hours he would be back upon
that hated spot whittier he had sworn
never to return alive.
But a mans fate was stronger than
his will, as it seemed to Tom during
that midnight ride when not care, but
a cry merciful sort of fatalism, sat
behind the reckless horseman. Fatalis-
tic he had felt before, but never with
this result. Hitherto the feeling had
only deepened his despair, whereas
now it was his single solace. 1t con-
soled him for the horrors he had coun-
tenanced that night, it even nerved
him for what deeds he must himself
commit before the night was out. ,
In the laws eye he was a branded
murderer as it was. He seemed des-
tined to deserve that brand. He would
kick no more against a fate so plain
and so persistent. So he decided as
he rode, too slowlG for his spirit, to
deliberate crime, Ir despite phtloso-
ply his one immediate longing was for
q gallop to rekindle blood which the
murder of De Gruchy had turned from
fire to ice, and a greater comfort than
he would have owned to himself came
of his resolve to save and protect Peg
gy and Miss Sullivan from this ruth
less crew. otherwise he was n of
them and would play his part. But he
was not yet the villain he had hoped.
Objective details impressed him little
at the time. And yet he was left with
the very sharpest memories Of floating
gum trees and a dropping moon, Of the
masks they all put on and the battered
top hat that Hockey wore above his,
the pistols that they loaded and the
brace of horse pistols handed to him
self; the little conversation on the way,
the startling Of an old man kangaroo
h a shone an instant gray and glossy
in the moonlight, then doomed and
bounded into silence and the shades;
of all such things, in fact, to the final
plan Of attack and division Of vii
lainy, made almost within sight of the
devoted homestead.
At the time, however, though Tom
listened las he thought attentively and
was much consulted in the strength of
his present knowledge of the place, he
grasped very little beyond his own in
structions. He was to show them the
overseer's hut (the night Waterman
would already be on their side or
dead, then he was to station himself
beneath the great bell and to ring it
furiously so soon as Ginger was haul
ed out and his hut set we'll on fire.
AOm was dAoo W duSWSI W lue udue
Of Francisco and to affect a foreign
accent, because the Italians terrible
reputation had been the best part of
him: :,
The bell and the fire were calculated
to tempt both Sullivans forth unarmed.
At all costs those two were to be taken
alive. "And them" said the little man.
poking Wall-eye in the ribs with his
hook.
"What then?" inquired Tom.
I'VE shall do unto them as we've all
been done by"
But you were never here yourself??"
Next door to it." returned Hockey
Simpson. 81 was at Strachan's, and
this old tyrant ordered me my ffties,
Well see how he likes them himself
just for a start"
Il wish 1t was Strachan's we were
coming to-" muttered Tom, with a flash
Of his former passion.
It'll be his turn next"
"But whenY
"Tomorrow-if all goes WELL"
'"Then you don't mean to stop at
Castle %Sullivan?" cried Tom, amazed.
you'll see," rejoined Hockey, land
so shall 1. There's no saying where I
may stop with seventy convicts at my
back"
rro M commandment