Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-11-28
rcoNT1NuED.l

Seventy convicts! That was the
rough number at Castle Sullivan.
Then what was this to which the little
man was leading them? No petty rob-
berry, after all! A. grand rebellion in
stead! Toms heart lightened at the
thought. He gazed at the confident
little man, looking more like a monkey
dressed up as a highwayman and
perched upon a horse, and he felt that
he could have followed so spirited a
leader with all the spirit he himself
a left but for the thing that had
been done before his eyes that night.
There was no more, however, to be
said. They We're at the farm.
At the gate (not the gate of former
scenes; this n lay east beyond the
stables) all %dismounted but the little
general, who was to keep his saddle
as generals do. The others led their
horses to the stables, and, while Wall
eye stalled them, Tom showed Slipper
and the black his old lair. Another
convict had succeeded him as groom,
and in a few moments young .Brummy
was dragged forth by Peter Pindar.
So far from offering any resistance,
however, the obliging youth at once
put himself at the bushrangers' dis
posal. His zeal and enthusiasm au-
CURED we'll for the other seventy in
the huts. Under his eager guidance
the Waterman, Roberts, was immedi-
ately captured in his sleep beneath the
bell, whereupon that official joined the
enemy with no more demur than
Brummy. Indeed, he went the length
of shaking hands with the supposed
Italian and personally thanking him
for having come at last.
Hockey On his horse cut this profess
sion short and drove both prisoners be-
fore him toward the overseer's hut,
which Tom had already pointed out.
The latter was now left in charge of
the bell rope, with a last order not to
ring until the hut vas we'll ablaze.
Il thought he was gov'nor?" Tom
heard Roberts remark.
"The less you think the BETTER" re-
torted Hockey. But about this over
seer of yours-a ticket Of leave, 1 I'm
derstand. True man, eh?" by which
term Hockey meant it's opposite.
~ doubt it," said Roberts.
"Then all the worse for him!"
Ginger's hut was but a few yards
from the bell. Tom heard them enter
and held his breath. The door was
shut, and then he heard no more.
In the main building all was dark
and still. He watched it keenly, with
his ears, as it were, upon the hut be-
hind. At last the door reopened, and
he heard the striking of lucifers, ac-
companied by another sound, as of
something being dragged from the hut.
He looked wound, and it was Ginger's
bed. The overseer lay upon it, bound
and gagged.
Tom drew a deep breath. He had
expected worse.
Brummy and Roberts were now dis
patched to the convicts' huts to tell the
rest at the right moment what was
happening and how they would all be
free men within an hour if they alb
stained from Interference, but dead
men if they did not. Then the black
crept up close to the palisade, while
Hockey rode to one side and the other
two hid behind trees. Meanwhile the
.overseer's hut was beginning to crackle,
and all at once Tom saw the shadow
of his tree leap out toward the palisade
upon a ground Of glazing red.
ring! Ring!" cried Hockey from
his horse. :
Almost with his words a terrific
clang, clang, clang, burst out from
amid the red gums leaves, and almost
with the alarm a couple Of white fig
ures leaped out into the red glare be
hind the palisade.
Tom stood and watched like an actor
who has forgotten he is on the stage
himself.
He saw the white figures dash
through the gate and a black n glide
in front of it next moment. He saw
Nat Sullivan stop running, seize his
fathers arm and point %excitedly to-
ward the burning hut. He saw them
both about to turn when the son wa
lifted off his legs as though he had
been an infant, and there were coal
black arms entwined about his night.
shirt and snow white teeth grinning
over his shoulder. Hockey Simpson
galloped up. Slipper and Wall-eye dart
ed from behind their trees. All had
pistols in their hands and masks upon
their faces, and the masks reminded
Tom that he was looking on through
one himself and had no business to be
a locker on at all.
He had vaguely wondered why the
bell was still ringing. Now he let go
the rope and ran a step or two for
ward, but they were four to two with
out him, and the four were armed, and
watch he must.
The Sullivans were being dragged OF
driven backward upon the palisade.
Tom could make little Of the swaying,
struggling group, for Hockey Simpson
brought up the rear on his horse. but
through the animals legs he had
glimpses Of luttering calico and spar.
king spurs as the glare grew more
and mora intaESnj II was now as light