The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-07-09

toward the sea he fancied he had
smelled at eighteen. but this he
declined to believe until the gray man
produced a tattered map aud pricked
out the positions with his hook. Tom
then gave in, but climbed into De
Gruchy's saddle with Incomplete con-
vicrions upon the point The delirium
of bis famished flight still magnifed
both the time and the space which 1t
had 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 be 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 ii seemed to Tom during
that midnight ride when not care. but
very merciful sort OF fatalism. sat
behind the reckless horseman. Fatalis-
tic be bad felt before. but never with
this result. Hitherto the feeling had
Inly deepened his despair. whereas
now II was his single solace. 1t con.
soled him for the horrors he had coun.
tenaneed that night. II even neryed
him for what deeds be must himself
commit before the night was out
In the laws eye he was branded
| murderer as 1t 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 slowly for his spirit. to
deliberate crime. for despite philoso-
ply his one immediate longing was for
a gallop TO rekindle blood which the
murder Of De Gruchy had turned from
i IRE to ice. and a greater comfort than
be would have owned to himself came
of his resolve to save and protect Peg
gy and Miss Sullivan from this ruth.
less crew. Otherwise be was one OF
them and would play his part. But he
was not yet the villain he had hoped.
d Objective details impressed him little
at the time And yet he was left with
the very sharpest memories OF floating
gum trees and dropping moon. Of the
masks they all put on and the battered
: top hat that Hockey wore above bis.
!, the pistols that they loaded and the
brace OF borse pistols handed to him.
self: the little conversation on the way.
the startling of an old man kangaroo
! that shoDe 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
i plan OF attack and division of VII
lainy. made almost within sight OF the
devoted homestead.
D At the time. however. though Ton
listened las be thought attentively and
: was much consulted In the strength OF
bis present knowledge Of the place. hs
0 grasped very little beyond his own in
n structions He was 10 show them th'
/, overseer's hut Cthe night watchmar
: would already be on their side Of
q dead. then be was to station himse!
e beneath the great bell and TO ring !
furiously 50 soon as Ginger was haul
ed out and bis hut set well on fire
Tom was also to answer to the nam
o Of Francisco aud to affect q foreigi
n sccent. because the Italians terrible
~ reputation had been the best part o.
him.
U The bell and the FIRE were calculate,
It to tempt both sulllvans forth unarmed
L At all costs those two were to be take
alive. "ADd Them said the little man
: poking walLeye In the ribs with hi
h Look.
~ "what Them inquired Tom.
:. ave shall do unto them as we've al
II been done by"
d But You were never here yourselff
- "Sext door 10 IT," returned Hooke
. Simpson. II was at strachan's. an
this old tyrant ordered me my fiftie,
Wen see how he likes them himself
1 just for a start"
" 81 wish Il was strachan's we wer
j. coming TO-" muttered Tom. with fias
Il Of his former passion.
- It'll be bis turn next"
y "But whenT'
"TOmOrr0w-if all goes well
y "Then you don't mean 10 stop q
Castle sullivan" cried Tom. amazed.
You'll see" rejoined Hockey. ian
y 20 shall l. There's no saying where
d may stop with seventy convicts at m
back"
Seventy convictsl That was n
rough number al Castle suIlivai
Al Then what was this 20 which the lift
- man was leading thefnf No petty rol
berry. after ALI A grand rebellion II
y stead. Toms heart llghtened at a
Is thought He gazed at the confdei
: little man, looking more like a monke
- dressed up as highwayman an
" perched upon horse. aud be felt TIL
be could have followed 70 spirited
leader with all the spirit be himss
!. bad left but for the thing that bs
= been done before bis eyes that Nigh
II There was no more. however. 10
= A.. -