The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-11-05

Hatch. the familiar faces daunted him
like the sight OF ghosts. Friends no
longer! they were now avengers. with
the right to track him down and kill
him.
"JAckr cried Brady In a stlted voice.
The Lad took step back. Tho girl
moaned and tried to run between
Hatch and Stanbury. Jones. The old
seaman caught and shook her like a
De-. tearing away tho whistle she put
10 her lips and dashinx II on tho floor.
Jack put up Oils hand and snatchcd
pistol hidden In the thatch OF the root.
Brady On the instant lcveled his own
and thundseed out:
drop Il or I'll shoot!'
''shoot and be hanged!- returned Jack,
And with that hc turned hia pistol on
himself and. placing tho muxzie against
his forehead. pulled the trigger.
II missed firc.
Before no could try again Brady had
caught him round tho neck. whiis
Hatch. rcsigntns tho girl 10 stanbury-
Jones. run In aud snapped tlse hand.
cuffs on bis wrists.
Jack" cried Brady. 1--WE aren't so.
Ing to hurt you! We're rcacuing you
from the hill tribes. Man. you're saw.
cdr
"You never was no descrter." said
Hatch.
mind you back US up. old fellow"
said wlntcrsiea,
"Give IN your fin. boy" said Hotham
II was some time before Jack could
pull hinaclf together. When at last
he did 80 Aad began TO appreciate tho
generosity Of his captain and ship.
mates and their astounding concern 10
save him from the penalty Of his
crime. hc underwent one Of those reac-
tions when despair gives way 10 the
maddcst gayety. lie swore at Hatch
aud made him take on the iron: he
got out n bottle of white rum and
forced them all TO drink his health; he
kept them ln a roar with the story OF
his adventures and laughed and cried
IN turn AZ he described his life ashore.
"What does she wantT demanded
Brady, ms Tehca insistently repeated
some words In native,
"She says" said Jack calmly. pick.
Ing up the whistle from the fioor and
touching II to his lips. ''she says I've
only to blow this and you VIII oil be
dead In five minutesf'
A hush fell upon the company.
Jack, with an oath. flung the whistle
from him,
'Gentlcmcn," he said. II am crate.
full. am id grateful. II l live
shall try to repay each one Of you.
! shall try to be better man. !
shall try to be worthy OF your kind.
ness" He went round and shook
hands solemnly with every one Of
them.
"D-d gratefulv he repeated,
LETS be off," said Brady.
Nov, lad, your word Of honor,'
said Winterslea.
Jack looked about him helplessly.
II suppose I've no right to ask such
a thing" he said. II know how good
you've been to me already. and all
that. But--but. gentlemen-she's my
wife. love her. shall never see
her again May ! not entreat single
minute for myselfT
NO. said Brady. a
Jack went over TO Tehea and took
her hand. He put his arms about her,
and. unashamed, before them all.
pressed her comeiy head against his
breast. He tried to explain the In.
exorable fate he was so powerless to
resist; in incoherent~whispers he told
her he would break bis chalnn and re-
turn to her, free in the years 10 come
70 devote his life to the woman he
loved. He called her the dearest
names and begged her not to forget
him. But she, with perception
greater than his own, swept away
these despairing protestations with
disdain., The daughter Of one king,
the sister Of another, could she not
meet force by force? These fierce in. |
truders With their rough voices and !
drawn pistols, who were they to
threaten princess OF the royal blood
and carry away her lover before her
eyes? "A
II they were strong, she was
stronger, and what ship cannon, she
asked, however murderous or far rang.
Ing. could penetrate those mountain
recesses whltheS she would carry
him before the morning? Ah, she
said, 1t was for him to choose between
her and them; between Britain and
the island; between love or the service
Of the white queen beyond the seas.
u have chosen,p he said. II
Her eyes flashed as she freed her.
self from bis arms.
Il am hateful In my own sight for
having loved you," she said.
"Will you not even wish me well,
Tehea" he asked.
MOP she cried, II hope you viii
aten