The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-04-10

aWoke her fears. Look behfnA!" I muA
tered between my set teeth.
She turned and OH the instant uttered
a low cry. A wherry like our own, but
Yen iishter-in nay first glance up the
river l had not noticed it--had stolen
nearer to us and yet nearer, and nov.
throwing aside disguise. was in hot pur-
suit of US. There We're three men on
board. WI rowing and one steering.
When they SAW hat we had discoy-
cred them. they hailed US in a loud
voice. and l heard the steersman's feet
rattle on the boards as he cried out 10
ms men To give Nay and stamped in
Nery eagerness, My only reply was TO
take a longer stroke and pulling hard
TO sweep away from them.
But presently my first strength died
away, and The work began to tell upon
me. and little by little they ~overhauled
us. Not that | gave up at once for
that. They We're still some 60 yards
behind. and for u few minutes. at any
rate. / might put off capture. Al the
worst they we're only three to one. ard
their boat looked light and crank ana
easy to upset.
SO pulled on, savasely straining q.
the oars. But my chest heaved and
my arms ached more and more
''N'A NaNp StIoke. ne banks
slid by us. We turned ONE
bend, Then another. though / saw moth
mig OF them. | saw only the pursuing
boat, on which my eyes were fixed,
heard only the measured rattle of the
oars In the rowlocks. a minute. two
minutes. three minutes passed. They
had not gained on us, but the water
was beginning to waver before nv
eyes: their boat seemed floating in the
am: there was a p~ulsation in my ears
louder than that of the oars: l strup-
gled yet tagged. My knees rem
bied. Their boat shot nearer now, near
ef ana nearer. SO that 1 could read the
sllal,e OF triumph on he steersman's
dark face and hear his cry of exulta-
tloh. Nearer. and then with a cry I
dropped my oars.
quick | painted to my companions.
change places with me. So,'' Trem-
oilhg and out of breath as / was. [
cfawled between the women and
gained the stern sheets OF the boat. Az
l passed the Mistress Bertram she
clutched my arm. Her eyes, as they
met. mine flashed fire: her lips were
Wh1te. The man steering.." she Missed
between her teeth. Leave the others.
tie IS Clarence. and l fear him.
nodded. but still, as the hostile boat
pore swiftly dow upon US. 1 cast a
glance ROUND to see if there We're any
- $500 i ~" wv SIKH VI TN
J. saw only the pale blue sky overhead
and the stream flowing swiftly under
he boat. L drew my sword. The case
was one rather for despair than cour
age. The women We're in my charge.
and, II did not acquit myself like a
man now, when should | do so? Bah.
1T would soon be over!
There was an i%nstant's confusion in
lle other boat as the crew ceased row
ing, and. seeing my attitude. and not
hiking 1T. changed their seats. To nv
JOY the man who had hitherto been
steering hung a curse at the others and
came onward to bear the brunt of the
encounter. He was a tall, sinewy man.
past middle age, with a clean shaven
lace. d dark complexion and cruel eyes.
sc he was Master Clarence, Well. lie
mad the air OF a swordsman and a soil
dier, trenbied for the women.
"~Surrender, YOU fool" he cried TO me
harshly. I'm the queens name. do you
near? WHAT do you in this companya?'
i answered nothing. for I was out of
breath. But softly. my eyes on his, I
drew out with my left hand my hunt
ing Knife. If ! could beat aside his
SWORD 1 would spring upon him and
arlVe the Knife home with hat hand.
so, standing erect in bow and stern. we
faced one another, the man and the boy.
the flush Of rage and eNertion on my
cheek. n dark shade on his. And ST.
emily the boats drew together.
Thought is ~quick-quicker than my
thing else in the world. l p tor
IN some drawn u second before the
boats came together l had time to Won
DER where | had seen his face before
and to rack my memory. knew no
Master Clarence, Yet | had seen this
man somewhere. Another second. and
away with thought, He was crouchin,
for Il spring. l drew back a little. then
lunged-lunged with heart and hand.
Our swords crossed and whistled-iust
crossed-;tnd even as / saw his ewes
CLEAN behind his point the shock of the
two boats coming together flung us
both backward and apart. A moment
we reeled. staggering and throwing u
wild hands. l strove hard to recover
myself-n:ly. i almost did so-then I
caught my foot in Mistress Anne's
cloak. which She had left in her place.
and fell heavily pack into the boat.
1 was up in a moment-on my knees at
least-and unhurt. But another was
before me. AS l stopped, half risen. +
saw one M a lar shadow above
me. and the next a sheet Of flame shone
before my eyes, and a tremendous
shock swept ell away. 1 fell senselesa
into the bottom of the boat. knowin~
nothing of what had happened to me-
(Contiaued Next Week.)