Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-06-05
XII.

Ii -
We coasted along in this silent
Fashion nearly as far as the hamlet and
bridge, following, but farther inshore,
the course which Master Lindstrom
and / had taken when on our way to
aoury the ~Spaniard. A certain point
gained, at a signal from our host we
struck out into the open and rowed
swiftly toward the edge of the marsh.
This was the critical moment: but, SO
Gar as we could learn, our passage was
unnoticed. We reached the fringe of
PUSHES. With a prolonged kissing
sound the boat pushed through them.
A flight OF waterfowl rose, whirring
and clapping about us. and we hoated
out into a dim, misty lake, whose
shores and surface stretched away on
every side, alike dark, shifting and un-
certain.
Across this the Dutchman steered us,
bringing us presently to a narrow OPP
ening, through which we glided into a
second n smaller mere. At the far
Sher end of this one the way seemed
barred by a black, impenetrable wall of
'TRshes, which rose far above our heads.
But the tall stems bent slowly with
many a whispered protest before our
asNeut onset, n we slid into q deep
water lane, here narrow, there WIDEN
ing into a pool. in one place dark, in
another rejecting the gray night sky.s
Down his we sped swiftly, the sullen
splash OF the oars and the walls Of
Irushes always with us. For ourselves,
we crouched stir and silent, ~shivering
listening for sounds Of pursuit,
now starting at the splash of a frog,
again shuddering at the cry OF a night
bird. The duchess. her child and / were
in the bows, Master Lindstrom, his
daughter and Mistress Anne in the
stern. They had made me comfortable
rCNnrh tho ho orra oa a nd Cnvna v.a rDN cnu-
se.rtngs and would insist on treating me
ms helpless. Even when the others be-
tgan To talk in whispers the duchess en-
Joined silence on me and babe me
satsep. Presently | did so, my last i'm
preston one of unending waterways
sand shoreless, shadowy lakes.
When I awoke. the sun was high,
sand the scene was changed indeed. We
Fasa 1n TIE bosom OF q broad river. our
sOoat seeming now TO stand still as the
%sail Tapped idly, now to heel over and
shoot forward as the light breeze struck
WIS. THE shores abreast OF US were still
Tow and reedy, but ahead the slopes of
green wooded hills rose gently from the
stream. Master BERTHE was steering.
.and seeing me lift my head greeted me
with a smile. The girls in the stern
were covered III and asleep. Amid
sshipS, too, Master Lindstrom and Van
Tree had curled themselves up between
she thwarts and were ~slumbering
peacefully. | turned to look for the
duchess and found her sitting wide
awake at my elbow. her eyes on her
Well she said. smiling, 'do you
Feel better now? You ave had a good
sleep"
How long have I beer asleep,
please?' ! asked, bewildered by the
sunshine. by the shining river and the
green hills, by the fresh morning air,
by the change in everything, and am
-Swsring in a question. as people fresh
nv aroused do nine times out of 10,
Where are WEI"
"You have been asleep nearly six
hours, and we are on the Rhine, near
ERanterich," h answered, smiling. She
was pale, and the long hours OF watch
ing had drawn lark circles round her
eyes. But the old undaunted courage
shone in them still, and her smile was
as sweet as ever.
Have we passed the frontier" /
asked eagerly.
"Weil, nearly she answered. But
how does your u feel?"
Rather stiff n sore" / said rue
wnoving my body TO and fro. And /
am very thirsty. but 1 could steer"
$50 you shall" she aid only first
eat something. We broke our fast be-
Tore the others lay down. There is
bread and meat behind you. and some
hollands n water In the bottle"
i seized the latter and drank greed
MY. Then. finding myself hungry. now
Iscame 10 think about 1t, fell upon the
-eatabies.
You VII. do now. I thir.k." she SAIL
when she had watched me for som
time
4 laughed for answer. leased that tn,
Tong d;srk night. its gloom and treach,
ery were past. But is memories re
npainssl. and presently | said. III Val
Tree did not try 70 kill me--and / an
perfectly sure he did not--
$50 am /" she sad. I'VE were al
wrong.
Then" + continued, looking at he
Gravely, who did? That liz the ques
fion- Aid Why
Ycu are sure thai II wa not Ia
<3paniar7 wt.cfs you hurt In defenae q
12ynrhrn II my lady asked
And mrs that II vas not Clarence .
III ~ fs;sfed.
Srse. y Mas = short man.,