Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-04-18


aet down on 80 g. sae.l .-..- -, 4
idn bred CT ancient practise raYsdiy
CHARGED beth her pistols.
What are you going to do?" asked
Deborah aeain.
Use these on them" answered
Ellen.
"Ycu would not murder?"
Peace. child. have no bullets.
These are but blank cartridges. Per
haps / can brighten them"
Brighten Lord Strathgate," laughed
Deborah. Don't try II win only
make him more angry. and"
But Ellen stood up In the boat.
balancing herself lightly in spite OF
the pitching. pointed her pistol at
the other boat now not more than
half a mile away. ard pulled the trig-
ger. There was . tremendous repo-t.
for Ellen had put in an extra larye
charge In default Of a bullet
Someone in the boat astern stood
up and waved his hat
Ellen let him have the other piston.
OF course. there was sound and moth
ing more. But the conclusion. the.
noise and the smoke relieved her feel
ings. Deborah covered down I'm the
boat, released the uller. Get 20 the
sheet and stopped her ears with her
fingers. Ellen dropped her pistols
and by the quickest kind Of work.
seized the tiller and sheet and got the
boat under control before she preached
to- II was narrow escape. however.
and convinced Lady Darlington that
she could not indulge in any more
sham battling. She watched the other
boat carefully as her own gathered
way once more but could detect no
evidence that her firing had in the
least intimidated those who were
coming so recklessiy after her.
Promising Deborah that she would
not fire them again. she cot the young
woman 10 take the helm once more
while she reloaded her pistols. She
would have given anything for n
couple OF good honest leaden bullets
II she had even had a jeweled ring.
sho would have pounded It into shane
and rammed it down the barrel. but
she had Invested herself OF all her
jewels except her wedding ring and
sho could not make up her mind To
blow that away in the present emer-
gency. Sun the pistols were heavily
charged and at close quarters there
would be an unpleasant dose OF pow
der for anyone who tried to modest
her.
The other boat was coming up hand
over hand now. In halhau hour she
would be alongside Ellen swept the
harbor ahead of her and was sur
prised 20 see-sbe had not noticed il
in the interest excited by the chase
coming down under full sail a large
ship, an American merchantmen evil
IDENTIFY She jumped to the conclusion
that IL must be the New EAGLE II
she could Intercept that ship and get
aboard OF her. her troubles would be
over. Provided the ship we're willing
60 heave TO or TO check her way, the.
boarding OF her would be an easy mat
ter. and Ellen was sailing on such
course that the interrogation OF her
would not be difficult, II it were not
Tor this boat close astcrn OF her Far
Their ahead Ellen also marked follow
Ing hard ON the great ship two boats
Ike her own and the one pursuing.
They We're. like the merchantmen,
beating down the harbor and il seemed
20 Eilens eyes that thoy were also.
chasing after The merchant ship.
She was more and more convinced
as she studied o.. chat 10 could be none
other than the Sew Eagle with sal
walton staring her In the face. Ellen
feared that she would be unable to
escape her nearest pursuer. She looked
back and could have screamed aloud.
Ellen said Deborah who had
given no thought TO what was before
her but who had been staring al the
other boat, Il don't believe that's the
earl OF StrathEate"
Who is 10 then2" asked Ellen who
was thinking hard and desperately as
TO what were best 90 be done
"Its-Im sure it's"
Who. Lord Carrington?"
Nay" answered Deborah with a
little shipper. Sir Charles seton"
Impossible" cried Ellen brusquely.
How would he DE there?"
"'Tis he. I'm sure. recognize him"
You have keen eyes" said Ellen
looking back. Il always supposed
that mine were good"
you might recognize him II IL were
Lord Carrington." said Deborah patty.
DO You mean 20 imply that That
you" Ellen gave It up as hopeless.
Il don't care who il is. Look ahead.
Turn your eyes from that young red
coat See yon shipi That viii be the
New Eagle. See how white her can
vast And. yes"-as the ship swung
around on another tack and gave them
a view Of her broadside-"there's the
American flag. That means safety for
us-freedom. if we can shake of this
pestilent pursuer in our wake"
"But don't want TO shake him on"
cried Debbie
You must Would you fall into his
arms? 'Tis most unmaidenly," an
swered Ellen
Il don't care" cried Debbie, begin
ming TO whimper
Il guess you can stop crying" an
swered Ellen. cOntemptuously, for we
have no more chance OF escaping from
that boat than we have Of getting