The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-04-09

awoke her fears. Look behinct" I mus.
tered between my set teeth.
h turned and on the instant uttered
a low cry. "A wherry like our own, but
even lighter-in my first glance up the
river I had not noticed it-had stolen
nearer to us and yet nearer, and now.
throwing aside disguise, was in hot pur-
suit OF us. There were three men on
board, two rowing and one steering.
When they saw that we had discov-
cred them, they hailed us in a loud
voice, and I heard the steersman's feet
rattle on the boards as he cried out to
his men to give way and stamped in
very eagerness. My only reply was to
AXE 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 l gave up at once for
that. They were Sill some so yards
behind, n for a few minutes, at any
rate. I might put off capture. AT the
worst they were only three to one. and
their boat looked light and cranky and
easy to upset. ....
So 1 pulled on, savagely s~training at
the oars. But my chest heaved and
my arms ached more and. more
with each stroke. The banks
slid by us. We turned one
bend. then another, though / saw moth
ing Of them. 1 saw only the pursuing
boat, on which my eyes were fixed,
heard only the measured rattle of the
oars In h rowlocks. A minute. two
minutes. three minutes passed. They
had not gained on us, but the water
was beginning to waver before my
eyes; their boat seemed floating In the
air; there was a pulsation in my ears
louder han that of the oars: 1 strug-
gled and yet / tagged. My knees trem-
bled. Their boat shot nearer now. near
er and nearer. so that / could read the
smile or triumph on the steersman's
dark face and hear his cry of exulta-
ton. Nearer. n then with a cry I
dropped my oars.
Quick" I painted to my companions.
Change places with me! SOL" Trem-
bling and out Of breath as I was, I
crawled between the women and
gained the stern sheets of the boat. As
l passed the Mistress Bertram she
clutched my arm. Her eyes, as they
met mine. flashed fire: her lips were
white. THE man steerlng!' she Kissed
between her teeth. Leave the others.
He Is Clarence, and I fear him!"
1 nodded. but still, as the hostile boat
bore swiftly down upon us, l cast a
glance aroun to see If there were any
help at hand. l saw no sign of any.
l saw only the pale blue sky overhead
n the stream flowing swiftly under
the boat. ! drew my sword. The case
was one rather for despair than cour-
age. The ONE were in my charge,
and, If 1 did not acquit myself like a
mar now. when should I do so? Bah,
It would soon be over!
There was an instant's confusion in
the other oat as the crew ceased row.
ing, and, seeing my attitude, and not
liking II, changed their seats. To my
JOY the mar who had hitherto been
steering flung a curse at the others and
came forward to pear the brunt Of the
encounter. He was a tall, sinewy man,
past middle age with a clean shaven
face. a dark complexion and cruel eyes.
So he was Master Clarence! Well, he
had the air of a swordsman n q SOL
der. / trembled for the women.
surrender, you fool" he cried to me
harshly. In the queens name, do you
hear? What do you in this company"
l 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 l could beat aside his
sword, l would spring upon him and
drive the knife home with tina hand.
So, standing erect In bow and stern, we
faced N another, the man and the boy,
the flush of rag and exertion on my
CHEEK, d udTk Bnaue on MS. And ST.
lently the boats drew together.
Thought is quick--quicker thar any
thing else In the world, / suppose, for
in some drawn out econd before the
boats came together I had time to won-
der wher 1 had seen his face before
and to rack my memory. l knew no
Master Clarence, yet I had seen his
mar somewhere. Another second, and
away with thought! He was CT ouchins
for a spring. I drew back a little, then
lunged-lunged with heart and hand.
Our swords crossed and whistled-just
crossed-and even as I saw his eyes
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 out
wild hands. 1 strove hard to recover
myself-nay, 1 almost did so-then I
caught my foot in Mistress Anne's
cloak, which she had left in her place,
and fell heavily back into the boat.
/ was up in a moment-on myknees at
least-and unhurt. But another was
before me. AS 1 stopped, half risen, I
saw n moment a dark shadow above
me. and the next a sheet OF flame shone
before my eyes, and a tremendous
shock swept all away. I fell senselesB
into the bottom of the boat, knowing
nothing of what had happened to me.
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