Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1908-06-06
CHAPTER XII.

we COaSteu dIOnB III lHlS SlleHt
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
bury the Spanard. 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
far as we could learn. our passage was
unnoticed. We reached the fringe Of
rushes. With prolonged kissing
sound the boat pushed through them
A flight Of waterfowl rose, whirring
and clapping about us, and we fioated
out into 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 Op-
ening, through which we glided into
second and smaller mere At the far
ther end OF this one the way seemed
barred by a black, impenetrable wall OF
rushes. which rose far above our heads
But the tall stems bent slowly with
many q whispered protest before our
silent onset, and we slid into a deep
water lane here narrow, there widen
ing into a pool, in one place dark, In
another rejecting the gray night sky.
Down this we sped swiftly, the sullen
splash of the oars and the walls Of
rushes always with us. For ourselves,
we crouched still and silent, shivering
and listening for sounds Of pursuit,
now starting at the splash of a frog,
again shuddering at the cry of 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
with the baggage and some warm COW
erings and would insist on treating me
as helpless. Even when the others be-
gan to talk in whispers the duchess en-
Joined silence on me and bade me
sleep. Presently | did so, my last i'm
preston one of unending waterways
and shoreess shadowy lakes.
When l awoke the sun was high,
and the scene was changed indeed. We
lay on the bosom of a broad river. our
boat seeming now to stand still as the
sail tapped idly, now to heel over and
shoot forward as the light breeze struck
us. The shores abreast of us We're still
low 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 up and asleep. Amid
ships, too. Master Lindstrom and Van
Tree had curled themselves up between
the thwarts and We're slumbering
peacefully. I turned to look for the
duchess and found her sitting wide
awake at my elbow, her eyes on her
husband.
Well" she said, smiling, do you
feel better now? You have had a good
sleep"
How long have been 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 an
swering in a question, as people fresh
ly aroused do nine times out of 10,
Where are we?'
You have been asleep nearly six
hours, and we are on the Rhine, near
Emmerich," she answered. smiling. She
was pale, and the long hours of watch
ing had drawn dark 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.
We'll nearly" she answered But
how does your wound feel?"
Rather stiff and sore" i said rue
fully after making an experiment by
moving my body to and fro. And
am very thirsty, but l could steer"
so you shall" she said. "Only first
eat something. We broke our fast be-
fore the others lay down. There is
bread and meat behind you, and some
hollands and water in the bottle"
; l seized the latter and drank greed
lily. Then. finding myself hungry, now
j came to think about it, fell upon the
,eatables.
You will do now. think" she said
when she had watched me for some
time.
| laughed for answer, pleased that the
40 nrly Mt ifS orlnn h
cry were past. But it's memories re-
mained, and presently l said, IF Van
Tree did not try to kill me-and am
perfectly sure he did not"
so am l." she said. I'VE were all
wrong"
Then" I continued, looking at her
,gravely, who did? That is the ques-
'tion. And why?"
You are sure that 1t was not the
Spaniard whom you hurt in defense of
'Dymphna?" my lady asked.
Quite sure"
And sure that it was not Clarence?'
she persisted.
Quite sure. 1t was a short man. ]
explained again. land dressed in a
cloak. That is all I can tell about
him"
TT might be some one employed by
Clarence" she suggested, her face
gloomy, her brows knit.
True, / had not thought of that"
I answered. And 1t reminds me.
have heard so much of Clarence
And seen some little: even that lit
tie more than was good for you"
Yes, he has had the better of me on
both occasions" 1 allowed. But l was
going TO ask you" l continued, Ito tell
me something about him. He was your
steward, know. But how did he come
to you? How was IL you trusted him? p
I'VE are all fools at times" she an
swered, grimly. I'VE wanted TO have
persons of our own faith about us. and