Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-29
By Arthur W. Marchmont,
Author of
"A Dash for a Throne"
CHAPTER xVII-Continued.

HE would have raised many Objec-
TONS but l could not venture to
STAY to listen to them. l assured
~ her il was her only possible chance
of getting away. seeing that Bel
tano was now full charged with suspicion
of me-.
The suspense during the rest of the day
was trying in the extreme. I would not
go near the landing stage for fear OF
starting a suspicion that meditated an
escape \ hundred times in every hour
told myself that my plan was impossible:
that thousand things. every one or
them likely to occur. would thwart II. and
7 read in every incident of the dragging
hours a fresh reason for failure.
But the luck was with me. In the after
noon Ahmet was taken from his post and
Sont off to the mainland by R"'tano l
guessed that he was going in search of
another priest in Beracci's place. A
fellow named Pedro was posted on the
watch. and here again Agapa was able
to help. He was one Of the many who
admired her and as soon ! learnt of
the change I told her something of my
plan and set her to wheedle him into al
lowing Rreva to pass and then to take
him away from his post.
His . companion on guard was a man
who had returned with Beltano from the
last visit to the mainland and was little
known to any of the rest. He would
thus be the less likely to recognize Ma
sta In BrevaS clothes.
I both Reltano and Molta several
times during the day. but affected sullen
mood and would not speak to them.
passed most of the time in nv hut. and
after my visit to Masita earlier in the
day was careful to keep away from the
fcrt altogether.
When the time arrived saw Agapa
and Rreva start for their part of the task
and. shipping off unobserved. I hurried to
the cliff path and climbed round. Breva
lad not vet succeeded in getting past
Pedro and his companion: 50 I bound
Penita's arms and legs and gagged her.
and in the meantime Masita dressed her
snlf in the clothes which had been
brought there on the previous day. Breva
arrived Just as I finished with Pepita.
and. having bound him. I gave to the
room the appearance of struggle having
taken place. and left my knife behind.
with my name on the sheath. to show
''eltano that 1t was all my doing and not
Brava's
Peerng through one of the narrow Sits
Of windows I that Agapa had sue
ceeded in getting Pedro away. and the
moment of crisis had come.
Put bold face on 1t and all Will he
WELL I said to Masita ''As YOU GO out
turn and call out something to Pepita in
an angry tone. then slam the door bahind
You. As If YOU two had uuarreled. If the
man speaks TO you. don't answer. but
gesture as If Won were in a furious rage.
Then walk off toward the huts and look
for me close to the landing stage"
7 scrambled out of the window then
and as soon I was safely across ran
round the path to the fort to make sure.
by force. If necessary. that Masita got
past.
I did not wish the man on watch to see
me unless ! had to interfere. so I waited
and listened. ] heard the door opened:
Masitas voice raised in anger: the slam
ming of the door as I had told her: the
mans voice with bantering question
and then Masita's footsteps as she passed
him.
I turned away with sigh Of relief But
then my heart gave sudden bound.
Beltano was in sight. walking quickly
toward the fort