The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-03-25
CHAPTER XIV
(Continued)

| oO luTlOuS Was he tHdC really
thought he would, and I am sure,
by the way Macshiel whitened and
shriveled up, that he believed so
too. | placed my hand lightly on
Hayling's arm and he turned and
smiled at me; but even then it
might be hard to say what would
have happened had he not caught a
glimpse of the girl standing in the
doorway. Something like flush Of
shame sprang to his face, and with
out more ado he seized the rifle
and withdrew, l following and lock-
ing the door after me.
well, Ravensford said he, "it's
open war now. l am a certainty:
but you"
81 am with you, Hayling."
His eyes danced as he cried Ia
conically, Good" Then, turning
to the girl, who stood on one side,
trembling and expectant, he be-
came as grave and earnest as any
reverend seignior.
"You know just how we stand,
Miss Waltham?"
Yes" she said, land if you will
let me, will stand with you"
And l."
She held out one hand to Hayling
and another to me, and as she gave
us each a generous pressure she
said. 81 would like to have two such
] brothers.
Well, whatever Hayling thought I
wouldn't like to say, but l know
felt capable of performing prodigies
of valor, and so eager to begin that
| suggested that we should at once
proceed to put our house in order.
! But Hayling did not answer, seem
ing to be plunged deeply in thought.
Then he said, 81 don't seem to
fancy the store room, though l ad-
nit it's strategic advantages"
never had fancied it, and so l
told him.
"If we have to fight" he contin-
ued, 1--WE may as well see what
we're doing; so l suggest that we
| captain as a hostage"
COR take possession of the wheel
house aft. Then we shall be able
to see everything that's going on"
"The very place." cried he.
They will only be able to attack
us from the front. A brilliant idea,
old man. Down with you and pass
up the provisions"
Down the ladder scrambled into
the store room, where the lamp
still burnt dimly, and soon l had
passed up enough provisions to
keep a dozen men for a fortnight.
The wheel house itself was
rather a formidable structure,
forming sort of short poop, up
which a ladder led on either side.
Beneath each of these ladders was
a door, while between the doors
were two fairly large windows.
These in turn were fitted with
heavy teak shutters, which slid in
| grooves, so that one could cover
or uncover the glass at will These
were pulled almost over the doors
fastened, and the provisions nicely
arranged in one of the far corners.
A fairly comfortable lounge was
made for our companion, where the
possibility of her being hit was re-
duced to a minimum. Then Hay
ling asked for permission to light
his pipe, and we sat down calmly
! to try to contemplate the situation.
Indeed, was just beginning to con-
| graduate myself on the success of
our move and the efficacy of our
defense when Hayling sprang to
his feet with a cry of alarm.
by Jove, Ravensford, we have
| forgotten the cannon"
| Heavens! so we had. In ar
ranging our defense we had
thought only of the rush of the
crew and the pattering OF ordinary
bullets-that is, supposing we
really suffered a siege, which was
not absolutely certain. Indeed, I
harbored the belief that we would
be left severely alone once our
resources were thoroughly appre-
ciated. In an ordinary way it
| would have been no easy thing to
dislodge from our position a couple
of determined men; but now with
Gupp and his Internal cannon we
and everything about us would be
blown to pieces in 10 minutes.
looked at Hayling and he looked
at me; the girl over in the far cor
ner said nothing. Neither he nor l
had the courage to turn to her.
We'll, old chap" said he, at
must be done"
-1i Ia,