The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-06-04
CHAPTER XII.

Du The SilOTe' g..
CHAPTER XII.
we coasted along in this silent
fashion nearly as far as the hamlet n
bridge, following, but farther inshore,
the course which Master Lindstrom
and I mad taken when on our way to
bury the Spaniard. A certain point
gained, at a signal from our host we
struck u 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 a prolonged Kissing
sound the boat pushed through them.
A flight Of waterfowl rose, whirring
and clapping about us, and we fioated
out into a 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 OPP
ening, through which we glided into q
second and smaller mere. At the far
Their 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 a whispered protest before our
silent onset, and we slid into q 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 n the walls Of
rushes always with US. For ourselves,
we crouched still and silent, shivering
M listening for sounds Of pursuit,
now starting at the splash OF a frog,
again shuddeTing at the cry Of a night
bird. The duchess. her child and I 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 babe me
sleep. Presently I did so, my last inn
preston one of amending waterways
and shoreless. 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 were 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 n were slumbering
peacefully. / turned to look for the
duchess and found her sitting wide
awake at my elbow, her eyes on her
husband.
We'll" she said. smiling, do you
feel better now? You have had a good
sleep" o.
How long have I 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
~ aroused do nine times out Of 10,
where are we?".
you have been asleep nearly six
hours. and we are OF the Rhine, near
Emmerich," answered, smiling. She
WAS pale, and the long hours of watch
ing had drawn dark circles round her
eyes. But the old undaunted courage
as sweet as ever.
Have we passed the frontier" !
asked eagerly.
well, nearly" she answered. But
how does your wound feel?"
Il Rather stiff and sore," I said rue
fully after making an experiment by
moving my body to and fro. And ]
am very thirsty. but I could steer"
$50 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"
I seized the latter and drank greed
lily. Then, finding myself hungry, now
i came to taink about it. l fell upon the
eatables.
"You will do now, I think" she said
when she had watched me for some
time.
] laughed for answer, pleased that the
long dark night, its gloom and treach-
cry were past. But its memories re-
manned, and presently / said, III Van
Tree did not try to kill me--and l an
perfectly sure he did not
$50 am l." she said. I'VE were al
wrong" (
'Then," I continued, looking at heI
gravely, who did? That is the ques-
ton. And why?"
.'You are sure that IL was not the
Spaniard whom you hurt in defense Of
bymphna 2" my lady asked.
quite sure"
"And sure that It was not clarence7'
she persisted,
quite sure, 1t was a short man." !