The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-05-02

take IA ulier a moment. Hold IL
Just as it is and the sheet in the other
hand"
What are you going to doY" asked
Deborah as she obeyed her captains
commands.
I'm going to see If there are any
powder and shot in the lockers forward
I was a fool to come away with only
the charges in my pistols"
Would you shoot him?"
"Ay. that l would" returned Ellen,
rather than fall into his hands"
She stepped forward and rummaged
in the locker under the bows but found
nothing. She made her way aft again
and disturbing Deborah opened anoth-
e. locker in the stern sheets. There
to her good fortune she found a flask
Of powder but no bullets. She was
bitterly disappointed at this lack, but
at least something was gained. She
knelt down on the thwarts and with
skin bred Of ancient practice rapidly
charged both her pistols.
What are you going to do?" asked
Deborah again.
use these on them" answered
Ellen.
you would not murder?"
peace, child. l have no bullets.
These are but blank cartridges. Per.
haps / can frighten them"
Brighten Lord St~rathgatew laughed
Deborah. Don't try. It will only
make him more angry, and"
But Ellen stood up in the boat,
balancing herself lightly in spite Of
the pitching, pointed her pistol at
the other boat now not more than
half a mile away, and pulled the trig-
ger. There was a tremendous report,
for Ellen had put in an extra large
charge in default of a bullet.
Someone in the boat astern stood
up and waved his hat.
Ellen let him have the other pistol.
OF course, there was sound and moth
ing more. But the conclusion, the
noise and the smoke relieved her feel
ings. Deborah covered down in the
boat, released the tiller, let 60 the
sheet and stopped her ears with her
fingers, Ellen dropped her pistols
and by the quickest kind Of work,
seized the tiller and sheet and got the
boat under control before she preached
to. 1t was a narrow escape, however,
and convinced Lady Darlington that
she could not indulge in any more
sham battling. She watched the other
boat carefully as her own gathered
way ono more but could detect nc
evidence that her firing had in the
least intimidated those who were
coming so recklessly after her.
Promising Deborah that she would
not fire them again, she got the young
} woman to take the helm once more
/ while she reloaded her pistols. Sht
} would have given anything for
, couple Of good honest leaden bullets
I If she had sven had a jeweled ring
+ she would have pounded it into shap
J, and rammed It down the barrel, bu
t she had Invested herself Of all he
] jewels except her wedding ring an
/ she could not make up her mind Il
blow that away in the present emer
gency. Still the pistols were heavil,
charged and at close quarters thert
; would be an unpleasant dose Of pow
der for anyone who tried 10 moles
, her.
The other boat was coming up hand
over hand now. In half an hour she
t would be alongside. Ellen swept the
+ harbor ahead of her and was sur
r prised to see-she had not noticed i
in the interest excited by the chase
9 coming down under full sail a large
ship, an American merchantmen evi
IDENTIFY. She jumped to the conclusion
that it must be the New Eagle. |
she could intercept that ship and &c
aboard of her, her troubles would b,
over. Provided the ship we're willini
to heave to or to check her way, tn
o boarding of her would be an easy mat
t ter, and Ellen was sailing on sue
I a course that the interrogation of he
t would not be difficult, if it were no
t for this boat close astern of her. Fal
g Their ahead Ellen also marked follow
ing hard on the great ship two boat
+ like her own and the one pursuing
They were, like the merchantmen
beating down the harbor and it SCENE
L to Ellen's eyes that they were ais
S chasing after the merchant ship.
e She was moreNand more convince
d as she studied it, that it could be non
d other than the New Eagle. With sa
walton staring her in the face, Ellie
t. feared that she would be unable I
escape her nearest pursuer She locke
a. back and could have screamed aloul
"Ellen," said Deborah, who ha
given no thought to what was befol
t, her but who had been staring at Il
other boat, Il don't believe that's II
earl Of strathgate.'
/" Who is it then?n asked Ellen WI
was thinking hard and desperately Z
n to what We're best to be done.
"It's-I'm sure it's"
h who. Lord C%arringtong'
May answered Deborah with
d little shipper. "sir Charles Seton"
~ Impossible cried Ellen brusquel
Is How would he be there27
~Tis he, I'm sure. i recognize him
IN "You have keen eyes, said Ellie