Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-02-19

tight from behind. | raised both my
hands, felt steel and knew that l was
in the grasp of Handy Solomon's claw.
The sailor had me foul. / did my
best to twist around, to inhibition the
collar, but in vain. felt my wind
leaving me; the CHASTITY blue light was
shot with red. Distinctly l heard the
mans sharp intaken breath as some
new phenomenon met his eye, and his
great oath as he swore.
by the mother of God" he cried,
''it's the devil"
Then was jerked off my feet, and
the next l knew was lying on my
back, very wet, on the beach. The
day was breaking, and the men, quite
sober, were talking vehemently.
1t was impossible to make out what
they said, but as Handy Solomon and
the niger were the center Of discus
sion 1 could imagine the subject. I
felt very stiff and sore and hazy in
my mind My neck was lame from
the dragging and my tongue dry from
half torpor watching the lilac Of dawn
change to the rose of sunrise utterly
Indifferent to everything. They had
thrown me down across the first rise
of the little sand dunes back of the
tide sands. and from it 1 could at once
look out. over the sea full of the rest
less shadows of dawn and the land
narrowing to the mouth of the arroyo.
l remember wondering whether Cap
tain Selover were up yet. Then with
a sharp stab at the heart l remem.
bered.
The thought was like dash Of cold
water in clearing my faculties. rails
ed my head. Seward white gull
had caught the first rays of the sun
beyond the cliffs. Landmark saw
with a choke in my throat-a figure
emerging from the arroyo
At the sight made a desperate at
tempt to move, but with the effort dis
covered that was again bound My
stirring thus called Pulls attention.
Before l could look away he had fol-
lowed the direction Of my gaze. The
discussion instantly ceased. They wait
ed in grim silence.
l did not know what to do. Percy
barrow, carrying some sort of large
book, was walking rapidly toward us.
Perdosa had disappeared. Thrackles
after an instant came and sat beside
me and clapped his big hand over my
mouth. 1t was horrible.
When within hundred PAGES or so
l could see that barrow labored un-
der some great excitement His usual
Indifferent saunter had, as l have in
given way to firm and de.
cided step; his ironical eye glistened;
his sallow cheek glowed.
Boys" he shouted cheerfully, 1.-The
times up. We've succeeded. Well
sail just as soon as the Lord'Il let us
get ready. Rustic the stuff aboard. |
The doctor'll be down In a short time,
and we ought to be loaded by night"
Handy Solomon and Pull laid hand |!
on two Of the rifles near by and began
to fill their magazines. |
The niger shook his knife free of the |
scabbard and sat with it in his left |
hand, concealed by his body. l could |
feel Thrackles' muscles stiffen. An
other fifty PAGES and it would be no
longer necessary to stop my mouth.
The thought made me desperate. l |
had failed as a leader Of these men !
and l had been forced to stand by at .
debauching, cruel and murderous af-
fairs. but now It is over thank heaven
the reproach cannot be made against
me that at any time counted the con-
sequences to myself. Thrackles' hand
ay heavy across my mouth. bit 1t
to the bone. and as he involuntarily |
snatched it away rolled over toward
he sea.
Thus for an instant had my mouth
free
Run! Rum I shouted "For Gods
sake
Thrackles leaped upon ME and struck
ne heavily upon the mouth, then
'prang for rife. l managed to strug-
yle back to the dune. whence I could
Zee.
Ito be Continued).