Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1908-09-16
CHAPTER xll.-Continued.

These are but blank cartridges. Per-
haps can brighten them.''
brighten Lord Strathgate!" laughed
Deborah. Don't try. 1t 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 mile away, and pulled the trig-
ger. There was 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 concussion, the
noise and the smoke relieved her feel
ings. Deborah covered down in the
boat, released the tiller, let go 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 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 once more but could detect no
evidence that her firing had in the
least intimidated those who were
coming 30 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. She
would have given anything for a
couple Of good honest leaden bullets.
If she had even had a jeweled ring.
she would have pounded it into shape
and rammed it down the barrel, but
she had Invested herself of all her
jewels except her wedding ring and
she could not make up her mind to
blow that away in the present emer.
gency. Still the pistols were heavily
charged and at close quarters there
would be an unpleasant dose of pow
der for anyone who tried to modest
her.
The other boat was coming up hand
over hand now. In half an hour she
would be alongside. Ellen swept the
harbor ahead of her and was sur
prised to see-she had not noticed it
in the interest excited by the chase
coming down under full sail large
ship, an American merchantmen evil
IDENTIFY. She jumped to the conclusion
that it must be the New Eagle. II
she could intercept that ship and get
aboard of her, her troubles would be
over. Provided the ship were willing
to heave to or to check her way, the
boarding of her would be an easy mat
ter, and Ellen was sailing on such
a course that the interrogation of her
would not be difficult, if it were not
for this boat close astern of her. Far
Their ahead Ellen also marked follow
Ing hard on the great ship two boats
like her own and the one pursuing.
They were, like the merchantmen,
beating down the harbor and it seemed
to Ellen's eyes that they were also
chasing after the merchant ship.
She was more and more convinced
as she studied it, that it could be none
other than the New Eagle. With sal
walton staring her in the face, Ellen
feared that she would be unable to
escape her nearest pursuer. She looked
back and could have screamed aloud.
Ellen" said Deborah, who had
given no thought to what was before
her but who had been staring at the
other boat, Il don't believe that's the
earl of Strathgate."
''Whc IS it then?" asked Ellen who
was thinking hard and desperately as
to what were best to be done.
'It's-1'm sure It's
who. Lord Carrington?'
may" answered Deborah with q
little shipper. "Sir Charles Seton"
Impossible" cried Ellen brusquely.
'cHow would he be there?"
"Tis h=. I'm sure. I recognize him. ~
"You have keen eyes," said Ellen
looking back. II always supposed
that mine were good.'
"You might recognize him if it were
Lord Carrington," said Deborah patty.
do you mean to imply that THAT
you" Ellen gave it up as hopeless.
II don't care who it is. Look ahead.
Turn your eyes from that young red
coat. See yon ship! That will be the
New Eagle. See how white her can.
vas! And. yes"-as the ship swung
around on another tack and gave them
view of her broadside -''there's the
American Tag. That means safety for