The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1908-04-09
awoke her fears. Look behlnd," I NUT

awoke her fears. Look behind!" I NUT
tered between my set teeth
She turned and on the instant uttered
a low cry. A wherry Ike our own. but
zee up tbs
river I had not noticed it-had stolen
nearer to us and yet nearer, and now,
throwing aside disguise. was in hot pur-
suit OF US. There were three men on
board, two rowing and one steering.
When they saw that we had discov-
cred them. they hailed US in a loud
voice, ard | heard the steerSman's feet
his men to give way and stamped in
very eagerness. My only reply was to
take a longer stroke and pulling hard
TO sweep away from them.
But presently my first strength died
away, and the work began to tell upon
me. and little by little they overhauled
US. Not that / gave up at once for
that. They were still some 60 yards
behind, and for a few minutes, at any
rate. | might put off capture AT the
worst they We're only three to one. and
their boat ook light and cranky and
easy to upset.
So l pulled on. savagely straining at
the oars. But my chest heaved and
my arms ached more and more
with each stroke. The banks
oiid ny US. WE turned one
bend, then another, though / saw moth
ing of them. / saw only the pursuing
boat, on which my eyes were fixed,
heard only the measured rattle of the
oars In the rowlocks. A minute. two
minutes. three n passed. They
had not gained on us. but the water
was beginning to waver before my
eyes; their boat seemed floating In the
air, there was a pulsation in my ears
louder than that of the oars: l strug-
gled and yet tagged. My knees trem-
bled. Their boat shot nearer now, near
er and nearer. SO that / could read the
smile of triumph on the steersman's
dark face and hear his cry of eXulta-
ton. Nearer. and hen with a cry I
dropped my oars.
quick" L painted to my companions.
Change places with me, Sol" Trem-
bling and out of breath as I was, I
crawled between the women and
gained the stern sheets of the boat. AS
passed the Mistress Bertram she
clutched my arm. Her eyes. as they
white. The man ~steering!" she Missed
between her teeth. Leave the Others.
He Is Clarence, and | fear him."
[ nodded. but still. as the hostile boat
bore swiftly down upon us. I cast a
glance around to see if there We're any
help at HAND saw no sign of any.
| saw only the pale blue sky overhead
and the stream flowing swiftly under
the boat. / drew my sword. The case
was one rather for despair than cour-
age. The women We're In my charge,
and. il l did not acquit myself like a
man now, when should | do 50? Bah.
1t would soon be over!
There was an i%nstant's confusion in
the other boat as the crew ceased row
Ing, and. seeing my attitude, and not
liking it, changed their seats. To my
joy the man who had hitherto been
cfpaYinO HUNG a of fhn nthnr.c n r1
came Onward to bear the brunt of the
encounter. He was a tall, sinewy man,
past middle age, with a clean shaven
face. a dark complexion and cruel eyes.
So he was Master Clarence! Well. he
had the air of a swordsman INC a SOL
der. l trembled for the women.
Surrender, you fool!'' he cried to me
harshly. In the queens name, do you
hear? What do o in this company?"
l answered nothing. for l was u of
breath. But softly. my eyes on his, I
drew out with my left hand my hunt
ing knife. If l could beat aside his
sword, l would spring upon him and
drive the knife home with hat hand.
SO, standing erect in bow and stern, we
faced one another, the mar and the boy
the flush of rag and exertion on my
cheek, a dark shade on his. And ST.
lently the boats drew together.
Thought is ~quick-quicker than any
thing else in the world, I for
in some drawn out second before the
boats came together l had time to Won
der where I had seen his face before
and to rack my M / knew no
Master Clarence, yet 1 had seen this
man somewhere. Another second, and
away with thought! He was crouching
for a spring. l drew back a little, then
lu~nged-lunged with heart and hand.
Our swords crossed and whistled-just
crossed-and even as I saw his eyes
CLEAN behind his point the shock Of the
two boats coming together flung US
both backward n apart. A moment
we reeled, staggering and throwing out
wild hands. l strove hard to recover
myself-nay. / almost did so-then I
caught my foot in Mistress Anne's
| cloak. which she had left in her place.
and fell heavily back into the boat.
| was up in a moment-on my knees at
least-and unhurt. But another was
before me. AS / stopped, half risen, I
saw one ONE a dark shadow above
me, and the next Il sheet of flame shone
before my eyes. and a tremendous
shock swept all away. I fell senseless
into the bottom of the boat, knowing
nothing of had happened to me.
(Continued Next Weekly