The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-06-05

tu6 DdHR, where the or tho
poplars fell across us, n our figures
blende darlsly with the line of rushes
81 the shore.
CHAPTER XII.
We coasted along in this silent
fashion nearly as far as the hamlet and
bridge. following. but farther inshore,
the course which Master LindstromI
and I had taken when on our way to
bury the spaniard. A certain point
gained. at a signal from our host we
struck out into the open and rowed
swiftly toward the edge of the marsh.
This was the critical moment; but, so
Tar as we could learn, III passage was
annottced. We reached the fringe of
sound h boat pushed through them.
A flight of waterfowl rose, whirring
and .clapping about us. and we 1oated
out into q dim. misty lake. whose
shores n surface stretched away on
every side, alike dark. shifting and n
certain.
Across this the Dutchman steered us.
bringing us presently to a narrow OPP
enlng. through which we glided into q
second and smaller mere. At the far
Their end Of this one the way seemed
barred by 2 black. impenetrable wall of
fushes. which rose far above our heads.
But the tall stems bent slowly with
many q whispered protest before our
silent onset, and we slid. into a deep
water lane. here narrow. there widen
Ing into o pool. in one place dark, in
another rejecting the gray night sky.
splash OF h oars and the walls Of
rushes always with US. Fol ourselves.
we crouched still and silent. shivering
and listening for sounds of pursuit,
now starting at the splash Of a frog,
again shuddering at the cry of a night
bird. The duchess. her child and i We're
IN the bows. Master Lindstrom, his
daughter n Mistress Anne in the
stern. They had made me comfortable
With the baggage and some warm COW
orings 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 i'm
preston one of unending waterways
and %shoreless. .shadowy lakes.
When I awoke, the sun was high,
and the scene was changed indeed. We
lay on the bosom of a broad river, our
boat seeming low 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.
n seeing me lift my head greeted mo
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 warts and We're %slumbering
peacefully. I turned to look for the
duchess and found her sitting wide
awake at my elbow, her eyes on her
husband.
Well" she said, smiling, do YOU
feel better now? You have had a good
Sleep e
Hoy long have I been asleep.
sunshine. by the shining river and the
green hills. by the fresh morning air,
Dy the change in everything. and an
eWering In q question, as people fresh
" ous do nine times out OF 10,
Where are WEI"
You have been asleep nearly six
hours. n we are on the Rhine, near
Emmerich." she answered, smiling. She
wa pale. and the long hours of watch
ing had drawn dark circles round her
eyes. But the old undaunted courage
shone IN them. still. and her smile was
- sweet as ever.
Have we passed the frontier?" I
asked eagerly.
Well. nearly" she answered. But
how does your wound feel?"
Rather stifr and sore" I said rue
moving my body to and fro. And I
am very thirsty, but I could steer"
$50 o 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
fly. Then. finding myself hungry. now
I came to think about 1t, 1 fell upon he
eatables.
You will do now. 1 think" she said
when she had watched me for some
time.
I laughed for answer, pleased that the
long dark night, its gloom and treach-
cry were past. But its memories re-
manned. and presently l said, "If Van
Tree did not try to kill me-and 1 am
perfectly sure he did not"
$50 am L" she said. I'VE were all
wrong"
Then" I continued. looking at her
gravely. who did? That is the guess
ton. And why? 2"
you are sure that It was not the
Spaniard whom you hurt in defo.ase Of
Dymphna?" my lady asked.
Quite sure
sAnd sure that it was not c~larence7''
she persisted.
Quite sur It was ; short man"