The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-04-10

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some PAGES until | felt sure that our
figures could not be seen through the
mist. Then / halted. and We stood lis
tening, gazing into one anotller's
strained eyes. while the step came near
er and nearer, crossed our track and
then with a noisy rush %thundered on
the wooden raft. My ear caught the
jingle Of harness and clank of
~ is my watch l muttered. Come.
and make no noise. What i want is a
little this way. l fancy l saw it as
we passed down the wharf"
They turned with me. but We had not
taken many steps before Mistress
Anne, who was walking on my left
side, stumbled over something. She
tried to save herself. but failed. n fell
heavily. altering as she did SO a loud
cry. | sprang to her assistance, and
even before | raised her l laid my hand
lightly on her mouth. Hush" l said
softly. For safety's sake, make nc
noise. What is the mattero?"
oh h moaned. making no effort
to rise. my ankle. my ankle. l am
sure ! have broken it,"
muttered my dismay. while Mistress
Bertraln, STOPPING anxiously. examined
the injured limb. Can you stand?"
she asked.
But it was no time for questioning.
and i put her aside. The troop which
had passed were within easy hearing,
and II there should be one among them
familiar with the girls voice we might
be bounced upon. fog or no fog. felt
that 1t was no time for ceremony and
picked Mistress Anne up in my arms,
whispering to the elder woman 60
straight before YOU"
Luckily was right. 1t was the boat.
and so far well. But at the moment |
spoke ! heard a sudden outcry behind
us and knew the hunt was up. I
piunged forward with my burden, reck-
lessly and blindly. through mud and
over obstacles. The ferry for which l
was making was moored in the water a
rev 1eet from the edge. ] had remarked
~ ldly INC without purpose as we came
down TO the wharf and had even no.
ticed i a the oars We're lying i'm it.
Now. IL we could reach 1t and start
Gown the river for Leigh. we might by
Mistress Bertram's husband.
At any rate, nothing In the world
semed so desirable to me at the mo-
ment as he shelter of that boat. T
plunged through the mud and waded
desperately through the water to ii.
mistress Bertram scarce a Whit behind
me. reached 1T. but reached it only
as .he foremost pursuer caught sight
OF us. heard his shout of triumph.
and somehow bundled my burden into
the boat. l remember that she chung
ABOUT my neck in fear. and had to
loosen her hands roughly. But 1 did
loosen them-int time. With one stroke
OF my hunting knife / severed the rope.
and pushing Off the boat with all nv
strength sprang into 1t as it foated
away and was in time. But one sec
ond's delay would have undone us.
w men were already In the water up
TO their knees. II their very breath
was hot on my face as we swung out
into the stream.
boats on the Avon. at Bedford. and
Stratford. and could pull ~ good oar.
FOR q moment indeed the wherry rolled
and dipped as l snatched IN the sculls
but i quickly got her in hand, and
pending to my work SEM her spinning
,iilougn tae mist, every stroke l pulled
increasing the distance between us and
our now unseen foes. Happily we We're
below London bridge and had not that
dangerous passage to make. The river
LOO, vas nearly clear of craft. and
lhough once and again in the pool a
huge hulk doomed suddenly across oul.
BOWS and then faded behind us into
the mist like some monstrous phantom
ana SO told of a danger NARROWLY es-
capped, l thought 1t best to run all risks
and go ahead as long as the tide should
ebb. o0o
IT vas strange how suddenly we had
passed from storm into calm. Mistress.
Anne had bound her ankle with a hand.
kerchief and bravely made light of the
nurt. and now the two women sat
%crouching in the stern watchfne.
me. their heads together. Their
faces pale. The mist had closed ronnd
US. and we were alone again. gliding
o ohe .ne BOSOM or the great river
that runs down to the sea. / was d
struck by the strange current of life
which for a week had tossed me from
adventure to another, only to bring
me lnto contact at length with these
two and sweep me into an unknown
whirlpool of their fortunes.
Who were they? "A merchants wife
and her sister flying from Bishop Bon
ner's inquisition? 1 thought 1t likely.
Their cloaks and hoods indeed. and ali
That ! could see OF their clothes. fell
below such a condition. but probably
they were worn as a disguise. Their
speech rose as much above it. but T
Knew That of late many merchants
wives mad become scholars and might
pass IN movements houses. Even as in
those days when London waxed fat and
set up and threw down governments.
every alderman had come to ride in
mail. ~
No doubt the women. watching me in
anxious silence. were as curious ahout
NE. ! sun OoFe STAINS OF country trav-
ell. l was unwashed. unkempt, my
doublet was torn. the cloak had cast
at my feet was the very wreck OF a
cloak. Yet l read no distrust in their
looks. The elders brave eyes seemed
ever thanking me. I never aw her
ups move silently that they did not
shape Wen done!" And though 1
caught Mistress Anne scanning me once
or twice with an expression I could Ill
interpret a smile ook Its place the mo-
ment her gaze met mine.
We a passed but were still in sight
OF Greenwich palace-as they told me
when the mist rose suddenly like a
curtain rolled away. and the cold,
bright February sun. shining out. dis
closed the sparkling river, with the
green hills rising on our right hand.
here n there on its surface a small
boat such as our own moved to and
tro. and In the distant pool from which
we had come rose u little forest of
masts. l hung on the oars a moment.
m my eyes were drawn to a two
masted vessel which. nearly half a mile
below US. was drifting down. gently
heeling over with the current as the
crew got up the sails. II wonder whith-
er she Is bound" l said thoughtfully.
and whether they would take us on
board by any chance"
Mistress Bertram shook her head. 81
nave no money" she swered sadly.
Il fear we must go on to Leigh IL it be
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