Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1908-04-16
lips move silently that they did no
Shano ..xk,oll dnnei. And though

lips move silently that they did no
shape We'll done." And though
caught Mistress Anne scanning me ono
or twice with an expression could II
interpret a smile took its plice the mo
ment her gaze met mine.
We has passed but We're still In sigh
Of Greenwich palace-as they told me
when the mist rose suddenly like q
curtain rolled away. and the cold
bright February sun. shining out. dis
closed the sparkling river, with tn,
green hills rising on OUR right hand
Here and there on its surface a small
boat such as our own moved to ant
fro. and in the distant pool from which
we had come rose a little forest ~
masts. l hung on the oars a moment
and my eyes We're drawn to Il two
masted vessel which. nearly half a mill
below us. vas drifting down. gently
heeling over with the current as tn,
crew got up the sails. Il wonder With
err she is bound" l aid t~houghtfully
and whether they would take us OF
board by any chance"
Mistress Bertram shoe her head. 81
have no money" she answered sadly
II fear we aus go or to Leigh Il 1t bs
n way possible. You are tired, ans
no wonder. But what is it," with 4
sudden change OF voice. What is thu
matter?"
1 had flashed out the oars with a sin,
gle touch and begun to pull as fast as
could down the stream. M doubt ,nl
face. too. proclaimed my discovery and
awoke her fears. Look behind" l NUT.
tered betWeen my set teeth.
She turned and on the instant uttered
a low cry. A wherry like our own. bu!
even lighter-in my first glance I'D tn,
river 1 had not noticed it-had stOlei
nearer to us n yet nearer. and now
throwing aside disguise. vas Ia hot pur.
suit OF us. There were three men o,
board, two rowing M one steering
When they saw that we had discov.
cred them, they hailed US in a loud
voice, and I heard the steersman's feel
rattle on the boards az he cried GU L
ms men to give way and stamped 4,
very eagerness. My only reply was t.
take a longer stroke and pulling hart
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 oyerhauled
us. Not that 1 gave up at INC for
that. They were still SOM 50 yard,
behind. and for a few minutes. at ami
rate. 1 might put off capture. AT tn,
worst they We're only three to one. n
their boat looked light Ind cranky ana
easy to upset.
So l pulled on. savageiy stratnins a,
the oars. But my chest haaved ant
my, arms ached more and NOR,
with each stroke. The banks
bend, then another. though 1 saw moth
ing OF them. l saw only the pursuing
boat. on which my eyes were fixed
heard only the measured rattle of TIL,
oars in the rowlocks. \ minute. .w,
minutes. three minutes passed. Thel
had not gained on us. but the waite
was beginning to waver before MI
eyes; their boat seemed floating in tn,
arr; there was a p%ulsation in my ear,
louder thar that of the oars: I s.r,,g
geo n yet l tagged. My knees trem
pled. Their boat shot nearer now. near
er n nearer. so that l could read TIN,
smile OF triumph on the steersmnni
Ozark face and hear his cry of exulta
ton. Nearer. and then with a cry
dropped my oars.
quick 1 painted to my companions
Change places with me: Sol" Trem
bling and out OF breath as 1 was. =
crawled between the women ant
gained the stern sheets OF the boat. Al
j passed the Mistress Bertram SIN,
clutched my arm. Her eyes, as thel
met mine. flashed fire: her lips wer,
wnite. The man steering!" she hisset
between her teeth. Leave the Others
He is Clarence. and I fear him."
I nodded. but still, as the hostile boa:
bore swiftly down upon us. / cast
glance around to see IL there were an:
neip at hand. I saw no sign Of any
l saw only the pale blue sky overhead
and the stream flowing swiftly unde
n boat. l drew my sword. The cas-
was one rather for despair than cour
age. me women were in my charge
and, II 1 did not acquit myself like ,
man now. when should I do so? Bah
1T would soon be over
mere was an instant's confusion n
the other boat as the crew ceased row
ing. and. seeing my attitude. and M
liking 1t. changed their seats. To m,
10y the man who had hitherto beef
steering hung o curse at the others an,
came forward to bear the brunt Of TIN,
encounter. He was a tall. sinewv man
past middle age with a clean shave,
ace. a dark complexion and cruel eyes
80 ne was Master Clarence! Well H.
nad the air of a swordsman and q sol
dler; ! trembled for the women
surrender. you fool!" he cried to m,
narsnly: In the queens name. do yo,
near! Wnat do you in this company.
! nothing. for I was out o
breath. But softly, my eyes on HIS
drew out with my left hand INV hmm
ing knife. II I could beat aside ht
sword. I would spring upon him AM
drive the knife home with hat hanS
so. standing erect in bow and stern. w
raced one another. the man and the bov
tne Hush OF rage and exertion on M,
cheek. q dark shade on his. And s.;
ien1ly the boats drew together.
Inougnt IS q~uick-quicker than any
tning else In the world. I q ~
IN some drawn out secon heyora ~
noats came together I had time to won
DER where I had seen his face hafon
am to rack my memory. knew ~
Master Clarence. yet I had seen TIT
man somewhere. Another second an.
away with thought! He was crouchin,
lor a spring. drew back a little. thei
nlH ON sr,one with heart and, hand