Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1909-02-25

she measured the distance s,ftiy. and
instinctively estimated the rate Of speed
at which the Greyhound was approaching,
Try ms She might, the Ships would be in
contact before she could get to them. She
might as well, for. all she could do. stay
on the hill and watch the fighting, But
something-her love, perhaps her
forward She might die in the attempt,
but at least she could try.
Once more she gathered her skirts in
her hands and ran with the heetness of
| Camilla, as if she had not taken a step
,.during the day, down the hill and towards
! the wharf She strained every nerve.
she brought into play every atom of
strength in her being to accomplish her
| hopeless task. Her heart beat terribly.
Her mouth was parched and dry, her
breath came shortly, she painted like a
driven hare, Something rose in her
throat and choked her. She had not run
wisely under the stimulus of her terror
and her desire. She had not saved her
self for the end. She had spent herself
at the first dash. Presently she found her
self reeling. Only her indomitable will
kept her up. She would have tainted
had she stopped.
She struggled along the road desper-
ate blinded. She was within one hum
dred yards of the wharf now. The Grey
hound was slowly swung alongside the
Ellen. She heard voices. The drumming
in her ears prevented her from distin-
gushing what they said. She tried to
call out word of warming Her husky
voice died away in her throat. \ cheer
broke on the night. 1t was followed by
yell. There was a shot. two Iots,
crashing volley, the ring of steel on steel,
oaths, cries, shrieks, groans, words of
command.
She was at the gang-plank now. 1t
seemed as if she could not take another
step, yet she ran up it and boarded the
ship. Nobody marked her in the dark
ness and confusion. The deck which
had been filled with writhing. struggling
figures, suddenly grew quieter. The shots
died away. The curses and yells stopped.
The clang of steel blades was heard no
more. But the groans were louder than
ever. She leaned against the gangway
gasping for breath. striving to recover
herself-prayng. fearful broken.
IT'S all over" she heard a voice say.
"We've got 'em. Their leader is here
1t was Captain Haywood who spoke.
"Show a light here, someone" cried
another voice, her fathers. Bring him
below to the cabin" continued Major
Jones.
"Ay, ay. sir" answered Haywood.
"NIr Matthews, look out for the prison
bo oil CHI N,
You have done splendidly," continued the
Captain to his crew.
Amid the cheers of the victorious Con-
federates her father and Captain Hay
wood, followed by two men, half drag
ging, half carrying, limp. inanimate
figure between them, entered the cabin
beneath the poop-the Ellen being pro-
vided with a raised poop. The light car
ried by the third man fell full on the face
of the prisoner as they hauled him
through the door. She had strained her
ewes after the group. unable to move un-
til the moment when in that flash of
light she recognized her lover. His face
was white as death. There was red
cash across his forehead.
She had been incapable of motion be-
gangway in the excitement. She ran
where she got the strength she never
knpw-across the deck, brushed past two
or three groups of astonished men, and
burst into the cabin after the others.
Her father sat at the head of the Ia
HE. CAPTAIN Haywood stood at one side.
Ole of the seamen was kneeling by the
door, supporting the PROSTATE officer. He
had evidently been wetting the fact of
Captain Smith. who had just at that mo-
men recovered consciousness. He strug-
gled to a sitting position by the aid of
his hands. The girl stopped in the door
way motiouless. Not a vestige Of color
was in her checks or lips Her skirts
were muddy and bedraggied. Her hat
was gone. Her hair hung about her face
in wild dishevelment, Only the rapid
motion of her bosom betokened life. Hay
wood and her father stared at her,
speechless.
You" whispered Captain Smith,
struggling to his feet. The seaman as
sistng him. he rose unsteadily.
YOU" he said reproachfully. He
brushed the blood out Of his eyes as he
did so and thrust out a trembling, ,shand
towards her. Some drops of blood were
ficked upon her dress by his gesture.
: "You broke your word - he said; the
blood of my men is upon you -
This was too much for the girl. She
nut out her hand as if to ward off a
blow. her other hand grasped at her
bosom. A little moan came from her
parched lips. She collapsed slowly in a
dead faint, a limp heap in Captain Hay
woods arms. They had all been too as
tonished by her entrance to say word
in the brief time in which the scene had
taken place.