Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-08

| IF you'll help me. Amber. daresay we
can get Miss Farrell across without a
| wetting."
He offered to clasp hands with the vir-
ginian and SO make a seat, but Amber
| had a happier thought.
Il think / can manage by myself, thank
you-if Miss Farrell will trust me-"
His eyes met the girls, and in hers he
| read trust and faith unending-he was
| conscious OF curious fiuttering in his
bosom.
! Trust your she said. with little
broken laugh, and gave herself freely to
his arms.
| Labertouche grunted and turned hi.
| back. wading out into the stream with a
great splashing.
Amber Strengthened up. holding her
| very close to him. and that with ease
Had she been thrice as heavy he could
| have borne her with as little care as he
| did his own immeasurably lightened heart
| in that hour of fulfillment And she lay
| snug and confident, her arms round his
neck the Swallowed loneliness of her face
very near to him. The faint and elusive
| fragrance of her hair was sweet and
heady in the air he breathed he could
read her eyes, and their allure and sur
render was like a draught of wine to him
| He felt the strength of ten men invigo-
| rate him, and his soul was sober with a
great happiness. But little while and
| she would be in safety; already her sal
| walton seemed assured. : The further
Dduh HedTGu I'LL 100 quickly. ne WOulO
willingly have fingered to prolong the
stolen sweetness of that moment, forget
| full altogether of the danger that lay be-
| hind them.
| Ahead. he saw Labertouche step out
upon shelving shore and. shaking his
| legs with an effect irresistibly suggestive
| of dog leaving the water. peer inland
| through the tamarisks. His low whis-
| tied signal sounded as Amber joined him
and put down the girl-reluctantly. Her
whfSnared thanks fnfarrInta6 ny
exclamation from LabertOuche.
Hang it all! he can't We mistaken the
spot. told him to wait right here. and
| now We daren't delay" He cast
an apprehensive glance across the stream.
Look lively, please
He shouldered away through the thicket.
and for several moments they struggled
on through the hindering underground,
their passage betrayed by much noisy
rustling. Then, as they won through TO
open ground, Labertouche paused and
whistled a second time, staring eagerly
from right to left
I'm blessed" he declared. with a vehe-
mence that argued his desire for stronger
language. This is bad-bad-bad! He
never failed me before! l.
A hooking chuckle semed to break from
the ground at their feet. and in the flicker
of an eyelash a shadow lifted up out of
the scrub-incumbered level. Sophia cried
aloud with alarm: LabertOuche swore out
right. needless; and Amber out himself
before her. drawing his revolver. heart
sick with the conviction that they were
trapped, that their labor had gone all for
naught, that al rutilely had they schemed
and dared. = =
But while his finger was yet seeking the
trigger the first shadow was Joined by a
score of fellows-shades that materialiZed
with like swftness and silence from the
surface of the earth-and before he could
level the weapon Labertouche seized his
wrist. For an instant he resisted. raging
with disappointment; but the Englishman
was cool, strong, determined; inevitably
in the outcome the weapon was pointed
TO the sky.
STEADY, you asst" breathed the secret
agent in his ear. Cant you see
And Amber gave over. in amazement
unbounded, seeing the starlight glinting
down a dozen leveled rifle barrels, glow
ing pale on the spiked. rounded crowns
of pith helmets, and striking soft fire
from FURNISHED accouterments, while
voice, thick with brogue that was never
bred out of hearing of Bow Bells, was
hectoring them to surrender.
:. Ands up We bloomin black beggars.
'Ands up. l s'y!"
'.Tommies," cried Amber and incon-
tinently he dropped the revolver as though
1t had turned hot in his hand.
STEADY. my man." I4abertouche inter-
rupted what threatened to develop into
a string of intolerable abuse. Hold your