The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1909-01-20

dertone which his consciousness told
him could have but one quarry. He
knew in an instant that the boy had
betrayed him. and that he, Count
SeigO. a nobleman of Japan and de-
scendant of the Samurai. was being
hunted by dogs like a wild beast of
the woods.
For q few minutes he ran in a panic,
taking no heed of direction. and bent
only on gaining time to think, and put
ting space between him and his pur-
suerS A tangle Of underground COM
PEELED him to stop and seek for ave-
nues through the wilderness. He ran
down what seemed an old deserted
road; but on neither side could he find
a place favOring change of course.
He was doubling back along the side
Of a triangle, and was SO close at one
time to the hounds that he momen-
tarily expected them to break cover,
drop the scent afforded by the hand
kerchief and cut across to where he
was. He could even distinguish the
shouts of the men behind, continually
encouraging the animals in the chase,
and heard one exclaim: Its the Jap,
all right. or he wouldn't have lit out
so quick"
His teeth came together with a click
at this confirmation of his suspicious,
and now he realized that wherever an
officer of the law was posted warning
had been given of his coming. He
swore that he would yet escape. and
urged himself in the name of his
country to rush ahead: and thus for
many minutes the fate of Japan rested
ON a race between bloodhounds and
fugitive who tore headlOng through
the underground, careless of thorns
which reached out and SCARED his
face, ripped the false queue from his
short cropped bristling hair and rent
his clothing.
Once. blinded with perspiration. he
plunged into what appeared to be a
pathway: but fell through a tangle at
the end, to find himself beside a way
side spring. He gulped three or four
swallows of water and retraced his
steps, cursing fate for the loss OF
time. and ran with renewed energy
down the roadway. A fash of re-
fiected light smOte him in the eyes,
and he saw that he had reached the
waters edge. At his feet stretched
only tossing waves. and like a stag at
bay he was driven to the open.
The end seemed very near now; for
back of him the harsh clamorings
broke out into a triumphal wailing
note telling those behind that the quar-
~ had been sighted. The hounds were
coming on the run. and round the
bend Of the road emerged an excited
but grimly determined lot of men OF
that stamp which makes a frontier,
set jayled. lean visaged. and running
with the long. Looping stride of those
to sustained violent ex-
ertion.
Seigo. distracted and desperate.
took a few steps in either direction,
which way to turn. and
then discovered but a short distance
below a boat in which lay pair of
oars. 1t was the only way to gain a
moments respite from those great
brutes which. with bellies low to the
ground. with lolling jaws and flaming
eyes, whose red he could discern.
were closing in on him. He made |
three or four frantic leaps and threw
himself into the craft. showing it Oh
almost as the animals were upon him,
and then with maniacal energy threw |
the oars into the locks and bent him. |
self double pulling against them |
Even then at the last he experienced
one brief moment of exultation as he |
heard the swish Of parted waters
against the bow and saw the space |
between him and the beach |