The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-11-18
Copyright. 1909. by Stanley J. weyman
CHAPTER XII-Continued

his tongue cleaving to his mouth. His
eyes were full Of rage. -.
Into thy thands!" Colonel John said.
He stopped nearer to his mans ear.
when l shout, jump and rum ne
breathed. II will hold two" Again ne
lifted his head n o calmly at
the threatening figures standing about
them, gaunt and dark. again the cur
tain Of mist. They were waiting for the
signal. The priest was half way through
his second Paternoster. His trembling
tongue was stumbling. tagging more
and more. AS he ended 1.-THE two men
were still handing hand in hand-Coi
0nel John gripped Bales fingers hard.
but held him.
What Is that?' he cried. in q loud
voice, but still he held Bale tight that
he might not move What Is that
he repeated. IN the ear-on his ear
first--had fallen the sound of hurry
ing feet.
mist.
"And what'n this be?" 0'Sullivan
Og muttered suspiciousiy. IF you
bulge a step he growled. It'll drive
this pike
"A messenger from The McMur-
rough" Colonel John said. II he was
human, If his heart, at the hope or
respite, beat upon his ribs as the heart
Oh a worse Ildn ullBuL nave btdIcu, ic
did not betray 1t a by a light In his
eyes.
They had not to wait. A tall. lathy
form emerged from the mist. 1t ad-
vanced with long leaps. the way they
had come. A moment, and the mes
senger saw them, pulled VI. and
walked the intervening distance, his
arms dropping and his breath coming
in gasps. He had run apace. and he
could not cnnok PItt ha nn11n1-aa he
wiped the saliva from his parted lips
to O'Sullivan Og to come aside with
him.; and the two moved OFF a space.
The others eyed them while the mes
sage was given. The suspense was
short. Quickly O'Sullivan Og came
back.
Eye may be thankful" he said dryly.
"Ye've cheated the pixies for this time,
no less. and tbs safe we are"
"You have greater reason to be
thankful" Colonel John replied solemn
ly. You have been spared a foul
crime"
Faith and I hope I may never do
worse" Og answered, hardly, than
rid the world Of two black Protestants,
an them with a priest to make their
souls! Many's the honest man closed
his eyes without that same. But it's
no tim for prating! l wonder at
your honor, and you no more h out
Of the black water! Bring them along,
boys" he continued, We've work to
do yeti"
"Laus Deo!" the priest cried, lifting
up his hands. GIVE Hin the giorv!"
"Amen," the colonel said soft ". And
for a moment he shut his eyes and
stood with clasped hands. II thank you
kindly, father, for your ~."ayerS!" he
said. 1.-The words Of a good man avail
| much!"
No more was said. For a few yards
Bale walked u~nsteadily. But he re-
covered himself and, urged by O'Sul-
livan's continual injunctions to hasten,
the party were not long in ~retracing
their steps. They reached the road
and went along it, but in the direction
Of the landing place. In q few minutes
they were threading their way in SIN
gle file across the saucer like waste
which lay to landward of the hill over
looking the jetty.
Are you taking us to the French
sloop?" Colonel John asked.
You'll be as wise as the lave Of us
by and by!" Og answered sulkily.
They crossed the shoulder near the
tower and strobe down the slope to
the stone pier. The mist lay Now or
the water. The tide was almost at
food. Og babe the men draw in one
Of the boats, ordered Colonel Sullivan
oAAN D'AS ~ 81 tIIO Tx po"1 dIlu liz
: pikemen to take the oars. He and two
frelock men took their seats in the
stern.
Pull out, you cripples," he said
"and there'l be flood enough to be
bringing us back"
The men bent to the clumsy oars
and the boat slid down the inlet and
passed under the beam of the French
sloop, which lay moored farther along
the jetty. Not a sign Of life appeared
on deck as they passed; the shiI
seemed to be deserted. Half a dozen
strokes carried the boat beyond view
Of it, and the little party were alone
on the bosom Of the water that lay
rocking smoothly between it's unseen
banks. Some minutes were spent In
stout rowing, and soon the boat be-
gan to rise and fall on the Atlantic
rollers.
"'Tis more deceitful than a pretty
Colleen" O'Sullivan Og said. Us the
sea fog, bad cess to 1t. My own father
was lost in it. viii you be seeing her
boys?"
yen not see her till We touch her.
one of the rowers answered.
And the tide running" the other
said. Save us from that same"
She's farther out by three gun
shots" struck in a firelock man. Wei
be drifting back, we thieves Of the
world If we sit staring there. Pull, an
We'll be inshore an ye know it,"
For some minutes the men pulled
steadily onward, while one of the pas.
sengers. apprised that their destina.
ton was the Spanish "a vessel, fell
anything but eager to reach it. A
Spanish warship meant Imprisonment
possibly the inquisition. persecution
and death. When the men lay at las
on their oars, and swore that they
must have passed the ship, he alone
listened indifferently.
TITS a black Protestant fog" O'Sul.
Ivan cried. 'Where'll we be, I won.
der?"
Sure, We can make no mistake
one answered. The winds light of
the land"
Wen be pulling back, lads"
That's the word"
The men put the boat about ant
started on the return journey. Sud
denly Colonel John, crouching in tn,
bow, where was SCant room for Bal,
and himself, saw a large shape loon
before him. I~nVoluntarily he uttered
q warning cry. O'Sullivan echoed it
the men tried to hold the boat. In do
ing this, however, n man was quick
er than the other, the boat turneC
broadside on to her former course, AM
before the cry was well off O'Sulli
van Ogg's lips it swept violentl,
athwart a cable hauled taut by tn
weight OF a vessel straining to the f1oV
of the tide. In a twinkling the boa
careened, throwing it's occupants int
the water.
!, Colonel John and Bale were neares
to the hawser, n managed to seiz
1t and cling to 1t. But the first waV
Il xunChaI nynr fhnrn hlinIin~ fhap. an