Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-10-15

his c0untryman. A1LerWarQ she re-
called that he stood staring as she had
stared, Lady Deppingham clasping his
arm with both of her hands. The
glance also took In the face of Dep
bingham. He was looking at his wife,
and his eyes were wide and CLASSY. but
not with terror. ut may not be too
late" again cried the princess. There
are enough of us here to make an eff
fort, no matter how futile. He may be
alive and trapped up
you're right!' shouted Browne.
Hes not the kind to go down with
the first rush. We must go to him.
We can get there in ten minutes.
Britt! Where are the guns? Are you
with us. DeppinghamY'
He did not wait for an answer, but
dashed out Of the garden and down
the steps, calling to his wife to follow.
"Stopr shouted Deppingham. 1--WE
dare not leave this place! If they have
turned against Chase, they are also
ready for us. I'm not a coward,
Browne. We're needed here. that's all.
It's too late to help Chase. They've
got him, poor devil! Everybody inside!
Get to the guns If possible and cut off
the servants quarters. We must not
let them surprise us. Follow mel"
There was wisdom in what he said,
and Browne was not slow to see it
clearly. With a single penetrating
glance at Genevra's despairlng face,
he shook his head gloomily and turned
to follow neppingham. who was hur-
rying off through the corridor with her
ladyship.
Come" he called. and the princess,
feeling Drusilla's hand grasping her
arm. gave II helpless look at the fire
and fastened to obey.
In the grand hallway they came
upon Britt and Saunders. white faced
and excited. The white servants were
Gathering down the stairways, filed
with alarm. but there was not one of
the native attendants in sight. This
was omin6ds Tenough In itself. The
sound of q violent struggle in the lower
corridor came to their ears. Loud
voices. blows, n single shot, the rush
ing of feet, the painting of men in fierce
combat-and then, even as the whites
turned to retreat up the stairway, a
crowd of men surged up the stairs
from below. headed by Baillo. the ma
jor domo.
"Stop, excellencies!" he shouted
Deppingham were covering the retreat,
prepared to fight to the end for their
women, although unarmed. 1t was the
American who first realized that Baillo
was not heading an attack upon them.
Baillo and a score Of his men had re-
fused to join the stablemen and gar
deners In the plot to assassinate the
white people. AS a last resort the con-
spirators contrived to steal into the
chateau. hoping to fall upon their vic
tins before Baillo could interpose. The
major domo, however, with the willy
sagacity Of his race, anticipated the
move. The two forces met In the
south hall after the plotters had ef-
fected an entrance from the garden.
The struggle was brief. for the con
spirators were outnumbered and sur
prised. They were even now lying be-
low, bound and helpless, awaiting the
disposition of their intended victims.
at Is not because we love you, ex-
cellencies," explained Baillo, with a
sudden fierce look in his eyes, but be-
cause Allah has willed that we should
serve you faithfully. We are your
dogs. Therefore we fight for you. 1t
Is a vile dog which bites its master"
Browne. with the readiness of the
average American, again assumed
command of the situation. He gave
instructions that the prisoners, seven
In number, be confined In the dungeon,
temporarily at least.
'There will be no other attack on Us
tonight" said Browne, rejoining the
women after his interview with Baillo.
at has missed fire for the present, but
they will try to get at US sooner or lat
err from the outside. Britt, will you
and Mr.. Saunders put those prisoners
through the sweat box2 You may be
able to bluff something out of them IL
you threaten them with death They
ut won't do, Browne" said Dep
bingham, shaking his head. "They are
fatalists; they are stoics. l know the
breed better than you. Question If
you like, but threats will be of no
avail. Keep 'em locked up; that's ALL"
Firearms and ammunition were TAX
en- from the gunroom to the quarters
occupied by the white people. Every
preparation was made for a defense in
the event of an attack from the out
side or inside. The white servants
were moved into rooms adjoining their
employers. Britt and Saunders trans
ferred their belongings to certain gor-
geous apartments. Miss Pelham went
into a Marie Antoinette suit close by
that of the princess. The native serv-
ants retained their customary quar-
ters below stairs.