The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-03-24
CHAPTER XXXlI.

the guards were flying from
house to house, shouting the news.
Outside the harbor lay the low, saw
age looking ship. Its guns were point
ed directly at the helpless town. Its
decks were swarming with white
clothed men.
The plague was forgotten. The
strategy that had driven off the ships
of peace was lost in the face Of this
ugly creature Of war. Rasula's reign
of strategy was ended.
"They will not fire! They dare not!
he was shrieking as he dashed bacl
and forth along the dock. ut Is chance
They do not come for Chase! Believe
in me! The tug! The tug! They
must not land"
The crash Of the long unused si1
FOUNDER at the chateau, followed al
most Immediately by great roar from
one of the cruisers guns. brought the
panic to u crisis.
The islanders scattered like chaff be-
fore the wind, looking wild eyed over
their shoulders In dread of the pursu.
ing cannon ball, lodging In and out
among the houses and off into the
foothills
Rasula, undaunted, but crazed with
disappointment, stuck to his colors Oh
the deserted dock. He cursed and
raved and begged. In time two oil
three of the more canny, realizing thai
safety lay in an early peace offering
ventured out beside him. Others fol
lowed their example, and still Others
skunk trembling to the fore, theil
voices ready to protest innocence anc
friendship and loyalty.
They had heard Of the merciless
American gunner. and they knew II
their souls that he could shoot the is
land into atoms before nightfall.
The native lawyer harangued then
and cursed them and at last brought
them to understand in a feeble way
that no harm could come to them Il
they faced the situation boldly. Th,
Americans would not land on British
soil it would precipitate war will
England. They would not dare to at
tempt bombardment; Chase was
liar, a mountebank, dogl After shout
Ing himself hoarse in his frenzy Of de
spair he finally succeeded In forcing
the men to get up steam in the com
pany's tug.
All this time the officers of the
American waYship were dividing theiI
attention between land and sea. An
other vessel was coming up out of the
misty horizon. The men on board
knew 1t to be British man-of-war!
Suddenly party Of white men ap
preached the startled Rasula. A hun
dred eager hands were extended, 9
hundred voices cried out for mercy, &
hundred Mohammedans beat -theil
heads In abject submission.
Hollingsworth Chase. Lord Dep
bingham and familiar figure In an Ill
fitting red Jacket and forage cap strobe
firmly, defiantly between the rows Of
humble Japatites. Close behind them
came a tall. resolute grenadier Of the
Rapp-Thorberg army.
Make way there! Make way!
Mr. Bowles was crying, brandishing
the antique broadsword that had come
down to Wyckholme from the dark
ages. "Stand aside for the British
government! Make way for the Amer
icanw
Rasula's Jaw hung limp in the face
Of this amazing exhibition of courage
on the part Of the enemy. He was
glaring insanely at the calm, trium
plant face of the man from Brodney's
who was now advancing upon him
with the assurance of a conqueror.
You see, Rasula, l have called fol
the cruiser. and 1t has come at my
bidding" Turning to the crowd that
surged up from behind. cowed and
cringlng. Chase said: 1T rests with
you. If give the word that ship will
blow you from the face Of the earth.
am your friend, people. would do yor
no harm. bN good. You have been mis-
led by Rasula. Rasula. you are not a
fool You can save yourself even now
! am here as the servant Of these peo
pie. not as their master. intend tc
remain here until l am called back By
the man who sent me to you. You
have
Rasula uttered a shrek Of rage. He
had been crouching back among bis
cohorts. painting with fury. Now he
sprang forward. murder in his eyes
His arm was raised. and great pisto
was leveled at the breast Of the man
who faced him 40 coolly. SO confident
ly. Deppingham shouted and took q
step forward to divert the aim Of the
.frenzied lawyer.
A revolver cracked behind the tall
American. and Rasula stopped In his
tracks. There was q great hole In bis