Gilpin observer., 1910-09-08
Copyright 1908 by Bobbs- Merrill Coz
CHAPTER I.
The Two Oaths.

ne WO OdtnS.
On an afternoon in the early sum-
mer of 1856 Capt Nathaniel Plum.
master and owner of the sloop Ty
Iphoon. was engaged in nothing more
Important than the smoking of an
enormous pipe. Clouds OF strongly
.Odored smoke, tinted with the lights
of the setting sun, had risen above his
head in unremitting volumes for the
last half hour. There was infinite con-
tentment in his face, Notwithstanding
the fact that he had been meditating
on subject that was not altogether
pleasant But Captain Plum was, in
a way. philosopher. though one
would not have guessed this fact from
his appearance. He was, in the first
place. a young man, not more than
eight or nine and twenty, and his
strong. rather thin face tanned by ex-
posure to the sea, was just now lighted
up by eyes that shone with an un-
bounded good humor which any in
stant might take the form of laughter.
At the present time Captain Plum's
vision was confined to one direction,
which carried his gaze out over Lake
Michigan. Earlier in the day he had
been able to discern the hazy outline
OF the Michigan wilderness 20 miles
to the eastward. Straight ahead,
shooting up rugged and sharp in the
red light of the days end. were two
islands. Between these. three miles
away. the sloop Typhoon was strongly
silhouetted in the fading glow. Be-
yond the islands and the sloop there
were no other objects for Captain
Plum's eyes to rest upon. So far as
he could see there was no other sail.
At his back he was shut in by dense
growth of trees and creeping vines,
and unless small boat edged close In
around the end of Beaver island his
place of concealment must remain I'M
discovered. At least this seemed an
assured fact to Captain Plum.
In the security of his position he be-
gan to whistle softly as he beat the
bowl of his pipe on his boot heel to
empty it of ashes. Then he drew a
long -barreled revolver from under
coat that he had thrown aside and
Examined it carefully to see that the
powder and ball were in solid and that
none of the caps was missing. From
the same place he brought forth
belt. buckled it round his waist,
showed the revolver into its holster,
and dragging the coat to him. fished
out letter from an inside pocket 1t
was dirty. much-worn letter. Per-
haps he had read 1t a score of times
He read 1t again now. and then, refill
10 nj cd hoo
rock that formed a rest for his shoul-
ders and turned his eyes in the direc-
tion of the sloop.
The last rim of the sun had fallen
below the Michigan wilderness and in
the rapidly increasing gloom the sloop
was becoming indistinguishable. Cap
tain Plum looked at his watch. He
must still wait a little longer before
setting out upon the adventure that
had brought him to this isolated spot
He rested his head against the rock,
and thought. He had been thinking
for hours. Back in the thicket he
heard the prowling of some small ami
mal. There came the sleepy chirp of
n bird and the rustling of tired wings
settling for the night. A strange still
ness lowered about him. and with 1t
there came over him a loneliness that
was chilling. loneliness that made
him homesick. 1t was a new and un-
pleasant sensation to Captain Plum.
He could not remember Just when he
had experienced 1t before; that is, II
he dated the present from two weeks
ago tonight. 1t was then that the let
90 hnl
cago. and 1t had been a weight upon
his soul and prick to his conscience
ever since. Once or twice he had
made up his mind to destroy II. but
each time he had repented at the last
moment. In a sudden revulsion at his
weakness he pulled himself together,
crumpled the dirty missive into a ball
and flung 1t out upon the white rim
of beach.
At this action there came n quick
movement In the dense wall of verdure
behind him Noselessly the tangle OF
vines separated and head thrust
Itself out In time to see the bit of
paper fall short of the waters edge
Then the head shot back as swiftly
and MS silently us a serpent's. Per-
haps Captain Plum heard the gloat-
Ing chuckle that followed the move.
ment. IF 80 he thought 1t only some
might bird in the brush.
"Heigh-ho!" he exclaimed. with
vome return OF his old cheer. ITS
about time we were starting!" He
Jumped to his feet and began brush.
png the dust of his clothes. When
Ns had done, walked out upon the