News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1910-06-01

lHtTe was uo nlulnS tue uespeTute
character Of the coming adventure.
The Andromeda's crew did not attempt
to minimize 1t. The choice offered lay
only in the manner of their death. AS
to the prospect of ultimate escape. they
hardly gave 1t thought. Some among
them had served In the armies of Eu-
rope, and they at least were under no
delusion concerning the issue of an at
tack on a fort by less than a score of
unarmed men-seventeen, to be exact,
since two Of the ships company were
so MANNED by the bursting of the shell
on the forecastle as to be practically
helpless. 1t was by the rarest good
fortune that they were able to walk.
Iris smiled at them In her frank way.
81 hope you will all be spared to
ship on a new Andromeda." she said.
No sooner had the words left her lips
than the thought came unbidden, If
my uncle and Captain Coke wished the
ship to be thrown away, nothing could
have better suited their purposes than
this tragic error"
fol thC thC uhiOiSSSSh Ou'
come of that Sunday afternoons plot
ting in the peaceful garden Of Linden
House held her imagination. She re-
called each syllable of it, and there
throbbed in her brain the hitherto un-
dreamed of possibility that Coke had
brought the Andromeda to Fernando
Noronha in pursuance of his thievish
project.
At once she whispered to Hozier:
SIS there any one on the path be-
low?"
NO" he said. 1.-THE Brazilians are
with Coke at the top of the gully"
SIS it safe for us to go the other
way?'
II think so. But you must be care
full not to slip"
She caught his arm. little knowing
the thrill her clasp sent through his
frame This simple gesture of her
confidence was bittersweet. He reso-
lutely closed his eyes to the knowledge
that this might be their last talk.
They climbed down. Neither spoke
until they stood on the curving ledge
that had proved their salvation. They
reached the place from which the Bra
Zilians had thrown the rope. They
could hear the quiet plash of the water
in the cleft. Piled against a low ly-
ing rock were the funnel and other
debris of the Andromeda. The black
hull was plainly visible beneath the
surface.
"If we follow the others. will the
soldiers throw our dead bodies into
the sea ?" she asked.
81 want you to believe that you will
be absolutely safe If we escape being
discovered during the crossing Of the
narrow strip of water that separates
this rock from the island" he fastened
to say. THAT is your only risk, and it
is a light one. Senior de Sylvia is sure
that the troops will not keep the keen
est lookout tonight. They are still con-
WINGED that the insurgent steamer is
sunk Our chief danger will date from
tomorrow's dawn. Marcel reports that
systematic search of the island was
begun today. 1t will be continued to-
morrow, but Oh new lines, because by
that time they will have learned the
truth The Andros-yM ela is not lying
in pieces at the foot of this iyrk, the
president has not escaped, and every
practicable inch of Fernando Noronha
and the adjacent islands will be scour-
ed in the hope of finding him. At first
sight that looks like being in our favor
In reality it means the end if we are
discovered here. The soldiers will shoot
first and inquire afterward. L have not
the slightest doubt but that plenty OF
evidence will be Forthcoming that we
were a set of desperadOes who had IN
lawfully interfered in the affairs of
foreign state"
II want to do that which is for the
good of ALL" she said at length DO
you ask me to 60 to this conVlcts
house. Mr.. Hozier?"
Il urge it on you with the utmost
conviction. With you off our hands
we can act freely. We must deliver
an attack tonight. God IN heaven. you
cannot think that we would expose you
TO the peElFS VI Il ueSpeldte hShb'
His sudden outburst was unexpected,
even by himself. He trembled in an
agony of passion. Iris placed a timid
hand on his shoulder.
Il will GO" she whispered. please
do not be distressed on my account. l
brought you here not to discuss my
own fate, but yours. These Brazilians
will not scruple to make use of you
and then throw you aside if it suits
their purpose. That man De Sylvia
does not care how he attains power,
and | know that he and the officer en-
terrain some plan which they have not
revealed to you"
"You-know!
Eyes. | understand little of their
language. ! have mere glimpse OF
its sense, as one sees a landscape
through a mist When De Sylvia told
you today that San Benavides was
with you heart and soul, he was lying.
There were things said about q ship
and midnight and a boat | watched
the officers face. He was wholly OPP
posed to the landing tonight. My mind
is not so vague now. | think | can
grasp his meaning. Was it not to-
NIGHT that the AndrOS-y-Mela was to