The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-02-08

don the soldiers
HOZIER Still. HELD coats shakes and
IRIS IN HIS ARMS. accouterments
Granted success thus far. there should
not be much difficulty IN persuading
the men IN charge OF the launch that
cruise ronnd the island was to be
undertaken forthwith.
Marcel wonid remain with them IN
til the citade was carried. He would
then bury back TO bring Iris across
the Island to an uDfreQuented beach
known az the Porto do Conceicao.
where be wOud embark her on q
catamaran and row out to the steamer.
which by that time would be lying off
the harbor out OF range of the troops
who would surely be summoned from
the distant fort
In tho highest spirits the little band
set out reso!ntely for the curral Here
they encountered no difficulty what
ever. Perhaps the prevalent excite
ment had drawn Its custOdans to the
town. since they found no one In
charge save couple OF barking dogs,
while II there were people In the cattle
Keepers nuts they gave no sign OF
their presence A few stakes were
pulled up. They even came upon q
couple or axes and heavy hammer.
Equipped with these weapons. eked
out by three revolvers owned by the
Brazilians and the dapper captains
sword. they hurried on. quitting the
road Instantly and following cow
path that wound about the base of
steep bill.
They met their first surprise when
they tried to cross the road to the fort.
Quite unexpectedly they blundered into
small picket stationed there. and the
first inumation of danger was given
by the startling challenge:
"Who goes thereY"
1t was familiar enough to island
ears. and the convict answered readily:
"a friend"
"Severai friends. it would SEEM"
laughed voice. Let us see who
those friends are"
"NOw" shouted De Sylvia. leaning
forward
There was wild scurry, two or
three shots were fired. and Hozier
found himself on the ground gripping
the throat OF bronzed man whom he
had showed backward with a thrust.
Tor be had no time TO swing his stake
Tor blow. He was aware Of q pair
OF black eyes that glared up at him
np
teeth that shOne under long mus
tarhios Of peculiarly warlike aspect.
but he felt the man was as putty in
his hands. and his fingers relaxed
their pressure
de looked around. The fight was
ended almost as soon as IL began. The
soldiers. six In all. were on their backs
In the roadway. Two Of them were
dead. The Italian sailor had been shot
through the body and was twisting In
his last agony.
Ihe bioodshed was bad enough, but
those shots were worse. They would
set the island In an uproar The re-
ports would be heard In town, citadel
and fort. and the troops would now be
on the qui vive. But De Sylvia was
man Of resource.
strip the prisOnersr' he cried.
Take their arms and ammunition.
but bind them back to back with their
BELTS"
butt In there. me lads" vocifprateI
Coke. who had accounted for one or
the brazilians with an AK Step i've
~! Now we've got some uniforms an
guns we can rush that cittydel easy"
Hozier was busy relieving his man
OF MS coat. When the prone warrior
realized that he was not to be killed
he helped the operation. but Philip
was thinking more OF Iris than OF
deeds OF derrng-do
by attempt TO capture the citadel
at ail? he asked Now that we can
make sufficient display, Is there anv
reason that we should not go STRAIGHT
for the launch?
thihk 1t Is good suggestion"
came the calm answer. "prOvided. that
Is, the launch is in the harbOr"
Dell began 10 toll in the convict
settlement Lights appeared In many
houses scattered over the SCaward
slope. HoZIer. never for an instant
forgetting Iris. SAW that Marcel still
remained with his leader. Under these
new circumstances it certainly would
De a piece OF folly to send back until
lheN were sure OF the launch.
happily the launch was there. moor
ed alongside Il small quay. From the
nearest building it was necessary 10
cross low wharf some tifty yards in
width, and De Sylva'S whispered com
HahdS could not restrain the eager
men when escape appeared no longer
problematicaI. but assured They
Droke and ran. an almost fatal thing.
as IL happened. since the soldiers
whom Philip had seen from the rock