The Lamar register., 1911-03-15
working of the mans fingers on Ma

| JeekumS fingers meant anything IL
was intended for him alone. Action
had been the mama of his life. The
| possibility of new adventure. even
in the face of death. thrilled him. He
waited. breathless-and the strange
pressure came again, so hard that 1t
hurt his flesh.
There was no longer doubt in his
mind The kings sheriff wanted to
speak to him.
And he was afraid of the eyes and
ears behind.
The fingers were cautioning him to
be ready-when the opportunity came.
The path widened and through the
thin treetops above their heads the
starlight filtered down upon them. The
leading guards were 20 feet away.
How far behind were the others?
A moment more and they plunged
into deep night again. The figures
ahead were mere shadows. Again the
fingers dug into Nathaniels arm. and
pressing close to the sheriff he bent
down his head.
A low, quick whisper fell in his ear.
Don't give up hope! Marion
Winnsome-"
The sheriff jerked himself erect
without finishing Hurried footsteps
| had come close to their heels. The
rear guards were so near that they
could have touched them with their
guns. Had some spot of lesser gloom
ahead betrayed the prisoners bowed
head and Jeekum's white face turned
to It? There was a steady pressure
on Nathaniel's arm now. warning.
frightened pressure, and the hand that
made it trembled. Jeekum feared the
worst-but his fear was not greater
than the chill of disappointment that
came to smother the excited beating
of Nathaniel's heart. What had the
taller meant to say? What did he
know about Marion and Winnsome,
and why had he given birth to new
hope in the same breath that he men,
toned their names?
His words carried at least one con-
viction Marion was alive despite her
brothers somber prophecies. II she
had killed herself the sheriff would
not have coupled her name with Winn-
some's in the way he had.
NathanieIs nerves were breaking
with suspense. He stified his breath
to listen. to catch the faintest whisper
that might come to him from the
white faced man at his side. Each
passing moment OF silence added to
his desperation. He squeezed the
sheriff's hand in his arm, but there
was no responding signal: in a patch
OF thick gloom that almost concealed
the figures ahead he pressed near to
him and lowered his head again
and Jeekum pushed him back fiercely.
with low curse
They emerged from the forest and
the clear starlight shone down upon
them. A little distance on lay the
lake In shimmering stiffness. Nathan
lei looked boldly at the sheriff now.
and as his glance passed beyond him
he was amazed at the change that had
come over Neil. The young mans
head was bowed heavily upon his
breast. his shoulders were hunched
forward. and he walked with a list
less. uneven step. Was II possible
that his magnificent courage had at
last given why?
A hundred steps farther they came
to the beach and Nathaniel saw
boat at .he waters edge with a single
figure guarding It, Straight TO this
Jeekum led his prisoners. For the
first time he spoke to them aloud.
"One In front, the other In back" he
said.
For an instant Nathaniel found him.
self close beside Neil and he prodded
him sharply with his knee. His COM
panion did not lift his head. He made
no sign. gave no last flashing COM
radeship with his eyes. but climbed
into the bow OF the boat and sat down
with his chin still on his chest. like a
man lost In stupor.
Nathaniel followed him, scarcely be-
lieving his eyes. and sat himself in
the stern. leaning comfortably against
the knees Of the man who took the
tiller He felt curious thrill pass
through him when he discovered a mo-
ment later that this man was Jeekum.
Two men seized the oars amidships
fourth. with his rifle across his
knees. sat facing Nell
For the first time Nathaniel found
himself wondering what this VOYAGE
meant Were they to be rowed far
down the shore to some secret fast
ness where no other ears would hear
the sound OF the avenging rifles, and
where. few inches under the forest
mold. their bodies would never be dis
covered? Each stroke Of the oars
added to the remoteness of this pos
sibility. The boat was heading
straight out to sea. Perhaps they were
to meet less terrible death by drown
ing. an end which. though altogether
unpleasant. held something comforting
In 1t for Captain Plum. Two hours
passed without pause in the steady
labor of the men at the oars. In those
hours not a word was spoken. The
two men amidships held no communi-
cation. The guard in the bow moved
a little now and then only to relieve
his cramped limbs. Neil was abso-
lutely motionless. as though he had
ceased to breathe. Jeekum uttered
not whisper.
1t was his whisper that Nathaniel
waited for. the signaling clutch of his
fingers. the sound of his breath close
to his ears. Again and again he