The Lamar register., 1911-03-22
CHAPTER xI.-continued.

After time a dark rim doomed
slowly up out of the sea. 1t was land.
half a mile or so away. Nathaniel sat
up with fresh interest. and as they
Grew nearer Jeekum rose to his feet
and gazed long and steadily In both
directions along the coast. When he
returned to his seat the boats course
vas changed. A few minutes later
the bow grated upon sand. Still voice
less as specters the guards leaped
ashore and Nell reused himself to fol-
low them. climbing over the gun
vale like sick man. Nathaniel was
close at his heels. With n growing
sense of horror he saw two ghostly
stakes thrusting themselves out OF the
beach n dozen PAGES away. He looked
beyond them. As far as he could see
there was sand-nothing but sand. as
white as paper. scintillatipg in a bill
lion flashing needle-points In the star
light. InstInctively he guessed what
the stakes were for, and walked to-,
sard them with the blood turning cold
IN his veins. Neil was before him and
stopped at the first stake. making no
tHOTt 10 lllt us FNtH ho
strobe past him. At the second. a
dozen feet beyond. Nathaniers two
guards halted. and placed him with
bis back to the post. Two minutes
Later, bound hand and foot TO the
stake. he shifted his head so that he
could look at his companion.
Neil was similarly fastened. with
bis face turned partly toward him.
There was no change in his attitude.
His head hung weakly upon his chest.
as n he had tainted.
What did IL mean?
Suddenly every nerve in Nathaniel's
body leaped into excited action.
The guards were entering their
boail The last man was showing II
oI-they were rowing away, His
throbbing muscles seemed ready to
burst their bonds. The boat became
indistinct in the starry gloom-a
mere shadow-and faded in the dis
lance. The sound of oars became
fainter and fainter Then. after a lit
tie. there was waited back TO him
from far out in the lake a mans voice
the wild snatch OF song. The Nor
mons were gone, They were not to
be shot They were not
A voice spoke to him. startling him
~ that he would have cried out II II
had not been for the cloth that gagged
him. 1t was Neil. speaking coolly.
iaughlngly.
How are you. Nat?"
Nnthaniers staring eyes revealed
ia zee. H.. a III
laughing at him as though It was an
unusually humorous joke In which
they were playing part.
Lord but this is a funny messi"
he chuckled Here am I. able and
willing to falkland there you are. as
dumb as a mummy. and looking for
all the world as II you'd seen a ghosti
What's the matter? Aren't you glad
we're not going to be shot?"
Nathaniel nodded
The others voice became suddenly
sober
This is worse than the other. Nat.
It's what we call the Straight Death
Unless something turns up between
now ana tomorrow morning. or a little
later. well be as dead as though they
had filled us with bullets. Our only
hope rests in the fact that | can use
my lungs That's why | didn't let
them know when my gag became
loose. ! had the devils own time
keeping II from falling with my chin:
pretty near broke my neck doing 1t.
a little later. when we're sure ice
KUN and his men are out of hearing,
i'll begin calling for help. Perhaps
some fisherman or hunter"
He stopped, and n chill ran up Ma
thaniers back as he listened to n
weird howl that came from far behind
them. 1t was a blood-curdling sound
and his face turned a more CHASTITY
pailor as he gazed inquiringly at Neil.
His companion saw the terrible ques-
lion in his face
Wolves" he said. They're away
back in the forest They won't come
down to us" For a moment he was
silent. his eyes turned to the sea.
Then he added: DO you notice any.
thing queer about the way you're
bound to that stake. Nat?"
There was a thrilling emphasis in
Nathaniel's answer. He nodded his
head affirmatively. again and again.
Your hands are tied to the post
very loosely. with slack of say six
inches" continued Neil with an ap
palling precision. There is a rawhide
thong about your neck. wet, and sc
tight that It chafes your skin wher