The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1911-02-16
cheeks. rnen he turned quickly sns

the post Nathaniel heard a smothered
sob at his side which he knew came
from Obadiah.
Come. dad" he said softly. !
can't stand this. Let's get away!-
He showed the councillor back. The
lash whistled through the air behind
him. As II fell there came piercing
cry. II was a woman's voice, and
with a snarl like that Of tortured
animal the old man struck down Ma
thaniels arm and clawed his way
back to the edge Of the line. On the
opposite side there was a ssrging IN
the crowd and as MacDougan raised
his whip a woman burst through.
MY Cod" cried Nathaniel,
"its-"
He left the rest OF the words UNI
spoken. His veins leaped with IRE.
A single sweep of his powerful arms
and he had forced himself through the
innermost line OF spectators. Within
a dozen feet OF him stood Strangs
wife. her beautiful hair disheveled. her
face deadly white, her bosom heavfne
as II she had been running. In a mo
ment her eyes had taken in the situa'
tion-the man at the stake, the I'd
raised lash-and Nathaniel With q
sobbing, breathless cry, she hung her.
self In front OF MacDougall and threw
her arms around the kneeling man.
her hair covering him in a glistening
veil. For an instant her eyes vere
raised to Nathaniel and be saw In
them that same agonized appeal that
had called TO him through the kings
window. The striking muscles Of his
arms frightened like steel One Of the
guards sprang forward and caught the
girl roughly by the arm and attempted
to drag her away. In his excitement
he pulled her head back and her hair
trailed in tho dirt The sight was
maddening. From SathaniePs throat
there came a fierce CRY and in a single
leap he had cleared the distance to
the guard and had driven his fist
against the officers head with the
sickening force OF a sledge hammer.
The man fell without a groan. In
another fash be had drawn his knife
and severed the thongs that held the
man at the stake. For a moment his
face was very near the girls and he
saw her lips form the glad cry which
he did not wait to hear.
He turned like an enraged beast to
ward the circle OF dumbfounded spec
tators and launched himself at the
second guard From behind him there
SOUNDED a shout and he caught the
CLEAN OF naked shoulders - the man
who had been at the stake rushed TO
his side. Together they tore through
the narrow rim of the crowd. striking
at the faces which appeared before
them, their terrific blows driving men
right and left.
This way. Neil," shouted Nathaniel
This vay-to the ship"
They raced up the slope that led
| from the town TO the forest. Even the
kings officer. palsied by the sudden
ness Of the attack, had not followed.
From a screened window in the kings
building two men had witnessed the
exciting scene near the Jail One OF
these men was Strang. The other was
Arbor Croche. At another window a
few feet away. hidden from their
/ eyes by a high desk and masses OF
papers and books. Winnsome Croche
was crumpled up on the floor hardly
daring 10 breathe through fear Of be
J traying her presence. From these
windows they had seen the girl run
/ from behind the Jail: they had watched
| her struggle through the line Of spec
tators. saw Nathaniel leap forward
saw the quick blow. the cleaning
knife, and the escape. So suddenly
had II all occurred that not a sound
escaped the two astonished men But
as Nathaniel and Neil burst through
the crowd and sped toward the fores,
strangs great voice doomed forth Ike
/ the rumble OF a gun
"Arbor Croche. overtake those ren
and kill them"
/ With a vild curse .he chief OF shsr-
/ irs dashed down the stairway, and a.
she heard him go the terror OF Vim
7 some's heart seemed 20 turn her blood
/ cold. She knew What that command
I meant. She knew that her father
would obey e. As the daughter o. the
chief % sheri-s more than one burn
/ ing secret was hidden In her breast
more than one Of those frightful dag
I gers that had rricked AZ the so.l o,
I her mother until they had murdered
B her And the chief Of them al va.
this: That 20 Arbor Croche the words
Of Strang we're the words Of God ana
that IL the prophet said KIN. he would
I kill For a full minute she o-ouched
IN her concealment. stunned By The
horror that bad so quickly taken the
place OF the Joy with which she had
witnessed the escape. She heard
| Strang leave the window. heard his
heavy steps in the outer room. heard
the door close. and knew that he, too
vas gone she sprang 70 her feet ard
ran to the vindow az which the two
men had stood. The chief " shertfs
vas already az the !aIl The crowd had
begun 20 d,sperse Men were swarm.
ing like ants lp the lOuS slope reach.
lng 10 the forest. Three o. folE o.
the Leaders we're running and sAs