The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-01-25


sensitive face. finely chiselcd. almost
beautiful-snd young. but with an in
applicable stamp Of premature age
upon II, It had not struck her at all
az q tragic face. And yet the mean.
ing OF those last words OF hts, uttered
az they were. had been tragic enough.
AT least you have a magnificent re-
venge," was all she said And then
there was another silence. She her.
self was trying to think NJ something
to say, for she realized that his con.
fession had been Involuntary. and that
the silence must be distressing him.
But It was be himself who broke
the silence with a natural. mstter-ot.
fact question You say a searching
party has set out from the yacht,
Have they been long ashore?"
They set out only a little after sun
rise. We came into the bay with the
last of yesterdays twilight. and the
sight OF those butts. at the edge Of the
shore" her voice faltered q little.
nearly made us hope that the iinpos-
slbie might prove true. We fired our
signal cannon two or three times and
then sent UP some rockets, without
getting any answer. II was too late
to go ashore In the dark so we had
to wait a few hours for another sun
rise. The few of us who were left
on the yacht expected them back to-
day before dark fell. But l suppose
there's nothing to worry about In
their not coming. They went equipped
to pass a night ashore, IL necessary.
You don't advise me TO begin worry.
ing about them. do your"
He did not answer her question. He
was recalling something which his
amazing meeting with the girl out
here on the ice-hoe had. for q little
while. put quite out of his mind-the
weird. silent tragedy he had seen en-
acted a few hours before upon the
glacier behind the headland. The
victim. the man In the leather coat.
must have been one OF the party from
the yacht: but It was impossible that
the little band OF his murderers could
be. No one freshly landed from the
yacht would have been dressed as
they were. or would have been armed
with darts,
With TO better look at them than
had been possible 60 him as he hung
above their heads, ne had been con
WINGED that they were white: certain
ly. the leather-coated man had been
talking TO them, freely enough. in
English. And yet. IL white, they must
have been representations. IL not
OF Captain Ffeldlrg's Inflated expedi-
ton. then Of some other, tragic. uure-
ported ship wreck
But II they we're white men--refr-
gees. why had they fed from their
hut at sight of the yacht which came
bringing a rescuei Why had they
driven that one luckless member OF
the rescuing party who fell In with
them. into that carefully prepared am
bush. and then murdered him. silent
iy? Even Eskimos would not have
done a thing like that.
His long silence had alarmed the
girl. and presently. perceiying that
this was so. he drew himself up with
an affected start. Il beg your par
don. ! drifted OF. thinking OF some.
seem conducive to good manners. No,
don't believe there is anything to
worry about Any way. as soon as
light comes back. which won't be
long now. can set at rest any fears
you may have. I'll go and find your
party. aud I'll search the land. too
for anything else that may be there.
And then I'll bring you word"
You are very good" she said with
little hesitation. but l can't let
you"
He interrupted her with a laugh.
It's nothing difficult that | am pro
posing to do for you. you know"
That's true. | had forgotten your
wings The rocks. the ice, the steep
places. that mean so tragicaliy much
to them. are nothing at all TO you. But
what are yon doing now? Even you
can't find them in the dark"
tie had already begun unstrapping
the bundle he had made OF his wings,
and seemed TO be preparing for i'm.
mediate flight. That was what caused
her question
NO" he said; 4 shall wait for sun.
rise"
But why not here. on the yacht1
We can give you comfortable bed
there; better. certainly. than that
sleeping bag OF yours"
Il am afraid" he said. that what
you call a comfortable bed In yachts
cabin would be the surest instrument
that could be found for keeping me
awake all night No. 1 shall find a
sheltered hollow up at tine top of that
headland yonder. where I shall sleep
deeply enough. you may be sure"
She watched him. silently. while he
slipped the l-Jointed rods into
place. drew the catgut bow strings
tsut. until they sang-untll the fabric |
OF his planes Skinned In the starlight
-qulvered. as II they were instinct
With life of their own
A sense OF the unreality OF Il all
came yelling up strongly within her.
and a touch Of an almost forgotten
fear OF him
Good night" she said. holding eul
her hand-"goodby