The Lamar register., 1914-07-15
CHAPTER x.
Taken Prisoner.

ed ajar and. If escape was pos
sible. now was the time. With head
Keeling dizzily. crept through the
opening, yet held the latch. fascinated
by the first spoken words within.
"Well, Broussard, what is it?"
'AIl seen to sir"
1.-THE bodies are planted. then"
1.-The men attend to that"
"And the woman
"On her way: there was no trouble.
Sallie had her dOped. sir"
81 expected she would. Then that
finishes our job here Herman. and the
quicker we are of the better We got
the fellow after you left. Broussard:
hit him bit too hard. ii seems. but
no one will ever investigate. SO it's
Just as we'll Adventurer named Craig.
just discharged from the army"
Where Is her
Lying there In the passage behind
the door. Have Peters and Sam bury
him along with the others and then
join us. Wen go aboard"
shut the door and started down the
passage For dozen steps 1t was
black as night Then there was
sharp swerve to the right and CLEAN
Of daylight In the far distance. AL
ready they were at the barrier. and
ran forward recklessly. eager to es-
cape into the open. The way was
clear. the floor rising slightly, yet with
out distractions. could hear voices.
the pounding of feet behind. and
made desperate effort to outdistance
my pursuers. That they were merci-
less knew. and my only hope lay In
attaining some hiding place In the
weeds before they could emrge into
the daylight thought OF nothing
else. But as I burst. straining and
brea thless. into the open hands gripped
me from both sides. An instant
struggled to break free. lighting with
mad ferocity. which nearly accomplish
ed the purpose. But they were too
many for me- So Broussard's belt was
strapped tightly, binding my hands
helplessly to my sides. and | was huri-
ed over SO that | stared up blindly
into the face Of the fellow In com
mand His black eyes were sneering.
while the unpleasant smile revealed
row Of white teeth.
Great God. man. he exclaimed
You must have the skull of an ele-
plant. Are you actually alive?''
Very much So" l gasped. defiant
still.
Maybe I finish heem monsieur"
questioned Broussard. with knee still
planted ON my chest. Then he not
talk. hey?"
The leader laughed. with a wave OF
the hand
You take the fellow far too serious
ly. Let him up. III find way to
close his mouth II 1t ever be necessary
Besides. he knows nothing to do any
harm"
Out OF the depth OF despair and de
feat there had come an animating ray
Of hope-they We're going to take me
with them Even as prisoner l
should be near her. would yet he able
to dig out the truth.
'"You take heem along. monsieurT
1t was Broussard's voice. Fat vat
you mean?"
Certainly. Why notI There's plen-
ty Of work for another hand on board
Trust me to break him in. Come!
Hustle the lad along. boys. ri be
with you in a minute"
They drove me forward roughly
enough. We emerged into :ln open
space, from which | saw the chimneys
Of the old house far away to our left
The path led onward into another
weed patch beyond down steep ra-
vine, and then before us stretched the
lonely waters OF the bayou. Hidden
under the dropping foliage of the bank
was small boat. u negro in the stern.
! was thrust in unceremoniously. the
three others following. each man ship
ping an oar into the row locks. Her
man alone remained on shore, scatter
Ing the embers of a small fire and
staring back toward the house. A
few moments we waited in silence:
then the slender figure of the one who
seemed the leading spirit emerged from
out the cane Herman Joined us. the
latter taking the tller, the former
pushing on and springing alertly into
the bow
Lying between the thwapts. face
turned upward. all could see distinct
ly was the black oarsman. although oc-
casionally, when he leaned forward. |
caught glimpses of the fellow'I believ-
ed to be the captain Of the strange
crew. Our boat skirted the shore.
keeping close within the concealing
shadows, as evidenced by overhanging