The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-11-12
CHAPTER XII.
John, Wake Up!"

John, Wake Up!"
| Wynn sat at his desk and wrot,
hurriedly note which he gave to hi:
butler with orders to deliver it at once
at the New York Yacht club station
That note" Wynn explained wher
the butler had departed, was ad
dressed to the captain of my yacht
Scorpion. 1t asked my captain t.
prepare at once for a cruise to Central
America. We start tomorrow, boys
| Wynn's hand
You're a brick, Wynn And you.
boys-are you going with u.s."
Bet your life" replied Doctor Sad.
der
Sure thing" answered Berry
IF we only get there in time" Wynn
said. anxiously. Il mean before any
thing happens to the girl
Shes absolutely safe. l guarantee
it, Gaunt said. That old mad natur.
alist won't permit any harm to come to
her He thinks she is specimen
somehow representing his own lost
daughter. I'm sure we will find her
alive
The following afternoon at five
O'Clock the yacht Scorpion sailed out
of New York harbor with four de-
termined men aboard-Gaunt, Doctor
Saddler, Wynn and Berry-all re-
solved to give their lives, if necessary.
to rescue John Gaunt's strange sweet
heart.
A week later the yacht put into the
little harbor at the seacoast town
where Gaunt first asked the natives
for help. The very natives who had
then believed Gaunt insane now fell
all over themselves in their anxiety
to please the great "senor" who came
now in private yacht and looked
every inch a commander of men.
For Gaunt was now no longer the
pltiable looking wreck of a man he
had been when he first arrived at that
coast town after his two years of i'm.
in the ma dmans cage. He
was now dressed BETTING his position
as the intimate friend Of the owner OF
the yacht. His friends had freely sup
piled him with money, and Gaunt had
taken the money on condition that
they accept repayment when he had
earned the cash in his professional
capacity as a mining engineer
In the little coast town they out.
fitted an expedition big enough TO
capture citadel. Wynn spent money
oirir
we're to accompany the white men all
sorts of rewards II they would fight
Ike men, help rescue the girl and es-
cort the white folk safely back TO the
coast.
The four white men secured GOOD
mounts and the expedition started for
he Interior Behind the white men
came long line OF pack mules and
ourros. with some forty natives act. |
ng as gunbearers, Campboys, cooks, !
ma others necessary to the success
III plotting of the party through the |
roplcal region toward the mountains. !
Every day Gaunt ordered forced !
march. They pressed onward thus for |
seven days and at last arrived at at a |
4.
Here he told his pals. lis where |
hose mad rascals first captured me.
iere Is where they threw my rife !
ITO the water. We are now close |
'pon cur objective point. Forward
Forward the expedition wound its
vay till
There" cried Gaunt pointing ahead
Q clearing. behold cur destlna.
ion."
Gaunt ran forward. too eager to
'alt for the Others He was the first
arrive at the cages A strange,
mlnous silence was over the place.
'aunt stood still, his heart beating
asst, telling himself thus:
If Joan were alive she would ty
ow have seen me and would be call
ag to me in joy. Prepare yourself
Or the worst, John Gaunt."
lie ran to the last cage-Joan's
a5e-and peered in through the bars.
mere lay Joan, apparently dead.
My God, boys!' Gaunt shouted. a
re others came running up. she's
cad. Look"
Gaunt now seized a heavy bar of
'ood and with the strength of despair
pped open two of the bars of Joan's
age. Then he and his pals pulled
le unconscious Joan out of her i'm.
revised prison cell.
DOCTOR Saddler knelt by tho poor
NJ ana examined her. All waited
reathlessly for his verdict.
starvation" was his laconic pro-
ouncement. "She is alive-but the
'ark OF life is mighty near to going :
It,"
DOCTOR saddler, from his medicine
'g' poured stimulant into Joan's !