The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-11-12
CHAPTER Xxx.
A Broken Voyage.

| Alone in his palace, Count Frederic
| paced up and down, engrossed il
| futile plans. After many hours, al
attendant announced the arrival O
one of the emissaries he had sent t.
| follow Count Sachio.
'Excellency," began his servant agi
tatedly-"quick, or we shall be to-
late"
what now-why too late-what ha
happened? Tell me, meni" Coun
Frederick was none too gentle in hi!
moods of anger.
"They have taken her prisoner
they plot to ship her away today
toinght-now, for all I know!"
What are you saying, man? But
you found her, them"
Found where she is, or was. AS
you suspected, she was taken pris
oner by Count Sachio and carried to
Grahoffen. I followed him. He went
to the docks and bargained there with
some fellows of an ocean steamer due
to sail within an hour or so. / heard
them agree to take over prisoner, a
woman-another prisoner, man.
Count Sachio said he would deliver
them Just before the vessel sailed.
They were to be hid in the hold and
discovered later as stowaways too late
for return"
"Quick, men," He turned now to
his assistants. Hasten to the ship
-,..., oHsaoo ~, o,,,. o1ryr, dooIr pouo
them make ready boat to carry my
message to the captain of the royal
yacht. Tell him to make ready to sail
at once on my arrival-and to expect
a race with an ocean liner"
A few moments later he was at the
dock and, hurrying into the small boat
which lay awaiting, was carried
swiftly to the side of the royal yacht,
on whose decks already there was evil
dence of the orderly confusion of
boat about to get under way. Evil
IDENTIFY his message to the captain of
the yacht had been received.
Come on board, sir" said Count
Frederick, as the captain met him at
he ladder. "You understand"
your servant, Count Frederick,
said the commander. i know you
WE'LL Command u.s."
"Under way at once then, captain"
said Count Frederick. Lay course
20 the foot of the bay. The vessel we
must search has perhaps even now
sailed from Grahoffen port. 1t is our
luty in the name of the king to in
ercept her They have on board pris-
,ners of our own people-there has
,een treachery done by Sachio, leader
If Grahoffen.'
An instant, and the jangle of the en-
,ine-room bells made sweet music to |
count Frederick's ears. At least now |
here would be action, at least sus- |
,ense would be at on end.
The speedy yacht ripped through
he water as though conscious itself |
f its imperative duty. Ere long they
ad passed the lower headlands of
he Gretzhoffen harbor. Eagerly Fred
rick scanned the levels of the sea as
hey opened before him. At last an
escaped his lips. A long
nd heavy cloud of smoke lay on the
ORION, the trail of a great ship max
lg for open sea.
Captain, there she goes! A thou
ind napoleons if you lay US along
de-dishonor if you fail to do So"
nd the captain nodded.
Meantime what was the secret that
10 distant liner was carrying with
,r? None save those aboard could
IL that. and of these but two or
rec rude deck men. The bought
ents of Sachio had done their work
eli. None on the ship save those
had noticed when two bum
es. trussed up and concealed in
.avy coverings, had been hoisted
GARD by the ships donkey engine
d dropped into the hold. Yet in this
" two human beings were loaded !
cattle, without the knowledge of
, ships officers.
When Kitty Gray recovered her
Uses she found herself in a dark a
1 noisome hole, she knew not I
ere. Terror smoto her. Her pulses a
used to work, her mind rebelled. '
Above she heard t1amplings, shout o
IS, the creaking of tackle, the sound c
machinery muffied by intervening a
lis of the ships structure. At last | o
thought she heard the swash of s.
ter alongside. What did this mean II
vas this the sea? Was she pris-
II to be handled in some new and e,
way? What did it all Ia
an!