Putnam patriot., 1915-02-12

] 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 helplaSSly to my sides. and l was hurl- ed over so that stared up blindly
 into the face of the fellow in com
 maud His black eyes were sneering. while the unpleasant smile revealed a row of white teeth
 Great God. mant' he exclaimed You must have the skull of an ele- phant Are you actually aliveg" Very much SO" i gasped. defiant
 still
 Maybe l finish heem monsieur" questioned Rroussard. with knee still planted on my chest Then he nor talk, hey?"
 The leader laughed with a wave of the hand
 ,You take the fellow far too serious iy. Let him up l'll find a way to close his mouth if 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 anlmating ray of hope-they were going to take me with them Even as prisoner 1 should be near her. would yet be able to dig out the truth
 "You take heem along, monsieurT 1t was Broussard's voice "Zat vat you mean?"
 Certainly Why not? There's plen- f.Ny fta.,r ha nd hAa art3 Trust me to break him in Come.
 Hustle the lad along, boys. I'll be with you in a minute
 They drove me forward roughly enough We emerged into an open space. from which l 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 a small boat. a negro in the stern. was thrust in unceremouiously the
 three others following each man ship
 ping an oar into the TOW locks. Her. man alone remained on shore. scatter ing the emberS of small fire and staring back toward the house X few moments we waited in silence:
 then the slender ti-ure of the one who
 seemed the lcHding spirit emerged frum
 out the cane Hermuu joined us. the latter taking the riller, the former
 pushing on and Springing alertly into
 the bow.
 Lying between the thwarts. face
 ureed upward. all I could see distinct
 y was the black oarSman. although oc-
 aSionally. when he leaned forward. | 'aughr glmpses of the fellow believ-
 rd to be the captain of the strange crew Our boat skirted the shore. keeping close within the concealing
 shadows, as evidenced by overhanging trees Twenty minutes elapsed ere
 we were scraping along the side of a vessel of some size.
 l was hustled roughly to my feet and bundled aboard My head still reeled
 dizzily. and the two men gripping my arms hurried me over the rail so swift ly my first impressions were extreme ly vague. l knew the sides of the yes
 sel were painted dull gray. as nearly
 an invisible color as could be conceiv- ed 1 recall the sharp sheer of her
 bow. the clearness of her lines and the low sweep of her rail. Less than 1000 tons burden. thought. and then as
 my eyes swept aloft. and along the decks l knew her for either q private yacht. or tropie fruit steamer First stateroom. second cabin" said
 a new voice sharply. Lively now
 Shall we unioese the ropes. sir2'
 Yes. Fasten the door and leave a
 guard. Stow away the boat, Brous-
 sard, Everything ready. captain" went down broad stairway. shin ing brass rails on either side. which led to a spacious after cabin A table extended its full length. already set
 for meal. and a round faced negro
 in white serving jacket grinned al me as the men pressed me between them into a narrow passage leading forward. A moment later was un- ceremoniously thrust iDto small apartment on my right. the ropes about my wrists loOsened and the door shut and locked behind me. For perhaps five minutes l lay where 1 had been so unceremoniously drop ped, weakened by loss of blood and dazed by the rapidity of events. found it hard to adjust my faculties
 to this new situation. but l thought it
 might yet be my privilege to foil
 these villains and rescue Mrs. Hen. ley. If was my belief she was also on
 board this vessel l had no reason to
 assume this except the wording of