The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-01-20

rlslns in turn and erasping the other
py tho arm. They've got to land
thu -aEd leave the boat
While they look for us. Well. then,
what's to prevent our hiding in the
lunes @aI-?"
IN the next breath. Look out," he
shrieheI
WIN no warning whatever. and
within fifty feet of them. a CHASTITY
hare broke out in full blaze on the
surface OF the water. revealing the
sA24e o. derry wfich had drawn in
unseen under cover OF the profound
carkness. and at the same time dis.
covering 70 its occupants the two
startled figures on. the beach.
Before they could stir the weird
ilsht glimmered on a polished weapon
IN the bow of the boat, a spiteful
tongue of reddish fame spat out, a
bullet sang between Messrs. Law and
bafcus, and with sad thud of disap.
poihtment buried itself in the sands of
the wave-eaten bluff behind them.
Like twin autcmatons stirred to ac-
tlon by the report, the two turned and
pe'tea off down the beach. to escape
That deadly area of illumination.
Other shots sped after them. but
none was SO we'll aimed, and presently.
hndlng break in the bluff. they
swung of into the grateful shelter of
the night-wrapped dunes.
Meantime the dory had grounded on
the beach. and its several occupants
Tour or FIVE Of them, all men, appar-
entiy-j jumping out, set off in pursuit
OF the fugitives, following the tracks
in the sand.
me blackness of the night, how
ever, conspired with the savage laby-
rinth OF the dunes to save Alan and
his companion
Within another five minutes-w lille
sui the pursuit floundered and bias.
phemed at random round quarter.
mile to the south-Mr. Law and Mr..
Barcus were noiselessly squirming on
TIER bellies. like two snakes in the
beach-grass. UP the back of a ten-foot
bluff And presently from its brow
they looked down on the spot where
the dory lay. only its bow out of water,
Its stern afloat. under armed guard.
Very slowly and stealthily Alan got
to his feet and swung back over his
shoulder heavy club of driftwood.
A match spluttered beside the dory
and famed in the still air, relieving
with its reddish glow bronzed and
evil visage
The guard pulled fast and had the
tobacco well aglow when the sky took
advantage Of his trustfulness and fell
upon him like an avalanche.
simultaneously Alan and Barcus de.
scended the face of the bluff in two
miniature landslides, dug themselves
out, and by the time the dazed and
disarmed guard had sufficiently recov-
cred to cry out for help the dory was
a hundred yards off the beach and
making excellent time in the direction
OF that lonely green light.
They wrought with the oars like
men possessed. yet with machine
like precision that drove the boat fast
and furiously-without attempt to still
the splashing of their blades. Con.
cealment of their purpose from those
who remained aboard the schooner
was out Of the question The shouts,
the shots, the play OF fashlamps
along the bcach-as though Bedlam
had looscd half dozen lunatc will
o the ~isps upon The holy peace of
night-must have betrayed the fact
that they had turned the tables long
before TIE dory left the irAhore shoals.
The commonest precautions, how
ever, made them pause and rest upon
their oars while yet a little way from
their soal
Only an ominous sil .nce rewarded
the utmost efforts of their straining
senses no sound was audible other
than the gentle whine of an ungreased
block; nothing was visible beyond the
sinister glare OF that almost stationary
green lantern.
What Think" Barcus inquired in
a dubious undertone.
NO telling" Alan replied in the
same manner. "All a chance"
You've got that gun handy with
reference to the rifle OF which they
had despoiled the victim Of the sky's
ill-faith.
Here"
"Then-let's go to It! Give way!"
A dozen lusty strokes brought them
alongside the schooner, and as the
dory scraped the waist of the larger
vessel the two young men dropped
oars, rose, and Selling the low gun
wales, lifted themselves to the deck.
Nothing opposed them; the deck was
ignorant of other footsteps than their
own. the schooner as silent as only a
becalmcd ship can be.
Without further consultation, Alan
led quickly aft and down the compan-
ionway to the cabin, where dim light
burned-a smoky lamp swinging In
gimbals above a cluttered table.
OF the two stateroom doors one dis
closed an empty cabin, the other was
locked
Trying the handle roughly. Alan
fancied he heard sound within. Paus-
SO. he called, With thrill of fearful
hope
"Hello, in there,"
The resnoue was CRY Of incredulous
delight Alan.
Ry way Of answer Alan hurled him
sol! bodily asainst the door. At the
seso,s. pact ol shoulders backed Is
...al. d a.l eighty POUNDS cf solid
Il. Il aud determination, the lock SPIN