Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-11-08
CHAPTER XVIII.
MacBeard Finds His Destiny.

He gazed at it still hypnotiZed; he
was trying to fight his way back into
consciousness. For few moments
he did not know where he was, or
what was happening.
Then, gradually, he began to be
aware of his surroundings. He saw
the body at his feet, and the high cliffs
about him. And in the distance he saw
Clouts and Davies running toward the
mOtorboat.
Ida stood watching Donald. She
was still hesitating. MacBeard had
found that he could start his engine.
His hand was on hers. Davies and
Clouts were fifty PAGES away.
Gomez" said MacBeard.
The girl shuddered, and suddenly
she leaped into the boat. MacBeard
threw himself against the gunwale and
pushed it into deep water. He sprang
aboard. He was twenty PAGES from
the shore when his pursuers arrived
at the water line. Davies whipped out
his revolver.
MacBeard crouched behind Ida and
raised her body before him for a
shield. The girl knew nothing Of this
maneuver, for she had tainted.
Surrender, you blackguard," shout
ed Davies, hoarse With passion.
MacBeard, trembling, covered be-
hind the girl. With his hand stretched
out behind her, he guided the little
craft. The distance was increasing
swiftly.
Davies let his revolver hand fall. He
knew that at that distance it was i'm
possible to hit MacIeard with any GER
tainty. And he could not run the risk
Of shooting Ida.
Impetuously he plunged into the wa
ter. At first his desperate strokes
seemed almost to carry him as fast as
the mOtOrbOat. But soon this was
shown to be delusive. The distance
was increasing every instant. Davies
chung to a ledge of rock and painted
for breath. He shook his free fist at
MucBeard, who laughed scornfully.
He had seen the F55 settle beneath
the waves, and knew that by no pos
sible chance could Donald catch him.
He turned to Ida, who was Just
opening her eyes. He took her hand.
1t lay limp and cold in his own. He
saw her shudder, and diabolical fury
overcame him. He struck her across
the face with his open hand.
I'm your master! Do you know it
now2" he demanded.
She id not answer him. He looked
at the red marks left by his fingers
On her cheek, and the sight aroused in
him a fresh, demOniac passion. He
raved He shouted all the secrets of
his life to her. He, the thief, the
outlaw, had conquered the world!
Why should he fulfill his compact to
keep the monsters within the bounds
of Skiold ford?
He had at first intended to. He had
abandoned, under the sway of his pas
| conquest With Ida's love, he had even
INDUCED in the idea of becoming an
| ordinary man. He had meant to take
| her to America and lose his identity
| there in some peaceful existence.
He had recognized that it is this
| same impulse which fills the world
I with oxen for men, patient beasts who
might, with single-hearted purpose, be-
! come lords of their fate. But he had
weighed his new hopes with the past
and found them heavier.
Then the girls GOODNESS, her indif-
| ference, had convinced him that win
| ming love was quite different from in
venting scientific apparatus and dis
| covering new laws. During the long,
silent voyage to Norway he had real
| lied that he could never win her. He
could embrace only cold form whose
| heart was another's.
And, With the. awakening from his