Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-08-12
CHAPTER v.
Better Than Duck.

true sex seemed SO far plausible in
that 1t accounted not only for much
that had seemed mysterious about him
ana his manner. but also Uhough this
dld not mention to Chnrle) It &c.
counted for certain dim feelings of my
own, of which, before, | had been
scarcely conscious
But we were not long left to con-
time our speculations, being presently
interrupted by the arrival Of exciting
news in the form of a note from Fa-
ther Serapion.
Father Scrapion's note simply con-
iirmed his con lecture that It was To-
bias who had bought rum at Behring's
FONT and that he was probably some
where in the network of creeks ana
MARI lnSoonS in our neighborhoOd
Charlie thought the news over
"lll tell you what wen do" he said
presently. I'm going TO leave you
here-and I'm going to charter the
spongcr out there. Turner's sound
has two outlets; this and Goose river.
ten miles down the shore. Now, if
/ Tobias Is inside here he can only get
ont either down here or down Goose
river. nm going down in the sponger
to the mouth OF Goose river to keen
watch there, and you must stay where
you are and keep watch here. Be-
tween the two of us Il week Will starye
him out
80 1t was settled. and presently
Chnrlie went along with two OF his
host guns and Sailor. in the rowhoot,
ana l saw him no more for II week.
AT the end of the week the wind
was blowing strong from the west and
the tides ran high. About noon we
caught sight Of triumphant sails maxi
ing mp the river. 1t WAS Charlie back
again
"Got him !" was MI he said, as he
row &! ashore.
Sailor was with him in the rowbnat,
but | noticed that he was limping,
going on three legs.
Yes" said Charlie. cts lucky for |
Tobias he only got Sailors foot. or, /
by the living God I'd hive stood my
trial for manSlaugh,er, or whatever
they call it, It'lt soon bc all right old
man. he said taking Sailors wound
ed paw in his hand, "soon be all
right" Sailor wagged his tail viror
ously. 10 show that a gunshot
through one of his legs was mere
nothing.
"Yes" said Charlie as we sat at
lunch in the shack, under the tama-
rlnd tree; "Wc've S,t him safe there
under decks all right; chained up like
I buoy. If he can get away, I'll be-
icvc in the devil" ,
won't you tell me about it?" I
asked.
Not much to tell: too easy alto.
Iethcr. | waited a couple of DAYS at
ne NOUN OF Goose river. Then got I
lred ana left The spOnger with the I
aptaln and two or three men, while i
cent up the river with n couple of I
'urs ana Sailor, and man To pole /
he skiif-iust for some duck shooting, q
on know. We lay low for two DAYS
N the marshes and then Sailor got ;
Milling the wind enc morning as IL v
here was something around he didn't <
are much for. He grew more and
lore excited and. at last. as we neared II
certain mangrOve copsc to which all u
he time he had been pointing, he u
nrked two or three times and | let s.
i'm 20. Poor old fellow" v
As he told the story. Sailor, who 81
'emed to understand every word. rub. IL
ed his head against his masters %
md ID
Gle went into the mangroves. lust az
: he'd 90 after duck. but he'd hardly ~
onc In when there were two shots ;"
nd he came out llmpng, making for ''
q. But by this was close up to the
nngrWes myself, and In another y,
mute | was inside; and there was ~
gun Mt his shoulder. He ~ ~
III Il pot at me, but before he could -,
y another | Knocked him down with w
Y fire and Wen, we've got him all -
5ht. And now you can go after your '"
ensure as soon as you like. III take w
m over to- Nassau and you can fool
o'Ind for the next month or so. OF :"
llrse Wen need you at the trial but III
ut won't come off for couple of ="
,nths. Meanwhile. you can let me 'o'
ow where you are In case / should Nv
cd to get hold of you" WI
'All right, old man." ! said. "but
sh you were coming along with mo-" '',
I've got all the treasure want" -,
ghed Charlie "Send me word 49,, ,''
ere you are, as soon ms you get n a..
lncc; and good luck to you, old ~
'p. and your doubloons and pieces 49,,
eight NV
Then he walked down to his row. do,
I nnd soon hc was abonrd the