The Lamar register., 1919-06-04
CHAPTER XVIII.
A New Plan Of Escape.

aoon to disturb the routine work
aboard or TO cause me any uneaslness.
Sunset brought clouds, and by the time
1t was really dark the entire sky was
overcast, but the sea remained com
parutlvely calm and the wind steady.
1t was a pleasant night In spite Of
the darkness the air soft and refresh
Ing. The locker was filled with flags.
representing almost every nation on
earth. | dragged these out and spread
them on the deck abaft the cabin, thus
forming a very comfortable bed, and
at last Induced the girl to lie down,
wrapping her In a blanket. Finally l
found n seat beside her on a coil OF
rope. and we fell into conversation.
This was the first opportunity we
had enjoyed to actually talk with each
other alone.
Dorothy" l said humbIy, "you were
frightened last night. l cannot hold
you to what you said to me then"
You mean you do not wish to? But
l was not frightened"
"And you still repeat what you said
thenl You said. 4 love you"
"Yes. l can repeat that-I love you"
Those are dear. dear words: but l
ought not to listen to them, or believe
i am not free to ask a pledge of you, or
to beg you to trust me in marriage"
"Is not that rather for me to de
cider she questioned archly. II make
4 confession now. You remember the
night / met you on deck, when you
were n prisoner. and told you that you
had become the property of Roger
Fairfax1 / loved you then, although
l scarcely acknowledged the truth even
to myself. We are all alike. we Fair
faxes; We choose for ourselves. and
laugh at the world. That is my an
swer. Geoffry Carlyle; give you love
for love"
II would ask an opportunity denied
me-to stand once more In honor
among men. would not be ashamed
before Dorothy Fairfax
"Sor need you be-" she exclaimed
impetuously. her hands pressing mine.
You wrong yourself. even AS you have
been wronged. You have already done
that which shall win you freedom, II
1t be properly presented to those In
power. 1 mean that II shall be, once
i am safely back In Virginia. Tell me,
what are your plans with-with this
schoonerf'
ITO beach II somewhere along shore.
and leave 1t there II wreck, while we
escape. The men insist on it with good
reason. They have been pirates. and
might be hung II caught"
And yet to my mind" she insisted
earnestly. that choice is most dan
gerous. l am girl. but If l command
ed here, do you know what | would do?
l would sail this vessel straight to the
Chesapeake and surrender it to the
authorities. The men have nothing to
fear with me aboard and ready TO testl
fy in their behalf. The governor will
accept my word without a question.
These men are not pirates. but honest
seamen compelled to serve In order to
save their lives; they mutinied and
captured the b"rk. but were later over
come. and compelled to take the boats.
The same plea can be made for you.
Geoffry, only you were there In an ef-
fort to save me. II is a service which
ought to win you freedom. II the gov
ernor fail me, l will bear my story TO
the feet of the king. l am a Fairfax.
and We have friends In England. strong.
powerful friends"
81 am convinced" 1 admitted, after
a pause, that this course is the wiser
one, but fear the opposition OF the
men. They will never go willingly"
There is an argument which Will
overcome their fear. 1 mean cupidity.
Each sailor aboard has an interest In
the salvage OF this vessel under the
English law. Also there must be gold
aboard-perhaps treasure also. Let
the crew dream that dream and you
will need no whip to drive them into
an English port"
Full pardon, and possibly wealth
with It," I laughed. "A beautiful
scheme, Dorothy, yet II might work.
Still. II know sailormen. they would
doubt the truth. II II came direct from
me, for | am not really one Of them"
"But Watkins is. Explain 1t all to
him; tell him who I am. the influence
| can WELD In the colony. and then let
him whisper the news to the others.
WIN yan not do this-for my saksT