Middletown transcript., 1920-08-14
CHAPTER V-Continued.
"He's diving. Jim" I cried.

"Aye, for want Of food and water.
There's not drop or a crumb IN the
boat. Maybe there's something in the
bag" He sprang in and brought out
a black leather bag, which, with a
large blue coat, was the only thing in
the boat. It was locked, but Jim had
it open in an instant. It was half
full Of gold pieces.
Neither of us had ever seen so much
bef0re-no, nor tenth part OF It.
There must have been hundreds of
them, all bright new British ), SOW
ereigns. Indeed, so taken up were we
that we had forgotten all about their
owner, until groan took our thoughts
back of him. His lips were bluer than
ever, and his jaw had dropped. lean
see his open mouth now, with its row
Of white. wolfish teeth.
MY God! he's off," cried Jim.
"Here, run to the burn, Jock, for a
hatful Of water. Quick, man, or he's
gone! I'll loosen his things the
WHILE"
Away I tore, and was back in q
minute with as much water as would
stay In my Glengarry. Jim had pulled
open the mans coat and shirt, and we
doused the water over him, and forced
some between his lips. 1t had good
effect, for after gasp or two he sat
up, and rubbed his eyes slowly, like a
man who is waking from deep sleep.
But neither Jim nor / were looking at
his face now, for our eyes were fixed
on his uncovered chest.
There were two deep red Fuckers in
It, one just below the collar bone. and
the other about halfway down on the
right side. The skin Of his body was
extremely white up to the brown line
Of his neck. and the angry crinkled
spots looked the more vivid against
It. From above I could see there was
a corresponding pucker in the back at
one place but not at the other. In
experienced as I was, could tell what
that meant. Two bullets had pierced
his chest-one had passed through it,
and the other had remained inside.
But suddenly he staggered up to his
feet, and pulled his shirt to, with
quick, suspicious glance at us.
"What have been doing?" he asked.
1--WE been off my head. Take no no
tice Of anything I may have said.
Have been shouting?"
"You shouted just before you fell"
"What did I shout?'
I told him, though it bore little
meaning to my mind. He looked sharp
ly at us, and then he shrugged his
shoulders.
"It's the words of song" said he.
swell, the question is. what am I to
do now? / didn't thought I was so
weak. Where did you get the wa
teri"
I pointed towards the burn, and he
staggered off to the bank. There he
lay down upon his face, and he drank
until I thought he would never have
done. At last he got up, with long
sigh, and wiped his mustache with his
sleeve.
THAT'S BETTER" said he. "Have you
any food?"
. I had crammed two bits of oatcake
into my pocket when left home, and
these he crushed into his mouth and
swallowed. Then he squared his shoul-
ders, puffed out his chest, and patted
his ribs with the fiat Of his hands.
II am sure that I owe you exceed
ingly WE'LL" said he. "You have been
very kind to a stranger. But I see
that you have had occasion to open
my bag"
1--WE hoped that we might find wine
or brandy there when you tainted"
"Oh, I have nothing there but just
my little-how do you say it?-my
savings. They are not much, but
must live quietly upon them until
find something to do. Now, one could
live very quietly here, I should say.
could not have come upon a more
penceful place, WITHOUT, perhaps, so
much as gendarme nearer than that
town."
"You haven't told us yet who you
are, where you come from, nor what
you have heen." said Jim bluntly.
The stranger looked him up and
down with a critical eye. my word !!
but you would make grenadier for
flank company" said he. "As to what
you ask. l might take offense at it
from otner lips, but you have a right
to know, since you have received me
with SO great courtesy. My name is
Bonaventure dc Lapp. l am soldier
ocd n wanderer by trq do and I have