Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1925-02-06
herself a prisoner in Railways power

from his resolution. And gradually his
plans formed in his mind.
Then night began to fall, and Lee
breathed vast sigh Of relief. I'm
less his plans miscarried, they should
be safe upon the mainland well before
midnight.
These depended, of course, upon his
being able to capture one Of the boats.
The best plan for the Free Traders
would have been to have withdrawn
them to the promontory, knowing
that Lee could not swim with the girl
across that stretch of ice-cold water.
Lee felt sure that, In their eagerness,
| feeling secure in their numbers, they
would encamp upon the shore, either
| Bleaching the boats or leaving them
anchored under the single guard in the
middle channel.
About half an hour after dark he
set out on his Investigations. He
moved through the brush as softly as
any Indian, and, booted though he was,
hardly a twig cracked under his feet.
Making his way toward the central
| portion, where the trees were sparser
and the ground undulating, he soon
discovered what he was looking for,
the distant glow of camp fire.
Four men were seated around the
fire, drinking and conversing loudly.
1t was impossible to make out their
faces in the darkness, but Lee waited
patiently until the light of the fire
fell upon each. and ascertained that
none of them was bearded.
Railway, then, was either in charge
of the motor boat, with the sixth man,
or had been forced to return to his
headquarters, owing to his condition.
Lee circled the camp, and dis
covered, to his JOY, the York boat,
beached on the shore about twenty
five yards distant The men had not
troubled to draw it up on birch rollers,
where it would have been a matter of
time and labor to float it again; it
lay with it's keel in the mud, careening
to the lap of the little waves.
Lee cogitated. If the men got drunk
that night, it might be possible to make
Off with the boat without arousing
them On the other hand the prob
abilities were that through fear of
Railway they would stay sober
enough to guard it effectively. And
the delay was telling upon his nerves.
He decided that at all cost it was
necessary to make the attempt as
quickly as possible.
He made his way back to the girl,
strapped the pack on his back, and,
taking her in his arms, began to ap-
proach the encampment by circuitous
route through the trees.
In the darkness, staggering over the
uneven ground, and loaded as he was,
the task was an all but impossible one
But, added to this, the girl awakened
and began talking disjointedly, some
times crying out in fear. 1t was al
most impossible to quiet her.
She chung to him, moaning. For
whole hour he tried to assuage her
terrors, until at last she dropped
asleep again from weakness and weari-
ness.
Once more Lee took up his task.
Now the campfire came into view. The
four men were still visible about 1t,
shouting and quarreling; they were
drunk, but not drunk enough to rem
der escape without a fight possible.
Creeping, almost inch by inch. to the
extension of raspberry brambies, Lee
followed it down to the waters edge
and laid the girl down. He looked at
her apprehensively for a moment, but
her eyes were closed in sleep and her
breathing was soft and regular
Then coolly Lee stepped out into the
open space and made his way toward
the group.
He was within five and twenty yards
of them before they perceived him, and
then they seemed to take him for one
of their party. Lees impressions were
os confused shouting and challenging
His GOODNESS disconnected and bewild-
cred them; he was almost upon them
before Pierre recognized him.
"By gar, it's dat d-n four
fiusher T. he shouted.
And on the instant Lee was into the
thick of them. A tall ruffian grasped
rife and rushed at him. Lee fired.
The man. shot through the hand.
dropped the rifle, and, uttering howl
of pain, took to his heels in the under
growth.
A second man was aiming at him.
Lee brought the butt of his pistol
down upon his head, and the man,
colapsing in mumbling heap. lay
face upward upon the ground. Shorty
was pulling desperately at gun. Lee
swung at him, missed his skull, but
knocked him sidewise with a blow
that laid his cheek open to the bone.
Shorty dropped and lay still.
Pierre, who had made no movement
of aggression, was staring at Lee
stupidity.
Hands up, d--n youp' Lee shouted.
Pierre's arms went up to their full
4 Cd n AAl~ u te.