Year: 1873

Field sat down on the stones with his
feet hanging over, and looked down and
around. The still, bright water, the hills
bright and black in light or shadow, and
the serene sky made u scene exceedingly
solemn and impressive. Below, in the
sombre shadow of the cliff, Field heard
the faint, musical bubble of the water
among the rocks, and IL sheep beated
once behind the ruined fort; those We're
the only sounds. lie dropped the end oi
his cigar, and watched the spark till it
went out suddenly far down.


The scene very naturally reminded him
of his friend. Down there they had rowcd
together-twice was it, or three times ?
Strange that he had forgotten already, but
il seemed long time since. Below this
wall on the left they had stood the first day
they We're here, and clipped bits of NOR
tar and stone for mementoes. He remem-
bered how Phil had hunted the whole
place for flower without finding one-he
wondered whether it was for any one in
particular that he had wanted it so much.
Yes. it had seemed an age since that day,
and how everything had changed! Under
the cliff there to the left-he could not see
it, but he knew it was there-was the lit
tie wooden wharf where he had parted
from Phil between night and morning.
And he wished to God he had gone home
with him.


He heard a crunching sound behind
him, and looked round sharply. Then he
turned and got up on his feet, and stood
with his back to the precipice. The long
fellow stood in the path facing him. with
his hands in his pockets and his dark face
in the shadow. a glance told Field, what
he knew already, that there was only one
way to go back. His face was white, but
there was no more tremor in his voice than
if he had leaned against pyramid instead
of hundred feet of thin air, when he said
We'll? ?"


There was something just little strained
and by no means pleasant to hear in the
familiar, husky voice that answered,
"Ain't it kind O dangerous out there Sup
pose you was to fall off therco"


81 don't choose to suppose it," was the
steady answer. Lets talk about some-
thing else


ut amt pleasant to think of. is it?' the
huskily- ly-musical voice went on. at must
be something like hundred foot to the
rocks down there" He paused and began
again: "Moonshine IL queerish light,
though. amt it? Makes you look as white
now as if you was scared"


"Ihats very strange, isn't it ?' Field
replied. "Do you think it would have the
same effect upon you if you stood in my
place ?"


I'm If don'tp Long broke out,
with a twitching motion of his head, and
trembling as he spoke; land I'D be so
cold my teeth would chatter and my veins
grog.'


Come" Field said sternly, beginning
to feel that if he stood much longer on the
spot he should grow dizzy and fall, "let's
have no more OF this. Have you anything
you wish to propose? If you havnt, III
trouble you to move on and let me pass"


Il propose" replied the other, with a
twist of his head as if there was some
thing in his throat hard to swallow, speak
ing slowly and repeating the words-"l
propose to throw you over"


| Field knew the fellow united the
strength of the bear and the agility of the
wildcat. He knew that, even ii he had
not the terrible disadvantage of position,
he could stand no chance in struggle.
CHANGING down, he caught the flash of a
wave upon the black rocks far below,
But he only bit his lip and stood still, a
| little white perhaps, but his eyes never
tlinchng from the others face. When he
did speak, Long asked, "Do you know
what that means?'


The answer came straight and startling,
"Yes, it means death"


II guess you're about right" Long con-
tinued. And calculate you re about as
well prepared as you'll most ever be-"
! Field began to show the strain upon his
nerves and the sense of his desperate state
but only by the evident tension of the
mus cles of the jaw and the unnatural calm
of his manner and low, forced tone.
Very likely" he said and added slowly,
''but I'll not go alone


"Maybe not. don't much care was
the sullen reply. This place or that
since you come, there amt much choice.
But il you've got anything on your mind
that you d like to have off before you quit,
you'd best have it up"


81 have only Que thing to say to YOU
was the reply; lyon are not going tc
throw me over" There was a dimness in
his young eyes then and a rising in hi.
throat. He thought of great many
things and people in very brief space
and the world aud score of friendl,
faces seemed very sweet and hard to lie
| 50 %hANa Nv ~ Inv SdbAC t.LlC
and sterner self steadlastly put all tha
aside, and triumphed over the shrinking
OF the flesh from the dreadful certainty
and OF the spirit from the dread unknown
and to the long fellows advance and fierc,
question, "Wholl hinder ME ?" he criet
aloud, II Will He turned and shut hi
eyes, gathered himself togt ther, anc
sprang out into the awful abyss. Will
his arms by his side and his feet together
swift and straight as an arrow, he dropped
through the moonlight and through the
black shadow, and struck with quick,
keen plunge a moment atterward dizzy
distance down.


Lying on his face. looking down with
staring eyes, and clinging fiercely to the
stones for great fear that took hold ol
him and shook him, the long fellow sud
denly heard the shock of an oar, and SAW
round 10 the lett Il boat slide out OF the
black shadow under the cliffs and into tn,
calm stretch of moonlit water He rose
up then and fled for miles ike Il hunte,
hare.


Field was quickly missed, and suspic
ion Immediately set upon long Bill Trapp
| More DeODle knew of the little drama the'