py5KWWWA,JW"18F w-'frw; THE LANCASTER DAILY lircfeLLt&ENOER, SATURDAY, MAY 10. 1890. s.;; .. Iw' Kfi r . i m Si " riv ' iTBE SPLENlmX B sv i-p$ii r? ., i - - -c-c-i hBHng ilcmetri r the Adtenturti of Mr. it ... tr...l cmmI ., Iff f.if Xejaty King Charlct J, in the ytar 1ul3-3t serf (feu byhlmtclf. K SDITED Ilf MODERH ENGLISH BY "Q." CUAPTEH IX t erkak out or rBtse.f. Yeu are new te be asked te pass ever tlie sunt four weeks in iu inanv minutes: M & would I hail dene at the time 1 Fer I spent i. tliem in a bitter cold cell In tlie main tower '' r.1 TtrUtnl teen, with a chair and a nallet of tfttivTW all mr furniture, and nethlnir te L feW la.. faal Sm 4V.A S.VMA.1 a?.1 MM.. tlilkt the Jllr a tour man, If ever there wcre one brought me twice a day. One fine, frosty morning, then, when Iliad lain la tuts distress just four weeks, tlie deer of mrccll 'opened, nnd tlicre appeared a 'ft young woman, net uncomely, bringing in my W tkAAjl m1 waAi l,n ivnll,n4ftllfl-'ltlflllvi- 3 er and were a heavy bunch of keys at her "Oh, geed morning," said I; for till new her father only had fulted me, dud this was a welceiu chalice. butted of answering cheerfully, ns I looked for; sbogaven llttle nod of the head, rather Sorrowful, and answered: "Father's nlied with tlie ngtte." "New you ennnet ex-cct mu te be serrj-." "Nay," tlie said; nnd 1 caught her looking at me with something llke compassion in her blue eyes, which moved me te cry out sud denly! "I think you are woman enough te like a pair of levers." "Oh, ay) but where's t'ether hilf of tlie palrP "You're right. Tlie jeung genlloweman that was brought hither with me, I knew net It she loves mc; but this I de knew, I neuld jfive my hand te learn her whereabouts nnd bow she fares." "Better cat thy leaf," put In tlie girl, very suddenly, setting down the plate and pitcbr. Tires old, but I seemed te hear n seli In her voice. However, her back was towards ine as I glanced up. And next moment she was gene, locking the iron deer behind her. I turned from my breakfast with it sigh, having for tlie moment tatted the hoie te hear something of Delhi, liut In n while, feeling hungry, I picked up tlie lear leslde me and breke it iu two. Te my nmaze, out dropped something that Jingled oil the stone fleer. Tnas a small file; and, nxumliilng the leaf again, I feuud a clasp knife also, mid a strip of paper, neatly folded, hidden In the bread. Sunt Jack OuL Essex, finding no geed coma of tils Interrogatories, hath set ina at large; though I continue under his rye, te It, with a dowager of hU acquaintance, a Mistress Flucb. Wee dwell In a prlvate house midway dawn St. Themas his street, ia RcdclUT; and she hath put a dUansJ dress upon roe (Jack, 'tis hideous), hut otherwise uses me net ill. Hut take care of thy self, my deare friend; for though the colonel tw a gentleman, he is prest by them about blm, and nt our test Interview 1 neU-da mischief In hit eje. Canst use this tile? (but take care; all the gatii I saw guarded with troeiiers tcxtey,) This hy one who hath been my friend ; for hose uketeartlm paper up. And Uleeve j our cordial, let lug com rode, . II. K. After reading this a dozen times, till I hed It by heal t, I tere the letter Inte small pieces And hid thorn In my pecket. Thlsdoue, I felt lighter hearted than for many a day, and tlA tnf rttttrxrnntt flinii w I tit nnv t lift 1 nit is view) liegan lazily te rub an ay at my window &; bar. The flle worked well, By neon the bar Pr'V, ' 'waJ 'm'f severed, and I breke off te whistle, a u vuue, -iwas: 1 VlrrA en lfMi w f C'est le greud seulas, and I breke off te hear the key tui nlng iu my lock. The Sailer's daughter entered trlth mr sec- K' endmeaL Heroics were red with ueeping. Bald 1, "Dees your father beat your' "IIe has, bofeco new," sbe replied; "but net today." "Then why de you wecp!" "Net for that," ' i'Fer what, then I" Per vnuh. dear. il.virl IFnw klinll I Q tefi it? They are going te te" Shu sat down en the chair, and boblied iu her apron. "What is't they are going te deP "Te te h-hang you." "The devil I Whcnf "Tut-tut-to-merrow mo-heriilngl" 1 went suddecly very cold nil ever. There was iilencd for n moment, and then I heard the noise of seme ene dropping u plank Iu the courtyard below. "What's that!" "The gug-gug" "Gallettsi' Bhe nodded. "Yeu are but a ucak gli l,"said I, tiHHlitr.t Ing. "Ay, but there's a dozen troopers en the landing below." "Thtn, my dear, you must lock me up," I decided, gloomily, and fell te n hlatlln Virru en teus ces, C'est la grand seuUs. A workman's hammer in the court below chimed in, beating out the tune and driving the moral home. I heard a low sob behind me. The jdler's daughter was going. "tend me jour bodkin, my dear, for a me mente." Bhe pulled it out and gnvu it te me. "Thank jeu, and new geed by. Stepl Here's a kiss te take te my dear mistress. They shan't hang me, my dear." Thn girl ncnt out, sobbing, and locked the deer after her. -J sat down ferj nhlle,jtellng doleful, for - niVsil nvtiYimfitu vnlttii. i n 1 ui lin.ifvnil Ahihe whangl wliaii! of the hummer below reused me. "Come," I thought, "I'll see what that rascal is doing, at any rate," and, pulling the file from my iecket, liegnu te attack the nlnriew bar with a will. I had no need for silence at this great height nle e the ground, and, besides, the hammering con tinued lustily. Daylight was closing ns I finished my task and, pulling the tn e pieces of the liar aside, thrust my head out nt the window. Directly under me and alwut twenty fret from the ground I saw a beaut projecting, bout sis feet long, ever n sort of doorway iu the walk Under this beam, en n bidder, was a carpenter fellow at work, fortifying It with two supporting timbers that icsted en the sill of the doorway. He was merry eueugh ever the job, and uumsI evtry new and again te fliug u remark te u little group of soldiers that steed idling Man, where the felloff'swerk lug and a great coil of rejw rested by the ladder's feet. "Reckon, Sammy," said one, pulling n long tobacco pipe from Ids mouth anil spitting, "'tis a long while sluce thy last Jeb e' the sort." "Ay, lad; tcrrible dUrepalr this place has fallen iute. Hut send us a cheerful heart, suy II Instead e' the iper an' owl shall henceforward be lianglugs of men en' all manner e' diversion." 4 kept my head out of sight and listened. "What time doth a' sw 1115P nsked another of tue soldiers. "I beard the rolerul give orders for 9 o'clock te-morrow," answered the first sol dier, spitting again. The clock ever the barbican struck four, nd In a minute was being answered from tower after tower down in the city. "Four o'clock I" cried the man en the lad der; "time te step work, and here gees for (be last nail!" lie drove ft In and prepared te descend. "Hil" shouted a soldier, "you've forget the repa." "That'll wait tUl tomorrow. There's n attple te drive in, tee. I tell you I'm dry and want my beer." He wblpjHxl his apron round his waist and, . iSf garnering up ms nam, went clown tue louder. At the feet he picked up his bag, shouldered the Udder and lounged away, leaving the oetl of rejw lying there. Presently the sol diers sauntered off also, aud the court was empty. New, up te this moment I bad but one idea of avoiding my fate, and that was te kill my self. Twas te this end I hed borrowed the bedklu of the maid. Afterwards I bad a no tion of Singing myself from the window as they came for me, Dut new, as I looked down en that coil of reiw Ivlue dtrecllv be- V l& f rM ,i low, a prettier scheme struck me. I sat down ,1 en tfae Boer of my cell and pulled off my beets (, asvl stockings. r Twos such a pretty plan that I get Inte a ' I (ever of impatience. DrawlwroITustetkini: I Jd picking out the end of the yarn, I began 7. te Mttravtl the knitting (or dear life, until the The Ur a heae of thread en tb fleer. I then served the ether In'tliosame way; nnd nt the cud hed two Hum, each pretty near (our hundred yards In length, which new I divided Inte eight lines of about a hundred yards each. With these I set te work, nnd by the end of twenty minutes had plaited a roie It reie, Indeed, it could be called weak, te be suie, but long enough te reach the ground with plenty te spans. Then, having bent my bod kin te the form of a hook, I tied It te tlie end e( my cord, weigh ted It with a crown from my pecket and clambered up te Iho window, I was going te nngle for the hangman's rex Twns near dark by this, but I could juit distinguish it en the paving stones liclew, nnd, looking nlieut the court, saw that no ene was nstlr. I wriggled first my bead, then a shoulder, through the opening, nnd let the line run gently through my hand. There wcre still many yards left, that could be paid out when I heard my coin tlukle softly en the pavement. Then liegan my difficulty. A dozen times I pulled my hook across the cell liefore it hitched, and then n full three score of times the rejM slipped away liefore I hed raised It a dozen yards. My elbow was raw, almost, with leaning en the sill, aud I liegan te lye heart nnd head, when, te my delight, the bodkin caught and held. Itjhad fastened ' a kink Iu the rope, ixitfor'frem the end. 1 liegan te pull up, hand ever hand, trembling all the while llke a leaf. Fer 1 hail two very reasonnble fears. I'lrst, the rojie might slip away and tumble liefore It reached my grnp. Hocendly, It might, nfter all, preve n ileal tee sheit. It had looked te me n new repe of many fathoms, net )ct cut for te morrow's pure; but uyu slght might well decrlve nt that distance, nnd surely enough I saw that the whele was dangling off the gieuud long before It came te my hand. Hut at last I caught It, and, slipping back Inte the room, pulled It nfter me, ynrd 11(1011 yard. My heart went loud and fast. There was nothing te fasten It te but an Iren stnplu iu the deer, Hint meant losing the width of my cell, soineslx feet. This, lien ever, mutt be risked, nnd 1 made the end fast, lowered the ether out of the window again, nnd, climbing te a sitting posture en the window sill, thrust out my legs ever the gulf. Thankful was I that darkness had fallen before this and hidden the giddy depths Inf low inn. I grlpied the roie nnd pushed my self Inch by inch through the window, ami out ever the ledge. Fer n moment I dangled, without courage te muve n hand. Then, wreathing my Tegs round the rejw, I loosed my left hand nnd caught with It again soine six Inches lower. And se, down I went. lllmiti) followed inluute, and left 1110 still descending, six Inches at n time, and looking neither nben nor below, but nlwajs nt the gray wall that seemed sliding tip in front of 110. The first dizziness was ever, but a her 1 lido aching of the arms had taken the place of It. 'Tnas growing intolerable, when sud denly my legs, that sought te close, the roe, found spnee only. I had ceme te the end. I looked down. A ynrd lielew my feet the Imam of the gallows gleamed imlcly out of the darkness. Hera was my chance, I let my hands slip down the last feet or se of the repe, hung for 11 memeiit, then diepjicd for the lieniu. My feet missed it, nsl intended thoysheuld; but I flung both arms out mid caught it, In Inglng myself up with a jelk. IVhlleyet I hung tlanlng, I heard n footstep coming through the gaten ay between the two wards. Iteiu nam fix. With nil speed nnd sllcnce I drew myself 11)1 te the lieniu, found n held with ene knee ujkiii It, get nstrlde, nnd lay down at length, flattening my body down against the timber. Yet all the nhlle I felt sure I must have lieen heard. The foeUteiw drew nearer and passed al most under the gallons. Tnas nil eflletr, for us he passed he called eutt "Sergt. Downs! Bergt. Downs!" A olce from the guard room iu the baibl ran answered him through the darkness. "Why Is net the wntch sntl" "In a minute, sir; It neuUn minute te 15." "I thought the colonel erdeied itut hult list 61" In the silence that followed the barbican rleck begun te strike, and half 11 dozen U oop eop oep ers tumbled out from the guard room, some laughing, seme grumbling at the coldness of the night, Tun officer returned te Iho Inner ward ns they illorsed te their Ksts; and seen there was silence again, sae for the tramp, tramp of 11 sentry crossing and ro re cretalng the meinent below me. All this while. I lay flattened along tlie beam, scaice dating te breathe. Hut tit length, when the tiinn hud p-issed lielew for the sixth time, I feuud hentt te wriggle my self towards the doorway eer which the gal lows protruded. Ily shin ilegreiw, nnd pius ing wheucM r the fillew drew near, I crept close up te the wall; then, waiting the pre;ier moment, cast iny legs e er, dangled for a second or two swinging myself tonntdsthe sill, flung myself off, mid, touching the ledge with nun tee, pltehisl fei nurd into the room. The itTecl of this was te glu me a sound crack as I stttick the flooring, whlili lay ulieut afoot lielew the level of the sill. I picked in) st.lt up and listened. Outside, tlie regular tramp of the sentry prewsl he had net heard tne; mid I drew n long bienth, for I knew thut wlthoutnlauteiiihenould neur spy, in the darknees, the telltnle repe dang ling from thu toner. In the room where I steed all was light. Hut the flooring wnsuueMMi te the feet, mid scattered with small plies of masonry. Twos ene of the tunny chandlers iu the c.istle that had dropped into dim pair. (Ituplng my way with both hands, and barking my shins en the loeso stones, 1 found 11 low ault ed passage that led 1110 Inte n second chain lier, empty ns the llrst. Te my delight, the deer of this was njar, with a glimmer of light slanting through the crack. I made straight towards it, nnd pulled the deer softly. It 0Hucd, and showed a lantern dimly burning, and the stnircuse of the keep w lulling ast tne, tip Inte dai kuess. My chance was, of course, te descend; which I did en tiptoe, hearing no sound. The stairs twisted down and down, mid ended by a stout deer with unotherlnmpshliiiuguheo It. After listening a moment I decidisl te Ih bold, nnd lifted the latch. A faint cry sa luted 1110. I steed faru te face with the jnlki 'ri daugh ter. The roemwns n small ene, well lit, nnd lined alieut the nulls with cups and Kittles. Tnas, as I guessed, n tap room for thu sol diers; and the girl had been scouring ene of the pewter mugs when my entrance startled hir. Blie steed up, white as if paluted, nnd gasped 1 "Quickquick 1 Den 11 hete Uhlnd the counter for j our llfel" There was scarce time te drop en til) knees before it couple of trixijKrs lounged in, de manding mulled lieer. Tlie girl hustled about te sere thorn, while thu pair leaned their elbens 011 the counter, and iu this iisy nttituda began te chnt. "Ashrendnlghtl" "Ay, a eiy freezing frestl Lucky that soldiering is net nil tentiy net k, or 1 for 01m 'ud ensue my natural trade e' plumbing. Hut let's li cheei fill, for the olce e' the turtle is heard 1' the land." "Hey I" The man took a pull at his het lvr before explaining. "The turtle signlfUth the Karl e' Stamford, that is te night Uitlng Cel. IWx iu secret; au' this Is the import war, bloody war. Mark me." "Stirring, striving tlmml" "Yeu may say sol '.V hath fifteen thou sand men, the earl, no further eir than Taun ton why, my dear, hew pale jeu leek, te be surel" "'Tlsmy head that aches," ausn ered the girl. The men finished thilr drink and sauntered out, I crept from umhr the counter and looked at her. "Father'll kill me for thl.!" "Then jeu shall sa U It forward or back I must go I" "Neither " She pulled up n trap clese Iks side her feet and ietutud out a ladder leading down te the dai kness. "The ceuits nre full of troejwrs," she added. "The cellar I ' Blie nodded. "Quick! Thuu'smloet ntthefit ind. It leails te the crypt of St. Joint's chupcl. You'll find the key beside it and a lantern. Heiu Is Bint and steel." Blie leuchcd them down front a shelf U-sidj her. "Cieiuh down, or they'll spy j ou through the window. Trout the crypt a passage takes you te the gover nor's house. Hen tocscajielhen.aodkuonst Tis thu best I can think en." I thuuked her und began te step denn the ladder. She steed for u tneiuiut te nuteh, luivlng tholiapejicufor butur light. Ho He tween the avenue of casks aud bins I stum bled towards the deer and lantern that were just te du discerned nt tne tar end et tne cel lar. As I struck steel en flint I heard the Imp clese, nnd since then have never set eyes en that kind hearted girt. The lantern lit, I took the key nnd fitted It te the lock. It turned noisily, nnd a cold whiff of air struck my face. Unzlng round this new chamber 1 saw two lines et squat plllarr, tupjierliiig n low, arched reef. Twas the crypt lienenth thec!micl,ntid smelt vilely. A green moUture trickled down the pillars, nnd dripped en the tombs beneath them. At the end of this dreary place was a broken deer, consisting only of n plank or two, that I easily pulled nnay; nnd beyond, n narrow passage, ever which I heard the tread et troeiiers plainly, as they paced te nnd fro; also the inullUsl 110(0 of the clock, sounding 7. The passage went fairly straight, but was blocked here" and there with fallen stones, ever which I scrnmbled as best I could. And then, suddenly, I was near pitching denn n short flight of step. I held the lantern aloft and looked. At tlie steps' feet widened out a low room, whereof the celling, like that of the crypt, rested en pillars. Hetn ecu these every Inch of Fice was plhil with barrels, chests and grent pyramids of round shot. In each cor ner lay "a heapet rusty pikes. Of nil this the signification was dear. I steed In the muni muni teon loom of the rastle. Hut what chlilly took my notice was n gnat dour, studded with iron nails, that barred all exit from the place. Over the Iminls 1 crept towards It, keeping the lan tern high, In dread et firing any loose jow jew dtr. Twos fast locked. I think that, fern moment or two, 1 could have wept. Hut in n while the thought struck me that with thu knife iu my pocket 'twas iosslhle te cutaway thn weed around the lock. "Coinage!" said I, nnd, pulling it forth, knelt denn te netk. Luck In life has id nays used 1110 better thnu my deserts. At an hour's end there I was, hacking nnny sttadlly, Jet had made, but little piegn s.-i. And then, pressing the knife deep, I breke the hi ute oil shot t, The deer iihiii the far side was cased with lien. Tramp! tiiimp! 'Twas thu sound of n mini's footfall, and til thuear npK'iireil te I descending a flight of step) 011 tlie ether side of the deer. I bent iny tar te thu kejhele; then stepped te a cask of bullets that Meed handy by. I took out a dozen, felt iu my ecket for Delia's ker chief that she had given me, caught up npike from the pile slacked in the corner, and, softly blowing out my light, steed bnck te be concealed by tlie deer when It eiened. The footsteps still desccudtst. I heard an aged voice mutteilng: "Shtlvd my hones ugh! ugh! Wintry wurk-iwhitry work! Here's nit hour te send n grnmlfnthcilj man n-greplng for a kig e' lender I" A whecry rough closed the sentence, ns a key was nllh dllllcully fitted In the lock. "Ught ugh! Sure, tlie lock mi' I be n pair, ter stitr joints." The deer creaked bnck ngalust me, nnd n lhaft of light pierced the diirkuesn. Within tha threshold, with his back te me, itoed a gray bearded servant, and tettcied Hi that tlie lantern shook in his hand. It ihnmed 1110 te lift a pike ngalust one se weak. Instead, 1 diepicd it with n clatter nnd leaied forward. Tlie old fellow juu)sl like a be)-, turned nnd faced me with lrnpicd jaw, which gnvn mniiii epxrtunlt)' tethrat four or llve builds, net ever roughly, into his mouth. Then, having turned Mm 011 lii-s back, 1 strapped Delia's keichlef tight across his mouth nnd took the lantern from his hand. Net a word nns said. Bui e, the peer old man's w Its were shaken, for he lay meek ns a meiise.niid stnreslupnt 1110 while I uiistraped his licit and bound hlsfis t vv ith It. His hands Itiussed up behind him with his en 11 tue k cloth; nml, catching up thn I intern, left him thei n. 1 leekisl the deer after me, and slipped the kej- Inte my pocket ns 1 spinngupthe stalls lievend. Hut heiu a light was shining, sonuce morn I extinguished my luntei 11. Thu steps ended in 11 long passage, with a handsome, lamp hanging at the uttermost end, and tieneatlt this lamp I stepped Inte u place that filled 1110 with astonishment. Twns, I could net doubt, the entrance hall of the govemei's house. All oak deer, ery miisslve, fienbd me; te left and right were tne smaller doers that plainly led into apart ments of the heuse. Alse te my left, and Higher thnu tlie deer 011 that side, rait up n bread stub case, cirpetesl and brightly lit all thewny, se that n erj- blare fell en me ns I steed. Under the first flight, clese te IIIJ' left shoulder, wnsn llnoef H'gsvvllh ninny cloaks und hats depending tlii'iefrem. Underfoot, I lemembcr, the hall wnsilclily tiled Iu tqunres of led nnd while urn bin. New, clenilj-, this vv.is n certain place wherein te Iki caught. "Itut," thought I, "U'lilud oneet thu two deem, te left or te right, must lln the guv 11 nut's room of busi ness; nnd iu that rixiui as llkelj- us net his kejs." AVhleh deer, tin n, should 1 cheese) Fer te slaj' here nns mildness. Whiln I stoeil penilciing, the doubt was nnsneresl fur me, I'letn behind the tight hand deer 1111110 n burst of laughter and clinking of glasses, en top of which a man's olce the v oice of Cel. Kisex cullisl out for 1110111 vviiui. 1 took a step te the deer en the left, paused for n second or tne with iny hand en the latch, mid then cautiously pushed It open. The cliainK r nan eitiptj'. Tnas along room, with n light burning en 11 sipinie center table, und mound it a iinsa of IkieI.s, Iocise pniers nud documents strew 11, seemingly without order. The fleer, tee, was litteresl w Ith them. Cleai ly this was thu colonel's olllee. 1 gave 11 1 lipid gl.ince mound. The lamp's rajs seat co illumined the far coiners; but iu 0110 of these steed u great leathern screen, nnd ever u 111 e place near It u lack was hang lug, full of sneids, pistols nud walking caiiei. Slipping lewniilsit, 1 caught sight et rtiitlienj s snniil, susHiuhsl there amongst thu 1 est (they hud taken it ft tun moon the day et my examination), which new I took down ami stt npped nt iiij tide, 1 then ehose out a pistol or tne, slipped them into my sash nnd advanced te the center tahlc Under the I imp lay Ills inaje&t) 's loiter, en. My hand was sti etched out te catch It up, win 11 1 liuiid net uss thu ball 11 deer ekmichI nnd the, sound of men's voices. Tbej' were coming towards the olllce. There n essein co tlnte te slip liack nud hlde behind the screen before the deer latch was liftesl und tne men enteresl, laughing jet. "Huslness, my lord business," said the first ('twas Cel Essex); "I have much tode te-tilght." "Sure," the ether nusnered, "I thought no had settled it. Yeu ure te lend 1110 u thousand out of jour gait isen" "Which en my own patt I neuld willingly de. Only 1 leg you te consider, my leul, that my (Kisitleu here hangs en a tlnead. 'Iho extreme men are nlreadj- ngalust tne. They talk of replacing 1110 by Ficnnes" "Nat Fleuues is no soldier." "Ne; but he's n bigot a stronger recom recem recom liiendutien. Should this plan miscarry and I lese a thousand men" "Heavens olive, mail! It cannot miscarry. Hnrk je; there's Ktithen of l'ljmeuth vvifl take the south rcsid n ith all his fetees. A daj's match Uhlnd I shall fellow along reads te northward parallel for a nay, but nf Urn anls converging. The CeruMimeit nre nil in lledmlii. We shall ceme en them with double their numbe-r uj, iilmest tieble. Can jeu doubt thu Issuer' "Scarcely, with thu 11-iilef Btuinfetd for general." The carl was tee far occupied te notice this compliment. "Tnlll be swift and secret," lie said, "as De'utlt himself aud as sure. I't the fact that Ilopteu is all nt sixes and sevens since the marquis shipiied for Wales, nud nt dag gers drawn with Mehun " Said the cedetiel slewlj-, "Ay, the notion is geed enough. Were 1 net in this corner, I would net think tnh-e, listen new: only this morning they fetced rne te order 11 jeung man's hanging, who might if kept nlive be feicud iu time tugivn us news et value. I dared net rcfuse." "He that you caught nlth the king's let terl" "Aj--a trumpery tulslve, dealing with naught but summeiiing of the shot ill's osse nud the like. '1 here is mere Uhlnd, could no but wait te git at it." "The gallon s may loosen his teiigua. Aud hew et thu girl thut was taken tool" "I have her in safe keepitig, This very evening I shall l.lt her and make auether trial te get some speech. Which puts me iu mind" Thu colonel tinkled a small hand bell that lay en thu table, Thu puusu that followed was broken by ths earl. - "May I seejbat letter!" 1 110 colonel nanciea it, and tinkled the belt again, mere Impatiently. At length ste Were heard In the hall, and a servant opened the deer. "Where Is Gllcsrasknl the colonel. "Why are you taking his placer "(llles can't be found, your honor." "Hryf "He's a queer oldster, your honor, nn' may be gene te bed wi' his aches and pains." (I knew pretty well that Olleslwvl dene no such thing; but be sura I kept Iho knowl edge safe behind my screen.) "Then go seek him, nnd say Ne, step; I can't wait. Order the coach around at the barblesjii In twenty minutes from new twenty minutes, mind, without fall. And sny 'twill snve tlnte the fellow's te drive tne te Mistress Finch's house In St. Themas street sharp 1" As the tunn departed en Ills errand the earl laid down his majesty's letter. "Hang the fellow," he said, "if they want It; the blame, if any, will be theirs. Iiut, In the name et heaven, colonel, don't fall in loud Ing me this thousand men! Twill finish tha war out of hand." "I'll de lt,"nnswercd the colonel slowly. "And I'll rotnember It," sold the carl. "To morrow, nt 0 o'clock, I set out." The two men shook hands en their bargain and left the room, shutting the deer after Ibem. I crept forth from twhlnd the screen, my heart thumping en my ribs. Thus far It had been all fear and trembling with inn, but new this was changed ten kind of iantlng joy, Twas nut that I had spied the prison keys hanging near the fireplace, nor that Ixdilud the set uen lay n heap of thn colonel's riding ImmjIs, whereof n pair, I eady spurred, fitted me choicely well; but that my cars tingled with news that turned my escape te n matter of publla welfare, and also that the way te escape lay planned In my head. Shed In tha colonel's beets I advanced ngnltt te the table. AVIth scaling wax and the governor's seal, that lay handy, 1 closed up the king's letter nud, sticking It in my breast, caught den 11 the bunch of keys and made for the deer. The hall was void. I snatched down a clenk and heavy bread brimmed bat from oue of the pegs nnd, donning them, sllpied Kick tlie belts of the heavy deer. It opened without uolie. Then, with n lest hitch of the cloak, te bring it n ell alieut me, 1 stepped forth Inte the night, shutting tha deer quietly 011 my heels. My feet were en the pavement of the Inner ward. Above, ene star only breku the black ness of the night. Acress the court was a sentry tramping. As I walked boldly up he stepiied short by thu gnte between the wards nnd 1 egarded me. New w as iiij- danger. I knew net the right key for the wicket, and If I fumbled the fel low would detect me for certain. I chese ene and drew nearer; the fellow looked, sa luted, stepiied te thu wicket and opened it himself. "Oetid night, colonel I" I did net trust myWlf te answer, but passed rapidly through te the outer ward. Here, te my joy, In the arched passage of the linrblcatt gate, was the carriage waiting, the erter standing liesldu the deer; and here also, te my ellsmny, was a torch nllght, and under it half a dozen soldiers chatting. A whisper jmssed 011 my nppreach "The colonel" nnd they hurt led into the guard room. "Ooed evening, colonel I" The porter liovved low, holding the deer w Ide. I passed him rapidly, climbed into the shadow of the coach and drew n long breath. Then ensued n hateful pause, ns the gates weiounbaried. 1 gtipped mj- knees for Im patience. The driver speke n word te the porter, who came round te the coach deer again. "Te Mistress Finch's, Is it netl" "Ay," I muttered; "and quickly." Thn coachman touched tqi his pair. The w heels moved ; vv cut quicker. We nt 0 outside, the castle. With what relief I leaned back ns the castle gates clesed behind usl And with what lin lin patience at our slew pace I sat upright again next tuliiutel The whesils rumbled ever the bridge, nud immediately we were rolling easily down hill through n street of some tin tin IKHtunce; but by this tlme the shutters were up along the shop fronts and very fevv peeple abroad. At the Iwttem w e turned sharp te tha left along n broader thoroughfare, and then suddenly drew up. "Are we ceme!'' I wondered. Hut ne: 'twas thu city gate, and here we had te wait for three minutes at least till the sentries rec ognized the colonel's coach and eH.'ned the denirs te us. Tliej- stoeil oil this side and that, presenting urms ns no rattled through; nud next moment I was crossing n bread bridge, with the tlark Aven en cither side of 1110 and the vessels thick thereon, their lanterns cast ing long lines of jellew en the jetty water, their masts and corduge looming up against thu dull glare et the city. Soen we were between lines of building ence inore shops, ptlvnte dwellings and warehouses Intermixed; then passed n tall church, nud Iu nlieut two minutes mere drew up again. I looked out. Facing 1110 was n narrow gatenaj- landing te n heuse that steed semuwhnt bnck front the street, ns if slipping nnny from betwesm the lines et shops that wedged It en either hatiil. Over the gt 111 n link was burning. 1 stepped from the coach, ejiened the gate, nnd, crossing the small court, rang nt the heuse bell. At llrst thcre was no answer. I rangagaln, nud new hud the satisfaction te hear a light footfall coming, A belt was pulled and a girl appeared holding n candle high iu her hand. Quick as thought 1 stepped past her into the passage, "Delia!" "Jack I" "Hist I Cleso the deer. Where is Misti ess rinch'" "Upstairs, expectlns Cel. IXsex. Oh, the happy day! Come." She led inn into a nar row back room, and, setting dentt tlie light, regarded me. "Jack, mj- ej-es are 1 ed for the-e I" "I seotliej-nre. Te-morrow I was te be hnnged." She put her hnnds together, catching her breath; nnd vcrj' lovely I thought her, iu her stt night gray gown and l'lirltan cap. "They have been questioning tne. Didst get my letter I" The answer was en my lip when there came a sound that made us both start. 'Twas the, dull echoing of a gun firing, up at the castle, "Delia, what lies at the back here!" "A garden and 11 garden deer; uftcr these n lane leading te llcslclili street," "I must go, this moment." "Aud IP' Bhudid net wait my answer, but, running out into thu tiassage, she camu sw if tlj' bnck vv ith a heavy kej-. I 0xned the w indevv. "Delia! De-Hal" Tnas a woman's volce calling her, nt the head of the stairs. "Ay, Mistress Finch." "Who was nt the doerf" 1 sprang into the garden and held forth a hand te Delia. "Iu ene moment, tnlstressl" called she, and In ene moment was hurrj Ing with 1110 act ess the dark garden beds. As she fitted her kej- te the garden gnte 1 heard the volce again. "Devllal" Twos drowned In nwlld rata-tatlen the street deer and the shouts of tuauj- eicea. We w ere clese pi cussed. "New, Jack te the right, for our Uveal Ah, these clumsy skirts!'1 We turned Inte the lane nnd raced down It, Fer myiurt, I snore te drenn mj-sclf in Aven rather than let theso troopers retake me. 1 heard their outcries nlieut the houe behind us as we stumbled ever thu frozen rubbish heaps with which the lane was be strewn. "What's our direction!" panted I, catching Delia's hand te help her along, "Te the left new for tlie 1 tver " We struck into iv tiurtew side stlcvt, nud with that heard n natclimin bawl "Fast itinu e' tha night, uu' ul" The shock of our collision sent him te fin ish his say in the guttir 'Thieves!" he jelled But already we were twenty yards nnny, and new in a broader street, n hereof ene side w at vv holly lined with vv areheuse. And here, te our dksinaj, neheud shouts In-hind, and the noise of fist running About half naj ilenn iliu street I spied a gutew ay standing ujar, und pulled Delhi aside into a ceurtjaid lilteted vviilt lurtils nud Umbers, und actess it te a Id icL, empty baru of a place, w here a flight of wooden tie;) gllmmereel, that led t,. mi upjier sterv We climbed thesj stairs et n run "Fuugh' hat 11 viiesiuclir The left no piled Ingli Mitligie.lt bales of wool, ns 1 fi.'i-. lie t,,t ., , h-r odor enough lesatl.fy nn artnj-. Nevertheless I was groping about for a place te hide when Delia teucliud ma ixi thu nrm nnd nnlnlxl lyiekitig, I dcsTlcd In the gloom a tall quadrilateral of purple, net five steps away, with a sjieck of light shining near the top of It, and three dsik streaks running down the middle, whereof ene was much thicker titan the rest. Twns nn open doorway ; the speck, a star framed within It; the bread streak, a ship's mist reaching tip; and the lesser ones tne ends et 11 rep", working ever a pulley ntxive my head, and usl for lowering the bales et wool oil thlplieaVll. Advancing, 1 steed en the sill and looked denn. On tlie block water, twenty feet be low, lay a three masted trader, close against t lie warehouse. My tees stuck out ever her jeck, almost. ' At first glance 1 could see no sign of life en beard, but presently was aware of a dark figure leaning ever the bulwarks, near the txiws. He was ijulte motionless. His back was towards u, blotted against the black shadow; and the man engaged only, it seem ed, lit watching the bright splash of light filing by the ship's lantern en the water be neath hint. I icsehcd te threwV.iyself 011 the mercy of this silent flguru, nnd put out n band te test the roie. One end of U was fixed te n bale of wool that lay, as It had been lowered, en the deck. Flinging myself en the ether, I found It sink gently from the pulley, as tlie weight Mew moved slowly upwards; and sinking with it, I held en till my feet touched the deck. Btlll thn figure In the bows was motionless. I paid out my end of the tejie softly, low ering back tha bain of wool; nnd, as seen as It Icsledngnln en deck, signaled te Delia te let herself down. Shu did se. As she nllghted, and steed bo be bo slde tne, our hands bungled. 'Iho ropealipcd up quickly, letting denn the bale with n run. We caught at the rejiu, and stepptsl it just In time; but the pulley nbove cie.iLe.1 vocif erously, 1 tinned my head. The man hi the beivs luul net moved. CHAPTKU X CAIT. I-OTTEIIV AND CAPT. BETTI.E. "New either I nut mad or dreaming," thought 1; for that thu fellow had net heard our neise was starklj- Incredible. I stepped along thu deck tennrds him; net an inch dIJ he budge. 1 touched him en the shoulder. He faced leiiud with n quick start. "Sir," snld I, quick nml low, before he could get n vvetd out "Sir, we me in your hands. I will be plain. Te-night I have breke out of Ilristel Kes p, and the colonel's men ure after me. flive ineiip te them, nnd they hang 1110 tomorrow; give my comrade, up, nnd they jiersecute her vilely. New, sir, I knew net which side jeu be, but there's our case inn nutshell." The man bent forward, dliplaj Ing a huge rounded fuce, very kindly nlieut the ejes, aud set n top of thu oddest body Iu the world; for, under 11 tiunk extraordinary bread and strong, straddled n p ilr of legs that a baky would have disowned, se thin nud stunted were they, nnd (te mnku it queerer) ended Iu feet the most prodigious jeu ever saw. As 1 said, this mm leaned fervvaid.nnd shouted into my car se that I fairly lea)cd in thenlrt "My nnme's Petter)- Hill Pottery, cap'n e' the Omlsend an' jeu can't make me hear, net if jeu bust jeursel'l" Yeu may think this put 1110 in n fine quan dary. "1 1x3 ns deaf astnllsl" bawled he. Tnas horrible; for thu troeiiers, I thought, If anywhere near, could net miss hearing blm Ills voice sh(xik the vet j' rigging. "An' e' my crew the half ashore gettln' drunk, nn the halt lx;low In a very accom plished state e' liquor; se there's no chnnce for 'co tn six-akl" IIe paused a moment, then reired again: "What a pity 1 'Ces )ou 'make 1110 very curious that )ou del" Luckily nt this moment Delia hail the sense te put 11 linger te her lip. The inaii wheeled I emul without another word, led us aft ever the bhxks, cordage nud nil manner of loeso geir tint encumbered thu ih-ck te n ladder that towards the stein led down into dark ness. Hete he signed te us te fellow, and, descending flrst, threw open a deer, letting out a faint stream of light in our faces. Twas tlie captain's cabin, lined with cupboards and lockers; and the light came from au oil lamp hanging ever a nairew deal table. By this light Copt, Hilly scrutinized us for uu instant; then, fiem ene of his lockers, brought out jk'I), paiKT nud ink, nnd set them en the table before me. I caught up the ;ieii, dipped it, nnd liegan te writet 1 1 nm Jehn Mtrvel, a sonant of King Charles, and ttits nlgtit nm eciptxi out of Itustel castle. If en lie Thus fur 1 hid written without glancing tip, 111 fear te re id thu divippelutnVnt of my holies. Hut new thu pen was might sudden ly from iny llugei s, tlie paper tern In shreds, nnd there was Master Pettety shaking us both bj the hand, nodding nud becking, nnd smiling the while nil ever his big red face. Itut he ce iscd nt 1 1st, nnd iicnliig nttethcr of his lexku-s, diew fetth u hoi 11 lantern, a mallet nud n chisel. Netu w 01 d n as spoken ns he lit the lantern nud jusscd out of the enhiu, Di.lia nnd 1 following at his heels. Just outside, nt thu feet of the stcjis, he stoeptsl, pulled up a ttnp in thn flooring und disclosed uuulhcr ladder sti etching, us it seemed, down into the liewels of the ship. This we descended carefully, ami found our selves Iu the held, pinching our nesestnixt finger nud thumb. Fer indeed the smell here was searching te n vcrj- piiufiil ilegrce, for the room was niir niir ten nnd every inch of it contested by two puissant essences, thu ene raw wool, the ether bilge vvntir. With nixil the place was piled, but nlsn I noticed, net far from the laddcr several caksset en then- cuds, nud te these the captain led us. Thej- were nlwiit n deen In nil, stnckcsl elose tegethei ; and Master Pottery, rolling tne up-ut fiem the rest, drugged them te nuether trap mid tugged out the bungs. A stream of fresh water gushed from each aud splashed down the ti.ip into thu bdgu below. Theu, hiving iliniucd them, he staved in their heads with u leu blows of his 111 diet. Ills pi 111 fei us vvns clear. And in nvury few minutes Delia und I were douching en the Umbels, e.u h with 11 cask luvertud ever us, our no es nt the liuiighelus and our ears listening te Master Pottery's footsteps as they climbed he-av lly back te deck. The rest of the rusks were stacked clese round us, se that, even had the gloom allowed, no could see nothing at all. Soen I heard the neUi of feet above, and a 6tring of voices speaking oue after nnother, louder nnd louder And next Master Pettery bc'gun tennsnet up and dienned all speech but his en 11 When he censed, there was silence for semu mi iiitew, nfter which we heard n pal t j ih-sceu 1 te thu cabin, nud the ti.impliug of their fc t en the boniUalxne us. The) 1 enuituesl thet e seme vv hil j discuss ing; and then came footsteps denn the sec sec eud ladder, nnd n tviinkle of light reached me through the bunghele of mj- cask. "Quick I' sold n husky veica; "evjthaul thu caige hcie I" 1 heard into half dozen troepeis bustling about the ludd und tu,;gtrg out the bales of wool "1111" culled Master Petter) ; "an when jou'veduuo imiiiiiaglng iny ship put ever)' thine Imck ns von found It" "1 eku nlxmt with jour swords," command cemmand esl thu hush) veicu. "What's iu theso ban ell jeniUr!'1 "Wntir, sergiHait," nusneis u tioeier, roll ing out a couple. "Nothing liehlnd them I" "Ne; the) '10 right against the side." "Diep 'em, then. Pligue en this business) Tls til) uotleu tbej 're u tiillu un ay, nml Cnp'u Stubbs no better than a feel te send us Iwick here, He's grudging promotion, that's n hat he Isl Hurrj-, there hurt y 1" Ten minutes later the searchers were gene, and we in our casks drawing long breaths of thankfulness nud strong edms. And sons crouched till, nlxmt midnight, Cpt. BUly bt ought us den n n supper of ship' biscuit, which we crept fetth te cat, being sorely cramped. He could net hear our thanks, but guessed them. "New, say netn word! Te-morrow no tall for Plymouth sound ;"thence for Hrittauy. Hist! We 1m nil king's men nbearel the God send, though heariug neught I say little. Yet I have iny reasoning heresies, holding the Lord's Anointed te 1m an anointed regue, but nevertheless te lxi served; Just us aboard the liedsend I Iks Cup'n Hilly an jeu plain Jack, be ) our . Irtues w hat they may. Au' the con- (elusion is dauin all mutineers uuf rebels! Though, te be sure, the words be u bit lusty for a yeuug gentlewoman's cars." We went lmck te our casks with lighter Jiearts. Hew belt 'twas near 6 iu tlie morn lug, I dare say, before my narrow txxl cham ber allow ed me te drop asleep. Iwoke te sar.tbreuab mbunhela tbi taint light of Cay struggling down tne hatches. Above, 1 heard a clanking noise, and the voices of the men hicceughing a dis mal chant They were lifting anchor. I crawled forth and woke Delia, who was yet sleeping, and together we ate the breakfast that lay ready set for us en tha bead et a barrel. Presently the sailors broke oft their feng, nnd we beard their feet shuffling te and fro en deck. "Sure," cried Delia, "we are moving!" A nd surely we were, as could be told by the altered sound of tlie water beneath us, nud tlie many creeklngs that the Godsend began te keep. Otice mere I tasted freedom again and the joy of living, and could have sung for the mirth that lifted my heart. "Let hi but gain open sea," said I, "and I'll have tit (or tot with these rebels t" Hut abut before we bad left Aven mouth twenty minutes 'twas another tale. Fer I lay en my side in that dark bold and longed te die, nnd Delia sat up beside me, ber bauds In her lap and Iter great eyes fixed most dele fully. And when Capt, Billy came down with the news that we were safe and free te go en deck we turned our faces from him nnd said we thanked him kindly, but bad no longer any wish thnt way tee wretched, even, te remember Ids deafness. Let me avoid, then, seme miserable hours, and ceme te the evening, when, ftdnt with fasting and nausea, we struggled up te the deck for nlr, nnd looked about us. Twas gray gray every whero; the sky lead colored, with deeper shades towards the cast, where a bank et cloud blotted the coast line; the thick rain descending straight, with hardly wind enough te set the sails flapping; the sea spread llke a plate of lead, save only where, te leeward, n streak of curded whlte crawled away from under the Godsend's keel. On deck, a few sailors moved about, 1 eel eyed and heavy. They showed no sttrprlse te sue us, but nedded very friendly, With n smlle for our strange complexions. Here again, as ever, did adversity mock her own Image. liut what mere took our nttcnllen was te see a row et men stretched en the starboard side, llke corpses, their bends in the scuppers, their legs ielnted Inboard, nud very orderly arranged. They were a dozen nnd two in nil, and ever them bent Capt. Billy with a loop iu his hand and a bucket by bis side;' who beckoned that we should approach. "Arrayed In order e' merit," said he, point ing with his mop like a showman te the line of figures before him. We drew near. "This here is Matt. Seamcs, master e' this vessel an' he's dead." "Deadi" "Dead drunk, that Is. O the gifted man I Come up!" Ha thrust the mop In the fellow's heavy face, "There new I Did he meve! did he w In k I 'Ne,' says you. O nn accomplished drunkard I" He pauseel a moment, then stirred up Ne. S, who ejicned oue 0)0 lazily, aud shut it again in slumber. "Yeu saw! Opened ene eye, he) I Thnl's Benjamin Ilnlllday. The next is n black man, as you see; n man of dismal color, nnd bath ether draw backs natural te such. Can thn Ethlep shift his skint Ne, but he'll open both e)cs Sen there n perfect Christian, in se far as drink can make him." With like comments he rait down the line. Te ha brief, 'tnas net till the fourth after noon (by reason et baffling head winds) that we stcpjied out et the Godsend's beat upon a small lieneh of shlugle, whence, between a 1 itt In the black chlTs, wound up the read that was te lead us inland, 'the Godsend, us we turned te wave our hands, lay nt half 11 inlle's distance, nnd innde a pietty sight; for thn day, that had begun with a whlte frost, was new turned sunny and still, se that look ing north we saw the sea nil spread with pink nnd lilnc and hyacinth, and ujxm it the ship lit up, her masts and sails glowing like u geld piece. And there was Hilly, leaning ever the bill walks and waving his trumpet for "Gooel by." Thought I, for I little dreamed te see these geed fellows ngnlu, "what a witless game is this llfel te seek ever in fresh conjunctions wiiat we leave be hind in a handshake" We followed the read nfter this very mood ily; for Delia, whom I had made 11 sharer of the rebels' secret, agreed thnt no tlme was te be lest in reaching Bodmin, that lay a geed thirty miles te the southwest. Night fell and the jeung moon rose, with a brisk broeze nt our lwicks that kept us still walking without any feeling of weariness. Copt Billy had given me at jsartlng a small compass, of new invention, that n man could carry easily iu his pocket; nud this from tlme te tlme I ox ex nmineil iu the moonlight, guiding our wny almost due south. In he;Hs of striking Inte the main toad westward. I eleubt net we lest 11 deal of tlme nmeng the b)wnys; butnt length hapjpencsl en n geed read bearing south, nnd followed it tilt daybreak, when, te our satis faction, we spied a hill In front, topped with n stout rastle. and under It a town of impor tance, that we guessed te be Launceston. By this my cotnrnde and I were en tht best of terms again; and new drew up te consider if we should outer the tow 11 or avoid It te the west, trusting te find a breakfast iu seme tavern en the way. Because we knew net with certainty the temper of the coun try, it seemed best te choeso this second ceurse; se we fetched around by certain bar-, ten meadows, and thought ourselves lucky te hit en a read thut, by the size, must Ira the ene we sought, nnd n tavern with n w ide) yard before it and n carter's van standing nt the entrance, net three gunshots from the ten 11 walls. I "New Providence hath surely led us te breakfast," said Delia, and stepped before me into the yard, towards the deer. ( I wus following hir when, inside et a gate te the light of the house, I cuught the ghaui et steel, and turned nsldu te leek. Te mj- dismay there steed near n scorn of charirers in this second court, saddled and drlppiug with sweat. Mj'fiist thought was te run after Delia; but a quick surprise made me rub my ejes with wonder. Tnas the sight of a sorrel mare among them a mure with 0110 high white stocking. In 11 thousand I could huei told her forMellj'. Three seconds nfter I was at the tavern deer, and iu my eats n veicu sounding that stepixsl 1110 shot t and told 1110 in 0110 instant that without Ged's help nil was lest. 'Twos the volce of Ctipt. Si'ttle feaklng In the tap loom, nud already Delia steed, past concealment, by the open eloer. " Aud therefere.master carter,it gi loves me te dlsapixdnt thee, but 110 man geeth this day towards Bediuln. Such IttinyLoidef Stamford's orders, whose servant I urn, and as captain of this troop I am sent te exact them. As they dUpIoase jeu, his letiUhlp Is but twenty-four hours lliiiul; jeu can nbldu him and complain. Doubtless he will hear Ten million deviM" I heard his shout as he caught sight of Delia. I saw ids crimson face as he ilnrtcd out and grlppetl her. I saw, or half saw, the troeix;rs crowding out after him. Fer n moment I hesitated. Then came my pretty cuinrnds'd volce, shrill above the hubbub: "Jack they have horses outslde! Leave me I am tn'en nud ride, dear lad ride!" In a flash my decision was taken for lwtter or worse, I dashed out around the house, vaulted the gate and, catching nt Melly's inane, leaped into the saddle. A dozen troopers were at the gate nud two had their pistols leveled. "Surrender I" "Be hanged If I del" J set my teeth nud put Melly nt the low wall. As she reise liken blid In the nlr the two pistols rang out together, and n burning pain seemed te tear emeu my left shoulder. In a moment the mare ulightcs safe en the ether side, flinging 1110 forward en her neck. But I scrambled lmck, and with n shout that frightened my own ears dug my heels into her flanks. Half a tutmite mere and I was en thu hard read, galloping vvestnarel for dear life. Se also wet u a scot 0 of rctxd troopers. Twenty miles and mero lay lx?fere me, and a bare hundred yards was nil my start. CIIAPTEIt XI. I HIDE DOWN IVTO inMrLE. And new I did indeexl nbaudeu myself te despair. Few would have giv eu n great for my life, with that crew nt my heels; anil I least of all, new that my denrcotnrade was lest, The wound Iu my shoulder was bleed ing sere I could feel the warm stream well ingyet net te sere ns my heart. And I pressed my knees Inte the saddle flap aud wondered w hat the cud would be, Tbe sorrel mare was galloping, free and strong, her delicate ears laid back, and the network of veins under her soft skin working with the heave and fall of her withers; yet by the mud nnd sneat about her I knew she mut have traveled far before I tneuuted. I beard a shot or two fired, far up tha read; tfrPUrt tbfllr buj mtat have .f aHm.iJierH DC imM, I instill nenm hum mn. iu. rebels1 shouting was clear enough and thud of their gallop behind, t Itilnlr t hat. for n mllAni tn Ibuuti... ridden iu a sort of swoon Tfs certaia, feet' un iiicru ui iuq iuui uuiues (jock se ESSj; SI did I ouce turn luy bend te leek back, bat at, with my eyes fastened stupidly en the natv reck. Aud by nnd by, as wa galloped, tM smart of my wound, the heartache, hxutr jxiuttdlng of hoofs, all dropped le up chanting lull. 1 rode, and that was all. Fer, swoon or 110, 1 was lifted oft earth, as -It seemed, and en easy wings te an Incredible height, where were no longer hedges, nor read, nor country round; but a great still ness, nnd only the mero and 1 running lan guidly through it. "Hldel" -, New, at first, I Thought 'twas tome one spooking this in my car, and turned my head. But 'twas really the lest word I had heard from Delta, new after half nn hour repeated In my brain. And as I grew aware of this the dullness fell off me, and all became very distinct. And tbe muscles about my wound had stiffened which was vilely painful; aud the country, I saw, was a brown, barren moor, dotted with peat ricks; and I cursed it. This did me geed; for it woke the fighting man in mc, anil I set my teeth. New for the first tlme looking back, I saw, with a great gulp et joy, I hed gained en the troopers. A long dip of tha read lay lietween me and the foremost, new topping the crest. The sun had breke through at last, and sparkled en his cap and gerget, I whistled te Melly (I could net pat her) nud siioke te her softly; the sweet thing pricked up her ears, laid them back again, and mended her pace Her stride was beautiful te feel. Blie was going her liest, but the best was near spent, Thu sweat was oozing, ber satin coat losing the gloss, the spume flying back from her nostrils. "Beh!" I called te her "seli! my beauty; we ride te snve an arm)-." The loeso stones flew right nud left, as she reached out her neck, nnd her breath came shorter and shorter. A mile, and another mile, no passed lu this trim, nnd by the end et It must have spent lb ree-quartet set nn hour at the work. Glancing back, I saw the ttexix?rs scattered; far behind, but fellow ing. The heights were still n weary way ahead; but I could mark their steep sides ribbed with bewlders. Till these wcre passed, there was no chance te hide. The parties in this raco'ceuld see each ether all the way, nnd must ride It out. And all the way the gteund kept rising. I had no means te case the mare, even by pulling off my heavy jackboots, with ene arm (and that my right) dangling useless Once she Hung up her head aud I caught sight et tier nostril, red as Are, and her peer eyes starting. I felt her strength ebbing be tween iny knees. Here and there she blun dered in her stt Ide. Anl somewhere, ever the ridge yonder, lay the Army of the West, and w 0 alotie could sav a it. But sweet, gallant Melly must have held ou, for the next thing I woke up te was a four holed ciess beside the read, and seen after we vv ere ever the ridge and clattering down hill. A rough ter had risen full in front, but the read sw erved te the left and took us den n among the spurs of it. New was my last lookout. I tried te sway less heavily in the soddle, and w ith my cj-es searched tha plain nt our feet. Alasl Beneath us the vvaste land was spread, mile upon mile; nud I greatusl aloud. Fer just lwlew I noted a clump of roofless cabins, nnd lieyeud, upon the moors, the dotted walls et sheep cotes, ruined also, but iu all the sad colored leagues no living man, nor the sign of ene. It was dene with us I reined up tlie mnre and then, in the satue motion, wheeled her sharp te the right. High above, ou the hillside, a volc-e was calling. I looked up. Belew- the steeper ridge of the ter a patch of land had been cleared for tillage; nnd here a j-oke of oxen wa3 moving leisurely before a plow ('twas their tinkling bells I had heard, just new); while behind followed by the wildest shape by the veice, a woman. Bhe wns net calling te me, but te her team; and ns I put Melly at the slope, her chant rese and fell in tbe meuriifulest sing-song. "Se-hoal Oep Comely Vcan I oep, then o-eopl" I rese In my stirrups and shouted. At this and the seuud of hoofs, she staved the plow and, hand en hip, looked down the slope. The oxen, softly rattling the chains en their joke, turned their necksnnd gazed. With sunk head Melly heaved hoi self up the last fevv yards nnd came te n halt with a stagger. I slipped out et the saddle aud steed, witli a hand en it, swaying. "Whnt's thy need, young man that cont est denn te Temple wi' sword n dangllu'r" The girl vvns a half nakjel savage, dresses I unly In n strip of sacking that liarcly reached her knees nud a scant bodlce of the same, laced In front with pack thread that left her besom nnd brown arms free. Yet shonp shenp IK?ared no whit abashed, but leaned en the plow tall and regarded 1110 easy and frank, as a man would. "Bell 1110 n horsel'' I blurted out. "Twenty guineas will I glve for ene within five min utes, and mere if he be geed! I ride 011 the king's errand." "Then get thee back te thy master an' say no herse shall he have e' me nor nny man that Uses herscflc'i se." Bhe jKilntcsl te Mol Mel ly's knetvs, that were lxjncd nud shaking and the bloedj- fteth dripping from her mouth. "Girl, for Gexl's sake sell 1110 a horsel They nre nfter 1110 and I am hut t." I pointed up tha read. "Better thau 1 at 0 cencet ned in this." "Ged nor king knew I, young man. But whnt's en thj- saddle cloth there!'1 Tvv as the cmear w bet 0 mj-bloed had soaked ; nnd, looking and seeing the purplu mess caked with mud and foam en the solid's 11 ink, I felt suddenly very sick. Tlie gu 1 uudu a step le 1110. "Seil thee n hersn! Hire thee a bedmau, mera like, Nij-, then, lad" But I saw her no longer; only called "eh ehl" twice, like n little child, nnd, slipping my held of the saddb, diepped fei n aril ou her breast. Waking, I found tnj self In darkness net like that of night, but of n loom where thu lights hnvu gene out, and felt that I was dj ing. But tliis hardly seemed n thing te be minded. There was a smell of jsvit and blacken about. Presently I heard the tramp of feet semen lu re eveihead, and a dull sound of volce3 that appeared te be cursing. The footsteps went te and fro, the voices mutteiing most of the time. After a bit I caught a word "Witchcraft;" nud then a veice speaking qulte cle "There's bleed 'pen ber haiiels, nu' there'd bleed jender by the plow." S lid another veice, higher and squeaky, "There's scent Ix-hiud 11 fox, but jeu don't dig it up an' tike it home." The tiamp jiassed en, and the volces dieel away. By tills I knew the troopers were clese and seeking me, A foolish thought came that I W03 buried, and they must be rummaging ever my grave; but indeed I had no wish te Inquire into it; no wish te move even, but just te lia and enjoy the lightness of my limbs. The bleed was still running. I felt tha warmth of It ngalust mj-b iek, nud thought It vers pleasant. Se I shut mj oyes nud drepixxl oil again. Then I heard the noise of shouting faraway, and a long while nfter that was reusesl by tha touch et a hand, thrust in agniust my naked breast ever my heal t. "Who HUP I whispered. "Jean," nusnered a voice, and the hand wns withdrawn. The datkncss hail lifted soinenhat, and though something steed between me and the light, I tuarkwl a number of small specks, like points of geld dotted mound me. "Jean what besides!" "Jean's enough, I reckon; lucky for thea 'tis nene olse. Jean e' the Ter folks call me, but may yet be Jean l Geal Tlme, Se held thy pence, lad, an' cry out se little as may be." 1 felt a ripping of my jacket sleove aud shit t, new clotted and stuck te the flesh. It jialued cruelly, but I shut my teeth; and after that came the smart and delicious ache of water, as she riuse.1 the wound. "Clean through the flesh, lad In an' out, llke country dancln'. Ne bullet te prebe uer bone te set. Heart up, secel Thy mother shall kiss thee ) et. What's thy name!" "Marvel, Jean Jack Marvel." "An' marvel 'tis theu'rt Marvel yet. Geed bleed there's iu thee, but little enew." Bhe bandaged the sere with linen tern from my shirt, and tied It round with sack cloth from her enndress. Tnas all most gently dene; aud then I found her anus under me, and myself lifted as easy ns a baby. "Left arm round my neck, Jack; an' sing out if 'tis hurtiu' thee," It seemed but six steps and we were out en the Jurigbt hillside, net fifty paces from where) VvSi , , .12r?i.Z.'z4.! tY. , f "" , IBijr ip 1 11 a r
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers