Newspapers / The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, … / Nov. 17, 1907, edition 1 / Page 20
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I 1 i.i t a COHtTXECF THE THE CAVE. CHAPTER V. t hart Vpti on the Island three months, and as yet had found no clue as to why I was kept there, or who was responsible for y deten tion, I was free in a. sense. I wan dered all around the , country, ; and had visited the native settlement, some five miles from the mansion, as I called De Norther's ' palatial home; had tramped over the Island, which was about fifteen miles square; and had seen about all that there was to see opon It. But I had not been, able to discover where the ad venturer kept the treasure, .which he took from the vessels that he scut tled. 1 1 knew that the galleon on which Donna Carnova had been, was laden with treasure for-the- Spanish crown; knew that he had taken many, other ships laden with gold, j . My life went on much as usual. De Nortler had been gone for two months, but I saw no change in my condition, the servants were at my keck and call, always ready to wait upon me. I spent my days in roam-j ing over the island, my nights In ex-j ploring the great house. i Somewhat discouraged I was. as I Wended my way homeward, this Feb ruary erening. The air was fresh and balmy, despite the fact that It was winter, and the people in Kng land were huddled over the fires, and were wrapped in their great coats find furs. I had spent the day hunt ing, and two natives who trotted in front of me carried the spoils of the rfav. a lordlv staff: a third .Indian'; carried my miiskatcen. The last three months had been epent profit ably in a way; the-time had been passed in the open air, and my mus cles were like steel. I could spend the whole day In the chase and at night be fresh, and untired. I had also devoted a good deal of my time to learning the language of the In dians and had gotten such -a fair Idea of It, that I could carry on an Intelligible conversation. But I was low spirited and down cast. Would 1 ever see Kngland again and Margaret? At the thought I groaned aloud, and the sound caused the Indians to look bck at me. Shouting to them to go on. 1 quickened my foo'tstepg and follow ed faster. They were rapidly get ting out of speaking distance, and breaking into a long swinging trot, they turned In among some trees, and were lost to my view. I resumed my train of thought. What did Margaret think had be come of me, or did sh care? Enjr tend I would fain ee again, but more than England, morp than all elce, I longed for a slsht of her, Whom I worshipped as the h Million worship the sun. She was my sun. As the captive longs for a sight of the sun, when shur up for weary months In some deep dungeon, far below the prison walls, .so 1 longed for one slsrht of the Lady. Margaret rarroll. and with It I would have been content. What had become of Ktoile anil the lovely Spanish maltlen? Were they, safe" in Spain, r had the pirate hut cozened me with his promise, and were they ont now In some pris on like my own? If Steele had reached EnKland safely, had he deliv ered my message to my lady? What would she say to such a greeting as that? These and many other thoughts filled my mind, as I walk ed briskly on to overtake my car riers. Descending a stcp hillock, over grown with hiKh ni under Krmv'h. I saw far below me. stm' n.' hun dred yards away. Uic mansion from the windows of which th- Hifht. streamed down,, and lighted the dusk below, for It was beginning to grow dark. I had almost reached the foot of the hill, wh"n I stopped. The dull murmur of ennwrvation ruiiKht my ear; I looked around me there whs no one In sight. lin e mui'i me sound come from ; i, wis ri.-,ir somewhere. I turned and retraced j my steps a few f.-of. the voice hc - coming plainer. r ,'i'Iiik cnuiioMi ,, TOr I 01" no! Know wnui I was run-i 1iln,. nlng Into. I peered nround. , ,,, forward again: they had The noise seemm to come from ; r,.MII rnw, ,,,,,, r conversation. "And the ground benenrh me. A thick ',,. i, Merrick, "I will tell thee hedge of bushes at my elbow., ,,4, vrk. f mv ,Hnrp Answer the and from this the sound proceeded ! ,U(,,,j(ltl sk n, tn, KrVe Softly pushing them s-lde, I looked ! sh.,, ,, mr,, fhiin rfl. behind them. Below me 1 could see; fw, Bn(, , wj) Kfl , Pc Xor,1(r ,m. a light; that was where the people ; mp,jjnt(.iv upon his arrival, and tell were, evidently, and talking In Kng-; nm wn;it ,,, sa( to me. Thou lish. I crawled under the bushes ; kn, ,.,,, ,nv oh))il.,. .. nn,, h.. )oK(.,i and found myself in a low cave , , (-,r,.,.lv t tht, (,h,,ri though he Quietly moving forward. I looked , wr)lll, kIvo i( rar,,,lnfr Nvtilch iown. Th. soft flirt on which 1! f.,,i,rse he pursued. stnon, came unruptiy to an enn. nnuj ft sheer fall ot fifteen f w;is dl-i rectly bpneath me fitting together, faring each other. B esndle between them, were Herrlck and the oM priest. Father Francis Herrlck was talking and I bent for ward to hear what he said. "Tes, the captain hast gone ward to meet him now They corns back together." for will "A enrso on them both.' replied. "What no we can they come i,n.ri; or not'''' lefcned forward to peer at Kramis whether .Hid lie Herrlck But the .pirate's face was Inscrutable He straightened back with a sigh, Br.d looked up t i when- I lay. "Jt is a shame," the priest went on, "to keep sf gallant a gentlennn here In this hole. if h. ooy the maid, let him have her, and be banired to him." "Thou wilt sing a different tune, when I tell the count what thou hast said," Herrick unswere.i, and he : leaned back calmly against the rock. , .-. "Hell and the furies," cried the old rogue, his fac white with, ter ror. "Thou wouldst not tell what I " tnve said In Jest?" . "Why not," answered the sailor, "I could get a handful of gold for it." , i i. , ...... , , . . . . .ic.wvn, i.w .Mieji impjiiren, nisi viii iui iiishi, iuk wnai tnoui a, uni, wm uu anyinmg, it tnou wilt ut keep secret that I hv suid toj thee here, only In Jest," and he rose,; t took of terror, awful to behold up-! on his face. - "WH.l will keep silent," the pt-j rfa nwrd- wpmllmk' ni,.,i..' the fright of his companion, "but 'only upon one condition, which f will tell tnee In a moment. iJut what said the a while ago. that the -count was daft-crazy, hy dost thou say that?" . ' Francis hesitated, then he answer ed. "l!d 11 not see him walk the floor in agony: only a few days ago, and cry out as if in pain? Would a fiiart , In his st do that, think thee?" "It tnarf bs that tia mw something upon his mind, that thou does not know "of,"! the sailor , replied, hit face grim and stolid ' The priest smiled, his 'wrinkles deeptning. "Or perhaps it is more likely this devil of . en Englishman that he has upon bit hands. A thous- LOST colony and fiends fly away with them both to perdition." the priest continued, his face flushing with anger. ','Be twlxt them, I am between the devil and the deep blue sea." : A The count swear that he .will burn me alive, if I so much as Inti mate to this fellow what I know about hla Imprisonment ' The Eng lishman wilt kill me if I do not. tell, and between them I know not what to do"'; he finished in a wail of ag ony. Herrlck still looked at him un moved, I thought I could even dis cern, from where I lay, a faint trace of irony about his mouth, "And thou wouldsi have lost thy head," he rejoined, ''If we had not come upon thee In the nick of time, one night three months ago." "What wouldst thou have?" Fath er Francis erlea, "the fool had me fuddled with-. wine, and offred me a King's random. What could I do?" The seaman shrugged his shoulders. "What matters it is done, we saved thee, and now what other strange thing hast thou seen the count do lately? Thou are like a cat. creeping silently about the housed thy paw In the cream of all." "The count sighs for some lady love," the priest continued, deliber ately, eyeing h!s companion to see what effect this announcement would have upon him. "Why even on the nlKht I tell thee of. did I not hear him call out once, twice, Margaret, Margaret, and he chuckled to him-j seir in glee nt the thought." I started In my hiding place, and a lump of dirt dislodged itself and rolled down to where the villains sat. They started, Francis sprang to his feet In terror, "What Is that?" he cried, and he peered uneasily up to where I crouched. His companion kept his seat un moved. "Art thou a fool," he said, "to be scared out or thy wits by a clod of dirt falling. Thou art even as if thou hadst seen a ghost," and he laughed at his allies frlKht. The priest resumed his seat, still gazing up to where I lay. "I fancy Sir Thomas Winchester is after me, In every breese I hear," he muttered, as he reseated himself. "Calm thy mind," the seaman re joined, "he Is safe at a supper long ere this, dreaming over the King's Wine," and he grinned. "But what foolishness la this. The count yearning for some fair lady. Dost thou take me for a school boy, that I should believe this? Did he pine for some maid, he would bestir himself and take her, quietly if pos sible, if not, then by force. Faith: thou little knowest him If thou thlnk'st he would pine over any maiden." "All the same comrade, I saw him wrlnK his hands, with my own eyes, but three short months ago, and cry out as I have told thee. $he name Margaret. Who could this Margaret be If not a lady?" All this time I was craning my nck to catch every word taht wax littered, my mind In a tumult. Why rllil Ihp rmint rrv fartrnret ? There I was but nnc Margaret, pure, Inno 1 cent, sweet, as soon would T have cxpwted a worm to raise his eyes to "Mle far distant stars, as that this blood-stained villain should raise his evil eyes to her, co far above him. And yet would this not explain my detention? Perhaps the pirate ev pecter to lure Margaret from her home, nn( bring her here, to tor ture me with the sight of her in his arms before he should make away with me. Yes, It was like him. He would exult In such exquisite anguish as this, und at the thought i ground my teeth together, and felt for the hilt of my sword. Happen what might this should not come to pass. Ituth er won!, I wiih one swift Mow put an end to her misery and fall upon tny own svvord. than to witness such a scene as this: death would be a boon beside It. Perhaps 1" Nortler even n.iw was returning with her cm n. hip. that evil smile upon his face. s tl(, uiought of my Anguish, and his i t rill m nil. H(, h;lll ,lf,,,n Kunt. tnr,,(. ,.(, ,ml ; hn( n,,!iril (nt, ,,f t,( n.n ,IV (1!1v th(1 ,av. fop,,,,.,., t),:it th- count would return now almost any Father Francis vvns moistening his Wiltc Hps with hist tongue. "Tuou knowewt 1 !iin.- nn.'rer." he said sul lenly. "Why trftle with me? What is thy question'.'" ' Who Is It behind this plot to ken,, Kir Thomas Winchester here?" 11' rrii li asked quietly, and leaning li'i' h he g.ied no ut tho wall of the v- him. nip inlon was trembling with 'I'm a.' much as my life l; ' I'll thee," he cried cxrlt- His fear, w..rt)i edly. "I 'Must not Anything but anvil, In;-. I Implore thee to nsk ui' .t'ier oii'stlon. Herrlck ' been t i friend, have stood by through thick mill thin; when M.Mild have fnrs'iken and left Mils; hie ha v the,. other-' i the o thv Tate r,,r nod's sake. nsk not tbi.- ,f trp-. liost. thou re member Di'iinim, did I not stive th' life there. hi n the very breath of lmi a thrend, and i thy 1 iie.lv bum- In I con, have i,im (Tree vith a sword? I For ti lie. s i if i of tliis spur., mo?" And hand:! he loked ut the with clnsp.., other. "It Is as much as thy lifo In worth no; to t.-ll ine,;- boldly answered the adventurer. "Remember thnu the ten der merries of our captain? The In dian bnmed aUvo nt the stake: the mutineer crucified- the sin v.- branded with led hot Irons th "iinh cri. it tu., poor iirlest. his eyes almost starting from his sock ets. "Thou makest my very blond run cold Lean forward and I will whisper It In thy ear. the very walls have eura In this place," ,, Herrlck leaned forward, his eyes Itprirkling The priest bent over to whisper to him. in my eagerness to Acar, I leaned forward further, fur ther over the edge of the ledge, and ;iame Fortune, with a twist of her wheel, turned the propitious fates aside. For even as I bent forward, my ears strained to catch the slight est whisper, the soft earth under tn gave way, and In a perfect avalanche of dirt, shrubjjery' and rocks. I roll ed down Into the camp of my me mies. , 1 - With yell, shrill, loud and pierc ing; which ran through the save, like the blast of a trumnet th nriest upran up. 'With one spring like a wna goat, he was upon the ledge whivii nij que snort moment aro I had fallen. I heard lm tear by vimar i through the bushes and rush down the hill outside, as though the furies were after him. . The, sound died away in the distance. lie was gone. - But the. other, rogue was of stern er mould. With an oath, he whipped out his cutlass, and was upon me as I was rising from the ground Well It was that I had on my light Bteel breast plate, for -the blade coming viciously down, struck full upon it, and glanced off harmlessly, ' or I would not have been here to tell the tale. In an instant I had drawn my word and was on guard. "I have against thee a goodly ac count to settle, Master Herrlck," I said. "The night wanes and we must to business." " . ."Aye," he cried, "I will rid the world of one rascal. and he pressed upon me, thrusting, cutting, atrlkng withsuch fury, that had my Jiiade not been a good one, it t would have broken sheer off, from the very force of the blows. ; i I let him come m, contenting my self with parrying his thrusts, for by and bye I knew that he would ex haust himself, and tnen X would force from him the secret of tny imprison ment, for the priest had whispered it Into his. ear before I had rolled down upon them. Of Father Francis I had no fear. H would: not- bring help to his comrad. No I knew him too well to think that he would fail to protect himself. It was to his in terest that Herrlck should be silenc ed, now that he km?w so much, and he was too shrewd not to know what was best for his own Interest. So I held my own and let him ex haust himself with Tits fruitless ef forts. Back he came upon me, strik ing down blow after blow with his blade, any one of which had It gone home, would have spilt me like a herring. I could have run him through at any moment, for he left his whole breast exposed in his in sane fury, but I merely waited: calm ly, coolly meeting every thrust, par rying every cut with a wrist of steel. Five minutes passed, and the smile which at first had been upon his face, died away. The great beads of sweat began to gather upon his forehead, as he saw his every trick and man oeuvre met, easily without an effort, and how fresh I was. and knew that he was rapidly exhausting himself. Another llule trick he tried, but I read what was coming In his eyes, even before he thrust, and met him, parried his blade, and thrusting back laid open his cheek, the first time that I had drawn bind. Then slow ly I began to advance towards him, thrusting faster, faster, faster, sur rounding him with a flaming wall of steel which, try as he might, he could not penetrate. Backwards, back wards, I pressed him. It was a grim wlerd scene. The white Imre walls of the cave, lit up by the gleam of on. little candle', the shadows coming and going upon the sides, as tho air fom above flared the wick of the candle. Now we were in the light, now in darkness. The wind wns rising outside, already It wailed and moaned, like the sotils of the lost. There was not a sound to break the stillness that reigned throughout the cave, save only that: for we had fought In grim pllence; only the sound of our feet upon the stones, as we moved and turned hith er and thither, and the quick pant ing of our hot breath. There within the wails of the cav ern, we fought out trie last hard bat tle, that sooner or later, In some guise or other, comes to all of mor tal flesh, that grim silent struggle In darkness and agony, nnd in that de spair that fi rings tho heart, as we run the last race, with life in the balance, and the spectre "Death," holding In his fleshless hand the scales. I could feel his presence that night, as lie stalked about us, his garments almost touching us, as we struggled to and fro, shut off from the world, wth only the feehR. rays of one little candle. I.lfe socmen far iway iind unreal; death seemed near and omnipresent St range thoughts crossed my mind, as I cut and thrust at the grim pi rate. I recalled how my nither had looked twenty years ago, vis she lay in state, In the great hall at Itichmond Oastle. My years seemed to fall from me a a mantle, and I was again the little boy, Innocent nnd fresh,, as "holding my nurse's hand, I looked down upon the cold waxen features, of one whom I had known and loved. I -remembered the thrill of fear, "or was It only dread of the unknown, that filled my mind, . as I looked upon tho change that had been wrought by the hand. Of the great destroyer? The calm, se- rene features lovely with a beauty not of earth, with that look of majeg i tv which death brings to the face of niortHls, as thev lie wrapped In the j embrace of the -last foe." It Is as he j would erase the lines and wrinkles, , that sorrow and care have wrought; ! which the toll and rain of this cold sphere had imprinted upon that pa- : tlent face, and Instead would Imprint i upon Its culm lineaments, that great mystery, which none but the Imrrtnr : tul can know. It all came back to i me, iind I could remember how 1 had ; turned aw-uv In the throes of my first 1 real grief. Ah! many smce then had ! old "Time" brought me, but none so bitter as the first. ' Strange thoughts'! to think, as I pressed the soa rover back' nearer i the wall: ah 1 had him; bu.t he sprung nimbly aside and my blade passed under his arm. I had forgot ten my scheme .to spare his life, the blood ihlrst was mpon me, the blood of the fighting Itlchmonds was up. Angered by the long fight, angered at myself thai 1 had not slain him when 1 had a chance, I pressed him hard er and harder, with no thought but to run him through. And now his back was against the wall, he could retreat no further. H turned In despair, as I have seen some hunted thing do when driven to Jt lair; a I have seen some lone wolf, when brought to bay by the hunters, and hope has fled; determin ed to strike one last blow, and then, If need be, to go down with Its face to Its foes, and Its teeth clinched In I he throat of some good hound. The adventurer sprang at me In such fury that I was compelled to . give back a pace or two, or be cut to pieces. Put his llrength was gone, he was exhausted, tha nd had come, I know not at that last moment, whether I would hnv spared his life, I cannot tell; but fate, who ever stand patiently t our side. awaiting .a favorable ...opportunity to interfere, took the matter out of my hands. For even a I drew back to end the matter bv one home thrust. my ifeet slipped upop the stone and t stummed, with a cry, ne tn rust run at my breast, a .blow that would rrave Onlshed me, but he was too rnuch exhausted to strik true. The blade slipped between my arm. which 1 had thrown forward to save ntysef, and rry shoulder, and" caught moans yiisom for an Instant. It was enough. Re covering myself, I made" one good lunge. He had on nd armor, and the tlade striking him run In the breast, right above the heart, passed clear through his body and stood out a foot behind his back. With a shout he threw up his hand and dropped like a log, the force of the fall wrenching the blade from his body, and I stood holding the .dripping aword In my hand, and looked down upon him, as he lay upon the floor, i A 1 slight shudder passed over, his body, one deep long sigh came from his lips, and then he lay motionless. That figure which, tout a short mo ment beore had seen animated with hatred . and thirst for my life, was now: (powerless to help or hurt me. Only a moment ago he had Mew a man, with, a man's soul, had loved and Borrowed;. aha,dx rejoiced,;; and mourned, had toiled and striven, now he was but a lump or senseless clay, j He bad fought a good fight, he had j his faults, but he was a man; peace to 'his ashes. - v-i, i Picking up what f remained of the candle from the floor, I walked back j further into the cave. " tt seemed to i me tb be the work' of nature, and at' the further end a long, dark passage way led deeper Into the earth I hes itated a moment, as I peered Into It i Then I listened, but could hear noth ing, so I plunged boldly into the tun nel, the candle In my left hand, my: drawn sword before me In my right. Its red blade still drtpplng. Stopping I wiped the blood off upon my ker chief and passed on down the narrow way. Where.it led I did not know, nor with what secret traps it was filled. It might be that I would learn the mystery of my captivity, at the end it might be that I ' would meet with such a fate as Herrick. Probably this tunnel led ' to "some place where the pirates gathered to discuss the plana for their expedi tions and forays, or It was possible that De Nortler had his treasure con cealed somewhere within ' its dark depths, and even now these two men' which t had seen had been sent to watch it. I must be careful or I would walk full Into their arms. I had walked perhaps a hundred feet, when I stopped. Two paths diverg ed here, one to the "right, the other to the left; both yawned dark, gloomy and mysterious before me. I had long since passed out of the na tural part of the cave, and this was plainly the work of man, for I could see upon its sides the mark of the iplck and shovel. Both ways looked alike to me; hesitating a moment. I drew a coin from my pocket. If the Queen's head fell uppermost, I would go to the right, if the reverse to the left. I tossed the coin Into the air and bent over it as it. fell. It had fallen upon its face, and turning to the left. I passed on down tho path about one hundred and fifty feet more. I stop ped again. Before me, shining down from the top of the rock overhead, a few yards away, 'there gleamed a light. Moving coutlously forward, I blew out the stub of my candle, and In a moment came upon, a fight, of stone steps. Looking up I Could see that what had appeared to me to. be a ight was simply an opening In the wall above me, which led into a lighted room. Ascending the steps, I stood In the bedchamber of De Nortler. I had never been In It before. It was the only room In the house, so far as I knew, that I had never entered, but the door was always fastened when I tried it, and 1 could nnd no key that would fit the lock. Heavy tap estry lined the walls, and as I stood in the room, I was concealed from view by tho embroidered arras, which hung directly In front of the trap door, hiding It from the sight of the occupants of the chamber. The floor was of polished wood, as was the rest of the house, and bending down, I closed the aperture through which I had come, noting as I did so how cunningly It fitted into the wood, so as to be Indlscernibe to the eye. A thonght struck me, I. had best leave the trap door open, It might be that those who had left it open might, wish to go through It again. It would arouse sttspiclon were It found closed. Bending down I en deavored to again open the door, but In vain. It was evidently worked by some.eecret spring, and desisting from the vain attempt, I peered throijgh' the hangings Into the bril liantly lighted room. The same fold en candelabra suspended- from the walls; the same heavy, elegant fur niture,' nd luxurious couches, the same soft rugs and -skins upon the floors. even the Identical odor of flowers, ropleal and sweet-seen ted, that pervaded the rest of the house. Upon a little fable stood a bottle of that same delicious nectar that I had drunk before, even the very golden ' goblets were there, from which De Nortler and I, and also Father Francis, had sloped the am ber juice. ,J had not 1 tasted such Vne as that since the fat priest had drunk with; me, tViat night which had proved so near his undoing. De Nortler had sailed the next day, where, J did not know. 'The buriy Francis I had not een since, until this evening in the cavot onlv Her rlck. the grim, with a few hardy ruf fians had remained behind. I had already stepped into the room. , thinking to let myself out of the door and .into the great hall wbtyi the soft thqd of approaching footsteps .caused me to dodge back behind the friendly: tapestryi A key graiea m tne jock, tne aoor swung open, ana t nearn me tread of foot step across the threshold. The key turned aguln," and he voice of Do Nortler broke the silence. "Come. my dear lord, thou art safe here. Be seated pray." Th noise of a couch pushed over the floor, and I could hear them throw ' themselves upon tne couches. Only one man with the count, who I did not know.' I had only heard him growl out a: brief "thank thee" as he took the proffered seat. A man of rank, too, evidently, for De Nor Mer had said "my lord." Vhat did a noble In this part, of the world? Kngll.ih. too, by his voice. I had as soon expected to see : an elephant here as an English lord. The Strang, er apoke:. f'Where is our prisoner?" he said in low, clear voice. 'I care not to .meet him during my brief stay here." , Where i had ;5 x . heard that voice before? slt! sounded a familiar to me as my own. In London, sure ly. but I ; coud not for my life rt member whose It was. Could , I but peer out front my , hiding place with out detection I would soon And out who the visitor was. . v a ' Carefully, very carefully, ). I drew aside a fold of the arras and looked out There facing me, and looking down at De Nortler, who sat oppo site, a grin of pleasure upon his face, t the Viscount James Henry Hamp den. The, same piercing gray--eye, dark brown hair and pointed beard. I!?!i.'l?!T? no.'!?.J?n . J,r?l4J5Ji'? - - rnluU,i ! Ui. re i. : 1 : t t' t') t!.:a had sou:; v aud he ex; long. .inatii t:..t I lie s-houM ray- :t so dearly for this deed. I had a heavy reckoning- acrainst him. but it could wait for a while. Perhaps I would heat something of Interest to me to night. Luckily this part of the room ti was in the furthest corner) was In the shadow, for the tapestry hung some six or eight inches from the wall, and I could could move stealthily behind it without being seen from the room. But the count was speaking. "No fear of that, my lord, I enquired from one of the ser vants as J came in, end he informed ma that our prisoner had not return ed from a long hunt. He Is proba bly, sleeping In the hufof some na tive to-night. Have no fear, he can not hear of thy arrival." And now he proceeded Jo All one of the : golden goblets with wine, and; pushing it to ward Hampden, and filling : another for himself said, "Let us drink a toast In this rare old wine. What shall it be? I await? thy pleasure," and he rose to his feet and, bowed. .. v The viscount hesitated, fop a mo ment he sat as if undecided? but the win- he had - drunk . -before had mouttted U his head., "and M'i too arose,; to his feet and' extended his glass, ? ,?X give thee a toast, he cried, his colorless cheek warming, "one for God's and men. Drink, with me,' to the fairest of earth's mortals, as di vinely beautiful, and as innocent as an 'angel one upon whose lightest word, all London hangs; to tha Lady Margaret Carrol.l," and - h ' drained the great golden goblet at a draught "The Lady Margaret Carroll' rejoin ed the sea rover, lining the goblet to his Hps, "May she toe the hride of the bravest gallant" and he too drained hla cup to the dregs. . .. . n V--: ' The viscount stlh stood staring at him as the count finished his cup and eat it upon the table. "Tes" said he finally, with a frown, JIay the brav est man win her," and following the example of De Nortler, he resumed his reclining position upon the couch. v "And now my lord," the adventur er continued, "how tong since Is it that thy noble uncle died, and thou didst come into the possession of the title and estate?" "Ony a bare two months ago," answered Hampden, with a growl "I thought the old Tool would never die. .He hung on to the estates and title . as though he thought that he could carry them In hla doublet with him. when he passed-out of this world. . . . v " v I had thought that I would finally have to end his sufferings with tny dagger, but he at last saved me that YrmihlA tha aalntaho nnlui" With trouble, the saints be praisedV" With a devout sigh at the thought of such sin and. wickedness he put to his Hps the goblet, that the count had refill ed, and drank off half of its contents at a gulp. Then-putting It down once more on the table, he continued: "I had been here long since had it not been for that but from day to day I kept waiting for the old lord to die. bach day we thought would be his last, but he held on for months," and looking up at the trolden candel abra he sighed again." And what ef fect had the title and estates. upon thy lady love?" asked .De Nortler. with a slight, smile. "Surely, Lord punraven, the ; possssb? . of an :-l an cient title and lordly estates would be a fit mate for any ladybarrtng none; even the Queen would not stoop, did she unite her fate with so noble a llne; , , , . . - ' Lord Dunraven ' frowned blackly. "It Is true many a titled lady would be proud to be Lady Dunraven, wife of one of the greatest noblemen" of England, but the foolish girl Is as ob stinate as a donkey. She would have none of it, told me she would be my friend ever, but I could never hope for more. The foul fiend fly, away with such a friend," he cried, his an ger stimulated by the rich wine, ar ising at the thought "I believe that she loves this Sir Thomas Winchester, so I had .thee to bring him here." My heart gave a great bound of Joy as I heard this. Was It possible that Lady Margaret Carroll, courted and admired; with the choice of England' nobility be fore her; herself the bearer of . a proud name, and with great estates, did she, could she, love and remem ber a gentleman spurned by his own family, penniless, an outcast from hlsJ home? Was she true to me, or was it only maidenly ceyneas, but used to heftt my lord s passion, that she re- ipulsed him .thus? If I cannot win, he ehailt not and rising to his feet, he began to pace the floor. The pirate's face wore a serious air, and Angering the goblet before him, he spoke to Lord Dunraven, ss he tramped restlessly to and fro. "If thou .rearest that my lord, why not say the word? A dag ger In the back, and thy rival would be out of thy way forever." "No,"-Duraven said, stopping for a moment his aimless walk. "No, reserve him for a more exquisite tor ture than that; he would not suffer, a blow, and he would ne out of his misery. But to see her In my arms, his successful rival, to have her cry to him for aid. and he bound help less, unable to do aught but Writhe In Impotent agony agony which wrings the soul., Ah, my friend, that would be revenge, indeed, such as long for. Watch over hlnvoarefully, I would not have him come to harm for an earl's ransom. Curse him. How I hate him. When I can bring htm to such a fate as this I will be content, and not until then shall rest." v - .- "And what are thy : plans?" De Nortler asked, his hands still finger Ing listlessly the massive goblet. The other looked at him keenly with his cold gray eye, "Can I trust thee?" he asked, sus piciously The adventurer laughed sardoni cally. "Thot hast trusted me thus far," he answered. "Have I played thee false In aught that thou askest me this-?" "Forgive me," ... replied , tha lord. "Forgive me, but there hangs , so much at stake that I fear to trust myself. Listen and thou shalt learn my plans and purpose," nnd drawing up a heavy cnair to tne tame ne seat ed himself, i Filling on another gob let of wine, and drinking It down as though It were a, thimble full, he re- sumed. ,;?-,!.: "The lady will not ylefd to me. will give her but e more chance to freely, ana or ner own win, be. eome my . bride. Jf , she still refuses to consent.; then," a frown dark and omnious, passed over hla face, "I will by some ruse obtain possession of her and .by force carry her on board one of my ships, and then ho! for Eldo rado. ;? 'Tes." he aft, r noticing ? the look of astonishment upon the Span lard'a face. "Sir Thomas Wlnchestef shall heboid her my bride. When ha has suffered enough to satisfy me. will put him -out of the way. ; . We will stay here until my lady becomes reconciled, and then will sail back to England and home," and hla eyes, so cold and" - grey, iign tea up with de light and peasure a he surveyed the face' of the .otnerw . v -B.f His companion ! did not : ' at once speak, but sat-ln- llece,?;':And.:-.alt this." tie finally sata musingly; "all this toll and blood and sweat for one woman, when a score as beautiful - ?,aOiLt thymelbowrulydl(Jj(ome v eyes i r no 1 " t flip . f. ;. iv ou: ;vt :-: e : t iV.'y that ever earth. 5! an, I : gracej this cold fray half London is will over her "It may be so," De Kortier replied, yawning behind his hand. "I would, for my- part, prefer some less lovely maid, who would be- won more eas ily, and without all this work and la bor." "Tendlt ad astra," cried my lord, then bending across the table, "Thou should'st se this lady. Did I not fear that she would' entangle that black heart of thine In her golden tresses, I would take thee in disguise with me to London, and show thee this wondrous 'beauty." . " ' fear f that" rejoined ; De Nortler, a grim smile of amusement upon his countenance, "Would : the lady prefer a worn old warrior, hie neck; resting uneasily upon his shoul ders, to a noble of England, hand'-' some, - rich, accomplished,", and . he drummed his fingers restlessly upon the table, hla legs spr&wled . out be fore him. ' .,.. ,. -' . -: . , "Thou fiatterest me, my ' friend, and underrate thyself. , The lady would-look: twice before ahejTefusa thee," ! ana Dunraven looked at his companion. " Truly, they; were a, strik ing pair, c aa they sat together, be neath the candle -light ' and rthou migh'st have searched Europe; and not wave found their match, for comeliness and martial bearing. Dun raven, -with his broad shoulders', ' his strNclng face,' his proud pose, dark brown hair and beard; the Spaniard more slender, but vqulcker more agile, his jet , black' hair and ' beard gleaming like the wing of a crow in the light. They were dangerous couple. De . Notler was the leopard, restless, cunning, lucking, ready to spring at a moment's warning, ' not eo big ashls bulky companion, but with muscles of steel. Dunraven,' blg- fer, heavier, clumsier, but more pow rful; the bear. Woe to the jcreature that he locked in hrs iron arms; he would crush the life from ' him, even aa a vlse.'- ;';'"''' rV-iv-!;:,-;:'? They both now eat ailent and mo tionless. . wrapped in - their ' . own thoughts, neither breaking-the deep silence that reigned in ' the ; room. Quick steps sounded upon the floor outside, a loud rap upon the door, and then another.- "What is it?" De Nortler cried, springing to his feet and catching up his sword, which lay t upon the floor beside him. ?, r ; "The sentry swears that he saw the gleam of the moonlight upon a sail, captain". gruff voice answered. "The. fiends," cried the adventurer. Then turning to Dunraven, who had risen to his feet, he whispered rapid ly, "Down .tho stairs Into tha passage way, quick, wait for me there; I will join thee as soon aa I can," and he stepped forward to unbolt the door, Hampden dashed behind the ! tap estry. "Where ?" he cried ; "What passage way?" and he looked at the noor bdoui rum. "I forgot," De Nortler answered. "Thou dost not know the secret" and crossing the room and pushing aside the tapestry, he knelt & moment upon the floor, and pressed his . hand against it There was a quick click, and slowly the trap door " raised. Hampden sprang through It. 1 held my breath, my unsheathed sword In hand. Surely Shey must see me; but no. they were too much engaged. De Nortler snrane un an soon as the trap door yawned open, and rushing over to the door, unlocked ana open ed It. It slammed to , behind him. and he ran down the hall, the sailor following. i : : In an Instant I was through the opening beside me, sword In hand,' My enemy waa . In my grasp, we would light out the quarrel below. with none but the dead to Interrupt us. One of us would come out per-. haps he would have the field to him self; how ever It ended the matter would be settled. If my Wrd fell, I Would have the ground to myself; If he triumphed, It would not disturb me; If I fell benewn Jus sword, it could not matter to the dead. At the sound of my footsteps he. not knowing who It was that follow ed. quickened his own. The dim light through the trap door died out and we were treadtag In total dark ness. Guided by the sound of his feet.'J ran on after him: I had no wish to light under De Nortler's chamber; some one might hear and Interrupt us, I would wait until we got further on Into the cavern, where we would be undisturbed. Sev era! minutes pwssed; I judged that we were out Of bearm. and raising my voice shouted f "Wny hurry, my lord? The night is..young yet and we nave much to settle between us. Walt for me but a moment, and 1 will join thee." t heard him stop In the darkness, "Ha, he said, "speak of the devil and we hear his wings. So that was thou who ran down after me Into this black hole; thou must have been be hind the arras and have heard . all that 1 said. Well, no matter. dead men tell no tales," and he laughed, ring of menace sounding In It I thrust out In the darkness before me with my sword t. he could not be far away by the sound of his. voice. but my blade only struck against the wall, the steel ringing, as though by a hammer. I hear his footsteps moved on down the tunnel. "Stop, T cried. I have lone wished to set tie several small matters with thee, If thou wilt but wait for, me;n' fna stant, we will go out Into the moon light, and there we will cross blades and fight out our difference;" ? - "Whjr should'st I - fight thee?" he answered, his voice coming, from In front of me, "the game Is mlner dld I wish thee knifed a dozen men stand ready to do It at my command. ...Why should'st I risk my life? I do not wish to kill thee, for I:, reserve ;tbee for a more delicious fate, and his laugh, low and smothered, . floated hack to me. --sAiifw , "Dog." I cried, my , anger; getting the best of me anger at tne taunt; anger that my sword could not reach him. "Boast not, there be many, a slip twlxt the cup. and the Hp, . I, may not win my iaay, Dut tnou, at least, shalt , not have her. , , Rather wpuld see her dead than meet such a fate.1 "When thou behoidest; her" resting peacefully upon my bresst . my amw Around her, jny Hps pressed lose to hers, then, and not till then, wll I be content. Fear not Only a few -more months and thou wilt behold her mine. . Till then adieu," and his foot steps moved again. Then silence, ! with a ctyse I rushed on down the dark passageway, prodding with my sword the walls, cutting the darkness in front of me wildly. Like a mad man I dashed on until cracking my head against the vroiectlnsr stone. staggered back, fell at full length up on. the floor and eo- was checked In my mad career. Getting on ,tny feet again I caned. ; . No newer "Dun raven," I cried, "where art thou?" but only the echo of my own voice ness had jwallowed him up.to pro- te him .frnni . trtv wrath ''. TmU ,k 1IQ WW BWHBi M ,IIUUU .lifvlllMI1 JT ii k V , u i ! ' V own. ?! I s resumed, my way on down the cavern for a ' gleam of light had caught my eye, far In front of me. I drew cautiously nearer, It was the TOooa,ehinlnd,owtt At tba.iBouUi.of I 'At 1 won,; dalnt .. t ., ... ; j ,i i ; j t.-;e d.ii. . a tin!!", i to vt ..---,e me l--.cv i.'M'e ' riuie to 1 ' . l I 3 ' 1 .il I r j . i.u , It w,s nn .'i. !,t whrn I stoud a, tin on the broad veranda, between the great white pillows. No one was In sight, and passing into the hall way, ascenuea the stairs 10 my own room, ' . ": CHAPTER VI. ;' ' J The Plot TlUckens. The next day after the death of , Herrick, I set out again for the cav- em, determined to find: out. if pos- . -' sible., whether Lord " Dunraven . still lurked in the dark recesses; and also ' to ioiiow the Tight hand tunnel to It termination, for lt'-mtaht be that it led to soma place from which I could . escape. ' I strode up 1 the hill again, and before pushing through the hedge, whlch screened the mouth of the. cave,. ! turned and looked about ne.-- There was no -one in sight and so bending my head, I brushed aside . toe, bushes and entered, lighting the candle which I had brought with me. I peered. around.;:, j,i.,t;, -i?;t''v'! --v. The body of Herrlck was gone, evl- dently some one had removed it since last night ' and so I passed rapidly down, the passage, until reaching the place where the two paths diverged, I toog the one to the right; with my candle over my head, x made my way ,sV down it,' There was nothing unusual about tne -.tunnel, ; It loomed about me, much had " the other. Its , sides and floor were of White stone, ' which gleamed m the Candle light I , had probably gone aoout, two hun- . . dred feet when there came a sudden gust of wind, which blew my- candle vv out .Now I was at a loss to. account -for this, as I felt more like, an ar- i- tlflctal gust than a natural one. More aa If some one with a great fan' had created a breeze. v Fumbling about I found my, flint and,, eteel. j.i'hlch I al ways carried with : me, and " atrlk Ing -It, I relit my light and looked around. There was .no one In sight ftnd so , pausing an instant. I started on my way again ... ? I had barely taken a couple of steps when there came a second blast of wind, aa sudden and- unexpected aa the first and my . candle was , blown out, again, ,' as silently ;:. and quickly as It had been before. ' Ex asperated Jit'i thia re-occurrence, I angrily struck anotner light, and as i aia, so tne canaie was i anatcnea from, my hand, and -a low mocking x laugh rang, through the tunnel: sin ister and cold it. sounded in ny ears. and at the noise I shrank hack. I v am not a superstitious man, I have seen too much of the world for that but the flint and steel as I struck it had lit up the cave around me for an ' instant with a flash of ljght and It was at that instant that the candle had been cought from me. It had . been no human hand that had dona this, for I could Bee distinctly around, and naught had touched my hand, ' ' only as I looked had the candle fall en from my fingers. . - Again ana again I struck the flint : and steel, and peered wonderlngly about me. There wM no trace of the candle anywhere,, only the bare, cold wall of the cave could I see, as I stood with white face and shaking , hand. The accents of a voice, stern and low, from I knew not where, fell ; upon my ears. - Qo back, go hack, and if thou wouldst live, come not again to this place." A cold shiver passed over me, and my knees knock ed together with terror; there was a grandeur and majesty in them, that ' I had heard in no earthly language.1 It was as though I listened to the voice of a God. A sudden dread fell upon my soul, as I stood there, and the craven . fear, which I had 'never known before In all my life, on the fields of Ireland, or tn, great London,' smote me with is cold hand. Gone was my manhood and cour age now, and I became as some old withered hag. crouched m the cnim- -ney by the Are." With a yell I turn ed and fled down that silent cavern, as though grim !, "death" himself were at my heels. Twice , i aasnea Into the wall : in the darkness and fell, screaming at the top of my voice, thinking that the fiends had me for sure, .but I was up again in an instant and with another wild . yell, had resumed my .... flight. . My . reason had forsaken me for the mo ment and I was as though a. mad man. I fancied I could see whit fig ures, with outstretched hands and glaring eyes.; awaiting me at every step. Screaming and yeuing i rusn ed, nd never once did I slacken pace, until In front jofme I saw the light streaming. through the. under-, growth of the entrance. , Dashing up the embankment I tore . through the bushes and but Into the open air1 again, where I east myself ' flat and sobbed witn tnanKiumess tor the sunlight, and the calm blue sky above me, and tne rresn txt Dealing unon mv face. It must have been a ruse of De Nortler to frighten me from the cave, fearing that I would discover some of his secrets, or per haps his buried treasure; and if it were :a , trick, it served Its ; purpose . well; for never from that day to this, have I put foot -again in that cavern. Not for a. barrel of gold would I tread again its dark recesses and feel that thrill of horror at the sound of that 1 solemn voice. I sometimes now at night r awake,' trembling with fear, thinking I hear- in , ray rars those calm, majestlo tones, the A of which 1 have never again heard, from the lips of manv ';i - An hour after I had rushed, from -the cavern : I was standing : on tho porch of the mansion, , watching the ocean, as V it roared and. h chafed . against its aahdy prison, as though It were eomd caged thing striving to be free.Two weeks had flown by since 1. had" listened to 1ord J Dunraven' voice in De Nortler's chambeer Two weeks in which 1 had waltedj my . k nerves keyed up to the hlghesUpltch, for the' next move from my enemies; but noiaound earn. My lord I had not eeen'i since that' night when he had disappeared ' In the cavern. It was as though he had vanished for ever, but I knew that somewhere be hind the scene, he was watching and waiting for the time to ripen, so that . tha courtaln ; could rise for the last scene In the tragedy. D Nortler had said f naught to me, tnougn ne- must have known of Herrlck's death; and of the fact that I now had discovered . the secret of my captivity. jHe still came and went as heretofore, t heard the sound of footsteps be hind me and turning I saw one of the Indian attendants called Jose. . "What Js . it JTos?'! I asked him, peaking- tn1ila own tongue, . "The Senor wjghet to talk; v with thee," he answered, si "Even, now h awaits in the great "room," and so saying he disappeared into the house. And so the next move-had, come af ter all. I would 1 be very, watchful and silent and so thinking, I passed , Into the hall and back 'to the great room, wnere ye portier awaited me noye chairs, his head burled Irf his',' I L " . . . . I 1 nauas, mu am nui near me as j en- tered. ' v i ' . "What Is lit count? 1 asked. I had not seen htm' In several days, and the change ,j in Ms - apearance m CxUlnui. ou-Pag. J-lv.' 1 .... ,. .11 .inl.li urn. .If! t
The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Nov. 17, 1907, edition 1
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