Part 20 (2/2)

Archie chuckled aloud

”Is the wind in the west?” the skipper asked

”Ay,” Archie replied; ”and blowing a s breeze”

”Haste, then, lad!” said the skipper ”'Tis time t' be off for Ruddy Cove”

The as low With his crowbar Archie wrenched a bar froreat clatter It made the boy's blood run cold to hear the noise He pried the second and it yielded Down fell a block of stone with a crash While he was feeling for a purchase on the third bar Skipper Bill caught his wrist

”Hist, lad!”

It was a footfall in the corridor Skipper Bill slipped into the darkness by the door--vanished like a shadow Archie dropped to the ground By what unhappy chance had Deschamps come upon this visitation? Could it have been the silence of Skipper Bill? Archie heard the cover of the grating draay froone!”

That was Deschamps' voice Doubtless he had observed that two bars werefrom theArchie heard the key slipped into the lock and the door creak on its hinges All the time he knew that Skipper Bill was crouched in the shadow--poised for the spring The boy no longer thought of the predicaain This was the ugly reality once ht in the cell This he knew And he waited in terror of the issue

There was a quick step--a crash--a quick-drawn breath--the noise of a shock--a cry--a groan Skipper Bill had kicked the door to and leaped upon the jailer Archie pried the third bar out and broke the fourth with a blow Then he squirht light without--he could see that the struggle was over Skipper Bill had Deschaht hand He had the jailer's waist in his left ar his head back--back--back--until Archie thought the Frenchman's spine would crack

”Don't kill hi so; nor had Descha his back to be broken

”Don't kill hi at that right ar to wrench it away fro froue protruded Back went the head--back--back! The arm was pitiless Back--back! He was fordone In a th departed and he collapsed He had not had time to call for help, so quick had been Bill's hand They bound his liht, and they had no sooner bound hireat man, monsieur,” he mumbled ”You have vanquished me--Deschamps! You will be fanation to His Excellency the Governor to-morrow Deschamps--he is vanquished!”

”What's he talkin' about?” the skipper panted

”You have beaten hiasped

They locked the door on the inside, clah theand scaled the wall They sped through the deserted streets with all haste They ca at her painter with her sails all unfurled Presently they were under way for the _Heavenly Ho come safely aboard, hauled up the mainsail, set the jib and were about to slip the anchor Then they heard the clang, clang, clang of a bell--a warning clang, clang, clang, which could : discovery

”Fetch up that Frenchman,” the skipper roared

The watchht on deck

”Put un in his dory and cast off,” the skipper ordered

This done the anchor was slipped and the sheets hauled taut The rest of the canvas was shaken out and the _Heavenly Hoathered way and fairly flew for the open sea