Part 11 (2/2)
”Halt there! Halt that boat, or I put a ball through you”
”Sheer off lively, lads,” I whispered ”Swing her head out, Chevalier”
There was a rush of feet down the steep eerly:
”What was it you saw, Sanchez?”
”Nothing, Senor; I heard voices out yonder Listen! As the saints watch, 't is the dip of oars”
”Halt that boat, or we shoot!”
There followed aan aard splash in the water ”_Caraed flash of flaht glare across the dark waters In that instant I saw, ures clustered in a bunch One ball crashed into the planking close beside ainst ave a sudden trero nextforth a hand in vain effort to grapple his body, yet never touched it, and everything about becaone,” muttered De Noyan ”The rest of you lay down to your oars, before they have tiain”
So quickly did this occur I do not believe we lost more than a stroke or two, and were already well out into the strea toward the bank, where soed fro for a second volley, the others searching the shore after soin the pursuit It was a hard pull, especially uponfull sweep of the current tugging against my oar, while De Noyan headed the boat as directly as possible for the western shore The soldiers, coloo seen the fall of the black, they believed their work done Nor did other sounds reach us evidencing pursuit; for thatof the dawn
There was a slight, scarcely perceptible, shading into a lighter tinge of the clinging black shadows that veiled the eastern sky, di above the faint horizon line, until they assu s which my mother pictured tothe wider expanse of sky, which becalow along the water, until this also became a portion of the vast arch, while the darker borderland, now far astern, forround to the hter, h the cloudupper blue like a flock of frightened birds, until at last the whole eastern horizon blushed like a red rose, while above the black line of distant, shadowy trees, the blazing riold along our wake Gazing thus, every thought of our surroundings, our dangers, and fatigue passed fro to the oar, e of its own
Some unusual ,suddenly upon De Noyan His face, turned partially away froray with anxiety, and I noted he shi+vered in his wet clothes Yet his smile and speech seemed jauntily unconcerned as ever
”Yonder was to have beenbackward across his shoulder ”'Tis about the hour now for those in the hands of the Dons to have their backs against the wall”
I caught a sound as of a partially suppressed sob behind me, but before I could turn sufficiently to ascertain the cause, the Chevalier sprang past, rocking the little boat furiously, and my ears overheard that which caused me to keep my face set the other way
”Eloise!” he exclaimed exultantly ”Are you here, little wife? Mon Dieu! I dreamed it not; yet should have known you would never leave such duty to the slaves”
”I was simply compelled to come,” she answered, and I could ry withof the sun sealedhis hat in grave gesture ”I feel like a conde here in such co beside ; much of life, of usefulness, lies before you I knew that at the best only one destined victieance It was at his approval I made choice of you My father is robbed of but few years, while you are too young to die Soain, and days of peace”
”Ay! you were ever of brave heart, Eloise But let us not forget we yet remain in reach of Spanish claws, and they are merciless Go back to the tiller a while, and let me lay hold upon this oar; 'tis heavy work for such soft hands as yours Point the course direct for the cane island--you must remember it; you were there once withinto her face as she sat frontingso her added pain So I sat with glance downcast upon the planks, while tugging doggedly at the oar with all ht with it rewwe pulled before the boat's nose ran up upon the shore, and De Noyan, springing overboard, dragged it well beyond view ah here,” he exclai about with approval ”Coreatly crae”
As I arose, therasped both lanced up once more to meet hers, dark with unshed tears
”Do not think, Geoffrey Benteen,” she said brokenly, her voice vibrating with emotion, ”that I fail to realize what this means to you
Your troubled face has been a silent accuser of me this hour past But I thank you; you have proven yourself a ood God bless you and bring you peace”
”Ay!” chiood humor ”He's the nerviest fellow ever I met, Eloise _Sacre_! had you hunted this province over you could never have found one to perforht I wonder hoas you chanced upon hi a word in reply to either of therasp of his outstretched hand, all about us the warht
CHAPTER X