Show GOLD by ELLERY H CLARK sern 12 liy bobb merrall co CHAPTER XII continued 17 once arrived at our destination I 1 stopped and briefly surveyed our sur to the south extended tor a short distance a belt of trees but beyond this the whole surface of the stream lay exposed to the view of the blacks my chances though none of the best would at least not be so overwhelmingly against me to take to the water then swim forth into while I 1 was still shel by the woods and then to make straight tor the island a poor enough expedient but the best I 1 could devise if I 1 only had a boat of some alon and could dash for the island at full speed I 1 might make it there have been times in my life when I 1 have felt that things have gone and precisely wrong but on this occasion at least they were to g exactly and precisely right for as I 1 took one last look first down then up the river in the vain hope of als cohering a craft of some kind lo 10 and behold there to the north of me and not over fifty yards distant I 1 beheld a canoe it was not however a canoe un occupied apparently sprung into exist ence from nowhere simply because I 1 had wished for it fate was not so kind as that she was manned by two negroes the one in the bow a stalwart specimen his companion in the stern smaller and remarkably ugly with lips of prodigious thickness and the low retreating forehead of his race both men had paddles in their hands and were propelling the light craft down stream in a leisurely manner clearly enough this rising of the slaves was general in its extent and these blacks were doubtless coming from some plan up the river to exchange news with their fellow rebels on the aicala lister domain that their rising had been successful I 1 had no doubt tor t ie muzzle of a rifle protruded 0 cr the side of the canoe within easy reach of the in the bow I 1 was in a quandary I 1 cited the thought of taking human life espe bially the liveson live men with whom I 1 had no quarrel and with whom I 1 gym for ahe heyy burden of their oppressive lot let that canoe I 1 must have and my first thought was to step from the lushes as they neared my hiding place arivel my rifle at them and order them to bring their craft ashore there were however obal ous drawbacks to this scheme in the first place they were two to my one and might have pastos as well as their rifle so that if both drew on me at once I 1 could kill but one of them at best before being shot down myself and in the second place even if they obeyed me it would be hard to get them ashore and to embark mi self without their attacking me at close range and the man in the bow was of such unusual stature and of such ath letic build that I 1 felt that in a grapple I 1 would be no more than a child in his hands and then with a sudden inspiration I 1 remembered my corn pinion I 1 whispered when I 1 step out of the woods shout to them in their own tongue to jump overboard for their lives attend to tho rest he nodded understandingly and without further parley for the canoe was now close at hand I 1 left the shel of the trees and leveled my rifle full at the man in the bow at the me instant I 1 heard quashes hys gut tural shout and almost onslo the plunge of two dark bodies silvered the rivers calm and two I 1 ack heads cut through the water hading upstream and taking a course for the shore without 1 e loss of a second I 1 waded out find ng the water unexpectedly shallow ad in an instant I 1 had drawn the ca toe to shore and leaping in started II 11 the direction of the island progress in one of these light crafts ts rapid even with an unskilled hand at the paddle and in a ver few TOO I 1 had gained a where I 1 night turn and make straight down tl e river for an instant I 1 thought of continuing to the western shore and thus baffling the negroes on the pi but I 1 remembered in time tl nt there were other estates beyond the hills and even now skirmishers m ht be lurking in the dense legeta tl n ahead of me with the memory of my own ambuscade so fresh in rand I 1 had no wish to meet a similar fate and therefore suddenly shifted i v course and headed the bow of the annoe for the undoubtedly that sweep of the paddle saved me for a s ond later to the accompaniment of a harp report a bullet whizzed past anif and I 1 bent to my work in earnest that ny assailant was scout 1 alone and not with a body of corn I 1 apparently this was the t ie tor no more shots followed but to balance matters I 1 heard lusty yells from the plantation and casting a labaty glance in that direction I 1 could me them shoving off two boats to in me before I 1 could gain the of the island lilt re was now necessity for ed and nothing else und I 1 piled t nn tor my very life for a unit lie arue seemed doubtful the I 1 oat well manned and driven v h forward at rapid speed presently reached a portion where two negroes in the bow dropped their oars and commenced firing but fortunately for me their aim was poor and their bul lets went wild quite instinctively and without stopping to weigh the ad of my act I 1 stopped pad just long enough to pick up my own rifle and take a flying shot at one of the marksmen who was standing erect in the bow in the act of ram mang home a charge the shot could not be called difficult though I 1 may say in my own behalf that my hand was unsteady from my exertions and that the motion both of mi own craft and that of my pursuers was not con ducloe to exactness of aim therefore I 1 did not kill the man but only wound ed him yet the result haaf probably in my favor for with a loud cry of pain he staggered lost his balance and fell at full length among the rowers corn plemely demoralizing the crew at the same moment moreover tor in theli excitement chev had taken no thought of their approach to the island a volley from the house stretched other rifleman dead this not annat aurally completed their discomfiture and both boats immediately abandoned the pursuit and got out of range with all possible speed leaving me free to continue on my way unmolested A minute or two later I 1 drove my frail craft high on the beach and hurried toward the house the door swung open to receive me and an instant later with a great feeling of thankful ness in my heart I 1 darted ip and heard it swing to behind me with a crash came what might now at least I 1 could life fighting for the girl I 1 loved CHAPTER XIII port after stormie seas for a moment J was too spent to notice anything then to my mingled joy and relief I 1 saw that it was helen TIO had opened thy door and I 1 should have clasped her in my amis but as she turned toward me she lifted a restraining hand dick she wills we re in danger there s a man here a lawyer looking tor rob ert mcallaster McAll lster they come from the same town lies known mcallaster McAll lster all his life hat shall we do J gazed at her aghast while a great resentment at the ways of fate filled my heart I 1 had striven hard for our safety and had fought in the face of odds to reach the island and now to be greeted like how could wo escape the room with its single lamp was in shidow I 1 could count on the resemblance and the scar across mv cheek should I 1 take the chance and try to pass for mcallaster McAll lster or should we run for it risking both the danger of pursuit and the peril of capture by the slaves that it seemed would be almost certain death and then suddenly in a flash no choice was left me I 1 heard the footsteps on the stairs and a moment later andrew mcallaster McAll lster stood before me at his heels the stranger whom I 1 had met on horseback on my way to the port of the devil here s an old friend of yours robert said mcallaster McAll lster with news for you from your home at the words the man stepped for ward cordially enough and with out stretched hand but as our fingers touched and he look d me squarely in the face I 1 could read to my horror first perplexity then growing doubt and at last certainty his greeting died upon his lips and he whirled sharply toward the scotchman this bob mcallaster McAll lster he cried andrew mcallaster McAll lster stared as well he might then with an air of irritation queried ot robert mcallaster McAll lster ahat do you mean by that it seemed to ma it w as time for me to take a hand what madman have you here uncle I 1 exclaimed hell be telling sou next that you re not an drew mcallaster McAll lster Is he drunk or crazy but the stranger having alas 1 right upon his side was not so easily put down and as I 1 had a chance to take a closer look at him I 1 could see to my dismay that his wiry figure and keen featured face with bright e e peering from under tufted eyebrows betokened a man of action and at once he answered me readily enough I 1 do not drink young man and my brains I 1 dare venture are equal to your own alien turning to mcallis ter he continued 1 I mean precisely what I 1 say this south bears a re nay a startling lesem blance to mv client but he Is not the man I 1 have known robert mcallaster McAll lster since he lay in his cradle this man Is shorter broader in the shoulder his voice Is deeper his eyes are lighter in a score of ways he differs from the other I 1 give v ou my word my oath if you like be Is not your nephew at once I 1 determined to hazard a bold stroke uncle I 1 cried we waste time whether I 1 am your nephew or not makes no difference now these slaves of v ours have then rose swinging up a trap door butchered and his men they 11 attack the island nest perhaps at an moment an hour from now we mav all be dead lets defend ourselves first if my life Is spared prove this man to be a liar and a cheat my stratagem however was doomed to failure with a braver man it would I 1 believe have succeeded but as it was mcallaster McAll lster s overmastering dread of barclay and his morbid feard of treachery or surprise were now thoroughly aroused and thus he an severed chev wont attack us yet le been watching them they re still at work on their ladders and if they do attack he adael with a still blacker glance at me 1 I want no spies among mv troops then after a mo ments thought he turned to the stranger well he challenged you lawyers are said to be artful as the devil himself how can you prove to me oils lad Is not robert mcallaster McAll lster the lawyer reflected for an instant then asked have you any letters from your nephew I 1 have answered halt a doyen at least in my chest up stairs I 1 heard question and answer with a sinking heart that the lawyer meant to compare my handwriting with acal lister 8 was ev ident and it was ob lous also that I 1 could not meet the test foi my fingers though with a rifle have never liked the pen and I 1 have always written when forced to write in a roost ill formed and sprawling hand that it would resemble the writing of robert mcallaster McAll lster here was not one chance in a million I 1 felt that I 1 was doomed and now the lawyer spoke again re morse lessly pursuing his plan then get them he ordered and in the meantime ask this gentleman to write for you on a sheet of paper the months of the ear and the words respected uncle and lour obedient nephew isow there Is g more certain in the world than this that truth in the end will prevail and I 1 could feel that alie strangers briskness and his anulet air of being in the right were having their effect on mcallaster McAll lster eri well he agreed and as he nio me to come forward I 1 noted with a pang that he made alie gesture with his left hand his right held his pistol aimed at my breast in a manner which strongly reminded me of bar clay here are paper ink and quill he said I 1 will get the letters and then to me he aided in a manner which spoke volumes place our pis tol on that chair then come hither and write as ha suggests for one second I 1 thought of drawing then and there and of trying to drill mcallaster McAll lster with a bullet but a mo ment s reflection showed me the folly of such a course A hundred to one he would kill me first and even it he did not and my shot went home there would still be the stranger and the marcons maroons to reckon with and though there seemed indeed small choice be tween dang now or later when my falsehood stood repealed set there remained the slender chance that some thing might intervene to sive me and on this hazard I 1 determined to rely accordingly I 1 placed my pistol on the chair and strode over to the table with an air of confidence which I 1 was far from feeling mcallaster McAll lster meanwhile had handed weapon to the stranger with a word which I 1 could not catch and I 1 could see bi the manner in which the lawyer handled the pistol that he was a man who could shoot as well as argue and thus mcallaster McAll lster ascended the stairs while I 1 pulled the inkhorn toward me and made a show of preparing to write during all this time helen had re quietly in a corner of the room without uttering a sound but now she crept timidly forward and stood behind the lawyer as though seeking his protection oh she murmured with such ter in her voice that I 1 half thought he had deserted me a spy 1 how horrible but jou will protect us won tiou yant wont let him escape ow few of us in this world are armed at all points and the stranger able man though he was was not proof against the pleading of this fright ened lass lou may trust me ho answered grimly enough and his gaze indeed was fixed so firmly on my bece that I 1 doubt in the sem darkness of the room whether he even saw the slender cord which in falling flick ered for an instant before his eyes but I 1 saw and understood and gath ered like a tiger tor my spring for a second or two all was quiet then suddenly the lawyer uttered a queer throaty gasp both hands flew to his neck and the pistol mercifully with out being discharged fell to the floor instantly I 1 was upon him and almost in the same motion I 1 had gagged him with mi kerchief caught him as he reeled and laid him on the floor his face already purpling for lack of air then still in less time than it tal es to tell it helen released the of the strangling cord and with little trouble for he lay like putty in our hands we bound him hand and foot and next though moments were precious helen snatched the scarf from her neck and bandaged his eyes then cried quick t to the southerly point I 1 here s a boat there its our onla chancel and rushing to the door she unbarred it and threw it open for an instant I 1 thought that she had lost her wits for what was the use in attempting to escape if we thus told the lawyer of our destina alon but the next second I 1 under stood for with finger on lip she caught up my rifle and pistol thrust them into my hands and motioning me to follow led the wa on tiptoe down the hall and into the room then hurriedly explained there s a pit under the flooring I 1 found it yesterday ee thrown them off the track biow we can hide een in his crisis I 1 could not help admiring her cleverness they would search for us on the island ight was at hand the slaves would short ly attack for a time indeed it seemed that we were safe and with out an instants delay helen made for the closet in the dining room dropped on her knees fumbled for a moment in the darkness then rose swinging up with he a trap door I 1 gazed downward into impenetrable black ness I 1 sun eyed the chasm doubtfully speculating as to its probable depth but this was no time to hesitate and handing my rifle to helen I 1 slid down ward until held on by my hands alone then to relax as much as possible I 1 let go to ray relief I 1 struck bottom almost instantly the pit could not hae been more than eight feet deep at once I 1 stretched my arms upward and after a few mo ments of quick the doar had closed over us and we stood alao by side in the gloom tto CONTINUED 1 to |