Show ar 0 clarka CLAR Kf ICE THE STORY THUS FAR while voyaging from england to america lark shan non s ship goes down she Is cast u upon pon an island and and galt gait withe a bound se servant ale rescues her together they bobb bobble lancer a fine horse that escaped the sinking ship lark Is made prisoner at the he inn by cony and mag who are holding her tor for ransom lark tries to run away but cony catches her and she is locked in an attic she escapes again and Is happy to find that her pursuer this time Is david north her lover disguised as a gipsy galt gait arrives on the scene and agrees to get lark to norfolk but when they enter the boat they find cony concealed in it the two men fight while the boat drifts back to the inn CHAPTER XII lark slept heavily on her hard little bunk bed in the loft cubby waking painfully to the consciousness of an irritating soft insistent knocking at her door at first she thought it was cony scratching at her door as he often had in the past miserable week then she remembered and sat up calling cautiously what is it its me galt gait she stumbled from the bunk picked up the india silk dress where she had laid it out in careful folds before shed gone to sleep slipped it on its cool soft contours falling gracefully into place it was a beautiful dress perhaps the most beautiful dress she had ever had on she washed her face combed her hair hurriedly and unlocked the door galt gait came in quickly stepped to the window a square white glare of noonday sun he looked down into the back court and then turned to lark horse or no horse id feel a heap better if he stopped shook his head A thump of big bare feet sounded on the stairs one of the slaves appeared in the doorway his great shoulders filling the space his is somber red rimmed eyes accas accusing ing galt gait were coming down galt gait said pointing down the steps 1 I wakened the lady Is your master ready whether or not the man understood clear he answer he stood there with his huge pink palmed hands dangling grotesquely tes quely almost to his knees knees brown as winter walnuts well galt gait pointed down again lets go silently the slave turned and went ahead of them down the steps his companion joined him at the bot torn tom grinning foolishly rubbing his eyes the two trotted across the eart earthen ben floor of the inn big room without shadow of sound opened the big front door and waited for lark and galt gait the inn was clean now dim and cave quiet A couple of gipsies matson sent galt gait explained and when lark caught his arm anxiously shook his head neither of them was north had themselves a time in bags store room picked the lock the slaves chased them out you must be nearly dead galt gall did you rest at all sure im all right im fine they went through the door into the warm september sunshine below at the boat docks the sailors were busy with the first sloop matson in a cape hat and suit of brilliant green was on the deck he waved at lark been to the castle and prettied up all over again galt gait said scornfully god I 1 wish I 1 could get you out of this barkl its going to be all right lark said 1 I just feel the slaves fell in step close behind them boarding the sloop after them the four sailors had the sails in order and pulled the gang on board and a nd loosed the hawsers hawkers at once matson asked galt gait to take the helm and steer for ghost island it gave lark a strange sensation to set foot on this island again as if years had passed between times the familiar line of the big sand ridge the finger of fresh water trailing down from the little spring the clump of scrub pines that hid gaits secret cache the beaches cut by the tracks of the wandering pony herds gave her a feeling of surprise as it if she found herself walking in a place she had merely dreamed about a place without actual substance lark saw red baskall first far up the valley in the shade of the ridge and she ran ahead of the others ran to him and threw her arms about his warm red brown neck examining the hobble ropes to see that he had no scalds or galls stroking his flank pressing her face against his reproachful muzzle she led him slowly back toward the group galt gait cut the hobble and allowed the stallion to cir cleon the long lead rope matson spoke to one of the slaves in spanish and the man trotted off coming back at once with the saddle and bridle putting them on red baskall with no little difficulty he needs handling galt gait said and exercise but hes a beauty he dr matson ive never seen a finer matson said 1 I find I 1 am quite unable to resist riding him you wont object if I 1 ride your prize will you withe or you lark the big negro slaves squatting on their powerful haunches watched galt gait and lark dumbly they watched as old dog might have remotely incuriously yet with an uncanny look of knowing far oil up the island beach the horse and rider were coming back a blur of rich red brown a dashing splash of green 1 I doubt you realize galt gait said quietly how needful it is to matson to get his hands on north or to have a hold on north through you through anything ginko told me 4 7 W 4 loft V d 1 J 41 at I 1 1 I think hell hold you lark to be like a hostage matson questioned every gipsy man last night as soon as his suspicions were up that a cargie riske man was among them you see the cargie riske is right up and coming cleaned out a shipwrecking ship wrecking lot in the keys last spring I 1 heard the talk but it strike me get anything on matson somehow if you see a fellow all powerful like you get a feeling he always will be yet if north was to get latsons Mat sons log record and tell his tale of seeing the slaves loaded off here and the leavings shipped on to santo domingo where matson always makes his claims to the cargie riske for slaves he says died in passage he could jail matson and strip him of well I 1 want to guess how many thousand pounds to boot I 1 doubt north got those records I 1 doubt hes gone you think dr matson will try to make me identify david galt gait nodded and if north has got away I 1 think hell hold you lark to be like a hostage I 1 doubt your getting safe away with a nourish flourish matson brought red baskall up near them L lather ather rose lightly on the stallions neck and he chuffed and snuffed and pawed the sand matson said 1 I have never sat an animal that compares my congratulations lark and you too withe for your luck in catching him now shall we picnic the slaves led red baskall to the sloop arranged the gang and led him across it and down a steep ramp to the small fore hold of the vessel the sailors went to the sails and the shore trip was begun it was darkening when the sloop reached shore and nightfall when matson led the way up the path t to 0 the castle lark walked beside his light stepping figure uneasy and wary as to what this favor matson had asked of her might portend galt gait followed silently absorbed in thought trailing the procession came the two black slaves leading the horse rid red baskall Ra who was skittish and nervous after his week of captivity on the island behind the group at a little distance came the four sailors lark hung back trying to walk beside galt gait but matson put his hand beneath her elbow and forced her with gentle but inexorable firmness to keep step with his quickening strides wheres galt gait lark pulled her hand from his arm and glanced back 1 I dont see him become of him perhaps hes dropped back to converse with the sailors matson said easily lark called galt gait galt gait as loudly as she could but there any answer one of the sailors laughed then and matson reproved him sharply hell catch up with us presently I 1 daresay matson said adding suggestively ge possibly he was embarrassed to answer your call theres no need for worry this path is plainly marked he placed his hand under her elbow once more and started forward her pulling back did no least bit of good to avoid the ignominy of being dragged she straightened proudly and stepped along beside him you youre e angry he said serenely very foolish nothing so soon spoils a womans comans good lo 10 looks 0 ks as ill temper I 1 suspect the lad will find the shortcut short cut up the hill and be there by the time we are there was a sound of footsteps on the path ahead of them and matson called out chos there ginko the gipsy fiddler came down the hill to meet them with a glum and surly look on his handsome face the thief has been caught he said briefly the trap was sprung and the punishment meted out as you ordered matson nodded and ordered him to fall in behind them As they rounded the bend they came upon the flat open space where the roms boms had pitched their tents scattered fires were burning here and in their illumination the clumsy wagons and caravans under the oak trees looked like huge crouching beasts As matson and his foll followers came up the hill the gipsies grouped themselves together in a sullen muttering throng what is it lark asked wrong A band of fear seemed to tighten about her heart you heard beard what afie the rom said matson answered smoothly A thief has been caught and very properly punished by some of my sailors according to my orders I 1 wish you to identify the criminal or should one say victim Is the figure hanging there david north while he was speaking these last words he had swung lark about suddenly so that she saw silhouetted against the firelight a gibbet on which dangled a body Is it david north lark he whispered was that thing hanging there once your lover watching larks face matson said in a voice that was beautiful and soft as the muted tone of a violin lord have mercy on the soul of david north the gipsies in the background began to keen their minor wail sending the shiver of sound out into the darkness and loneliness of the gathering night lark he said 91 you answered my question you must say the words and then I 1 will grant you your freedom as I 1 promised that I 1 would say that thief was david north the man I 1 loved lark was silent for a moment he prompted her gently that thief thie f 11 she said the words after him now said them slowly and in a whisper so low that none but he could hear good he spoke cheerfully now and unconcernedly we are agreed then that justice has been accomplished shed this thief was caught in the very act of going through my possessions gipsies are born with their fingers in other mens pockets often enough they end on the gallows with some pretty little wench dissolved in tears with great show of tenderness he produced produced a madras silk handkerchief out of his cuff and wiped the tears that streamed down larks face our pretty little farce is over he said you played your part with great feeling and conviction only it was a very foolish part he removed his arm from about larks waist and she sat down quickly her knees buckling under her with two swift strides he stood under the swinging figure A low moan of tear fear wailed from the gipsy group matson stood like a dancer poised for an instant under the figure which swayed slightly as the damp night breeze came up from the sea and caressed it pushing it a little this way and that he stood like an actor on an empty stage waiting for an electric instant till he has the complete absorption of his audience TO BE CONTINUED |