22
THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, FEBRUARY 4, 1900.
By SUtCWCKETT - -
Pictures by G.A.SHi"PLtY
Synopsis of Previous Chapters.
Sir ?MeB StonefleMU f New MHns. In com
pany with Ms grandson, yeans Philip, meets
in an Inafcowee lite eon Philip and bis eon' 8
paramour, Janet Mark. They quarrel. Sir
Jamec goes home, taking- alone his grandson.
That night he is murdered by his dissolute son
and Janet Mark. They take his body outride
and lay It upon an ice floe. In the effort to
faeten tbe crime upon, other shoulders. But the
boy Philip has witnessed the crime. He tells
.lis grandfather's chief tenant. Humphrey Spur
way. and Spurway succeeds in having the real
murderer bnmfht to Justice. He is sentenced
to be hanged, his -woman accomplice to be
transported. Myoteriouely PhlHp Stansfleld to
caf the sallows, seeks out his wife, finds her
In the company of Spurway. and tries to mur
der her, but does not quite succeed. She is
taken away to Aberoalrn for cure, leaving her
oon, young Philip, in charge of Spurway and in
the company of little Anna. Mark, from whom
be- learna that in ime wajs girls are worth
quite as much as boys. For example. In the
time of the cattle drovinff, when Master Spur
way bought hlfl winter beasts In the mart,
Anna beat Philip in helping to cut them out.
Still they are excellent friends, even though
she beats htm at her studies in the school to
which they go together. John Stansfidd, Phil
ip's lawyer uncle, brings in a new teacher. Dom
inie Rtngrese, a small man, lth wonderful eyes,
Shortly after his coming the countryside is
shocked and thrilled with a number of bloody
and mysterious murders, evidently for the sake
of robbery. Business calls Humphrey Spurway
from home. In his absence a big packing case,
purporting to be full of fine Spanish wool, is
delivered to Will Bowman, Humphrey's clerk.
He puts H in the wealng shed. That night
Philip, playing about it, sees shining through
the gattae of the packing case a pair of eyes.
He calls Will Bowman, who counts three, then
stabs the packing case with a small eword.
Blood Howe, they open the case, and find Dom
inie Rlngrose inside, apparently dead. Shortly
after the house is attacked by robbers, whom
Ringrose had meant to let in. They are beaten
off. but afterwards Philip's mother refuses to
let Mm spend the holidays at New MUns. He
turning from a day's visit to Kew MUns, Philip
falls in with Saul Mark, Anna's gypsy father,
who, wider pretense of showing him Sir Harry
Morgan's treasure, makes him a prisoner.
Anna, ftads out his plight, and leads Humphrey
Spurway on Ms track.
Provost Gregory. Partan.
CHAPTER XXI.
But by this time it was too late. All
trace of S&ul Mark and his companion
was gene completely. There only re
mained to visit the King's Arms to see if
any one had noticed in what direction I
had departed. But though Will's horse
was duly in stall, ne'ther landlord nor
hostler could be seen. And the King's
Arms dose was bare as the palm of a
man's hand.
And bow what to do. Anna was crying
by this time, the tears rolling unchecked
down her face, even as they passed the
flaring resin torches of the bootha, which,
like swallows' nests, monstrous and foul,
were plastered about the walls of the
great kirk.
They would go to the little house on the
Vennel. It was just possible I might have
gone directly home. But even in that mo
ment Anna, rebelled against meeting my
mother. So that the two women most
concerned about me mother and my
comrade, would have nothing to say to
each other. So Anna Mark abode without.
while Will Bowman bent his head to the
lighted window, but could see nothing.
"Do you hear Philip's voice, Will?"
whispered Anna from the dusk of a close
across the narrow causeway.
"Nay," said Will, bending yet closer.
bu,t I hear & man speak within!"
Little Anna. Mark could guess who, and
e scornful smile, which none could see,
pawed over her face.
"Umphray Spurway has come back!"
whispered Will Bowman. "I can hear his
Yorkshire burr!"
"Knock on the door. Will, and let us
tell him all!"
"He will break my ljead for leaving the
horse, and Philip's, when he catches him,
for bringing: you hither!"
"Nay," the answer came clear across the
Vennel, "what are broken heads at worst?
And, besides, Philip cares nothing for me
or he would have gone straight home to
his mother, as I bade him. '
Will Bowman stalked boldly to the little
door tn the corner house which gives upon
the quay beneath. JHe knocked, and after
a long pause there ensued the swf t gritting
of iron on iron. Then came the rattle and
jar of a door which has been opened upon
the chain. Which was my mother's ordi
nary method, ever since the face of her
husband had looked in upon her through
the open window of the Tett cottage in
the wood of New MUns.
"I am William Bowman, servant to
Master Spurway, of New MHns. madam,"
Anna could hear Will saying, in reply to
a question from behind the chai led door.
"I am anxious about your son Philip. He
entered the town at duBk upon a horse
and hath not been seen since. I came to
know If he had returned nome."
Then came to Anna the sound of heavy
steps upon a nagged floor, the rasp and
tinkle of a dropped chain, and the light
about te door, instead of being a mere
three-sided crack, became a broad oblong,
till the whole space was again filled, up
by the giant figure of Umphray Spurway.
So sudden was the apparition that
though he had expected his master's pres
ence, Will gave back a step. Umphray
Spurway had a way when disturbed of
boxing the ears of a servant who annoyed
him. and that without examination or dis
cussion a habit which enabled him to
preserve excellent discipline, but which
sometimes led to momentary injustice.
And Umphray Spurways hand was no
feather bolster.
"What do you here. Will?" his voice
rumbled across the narrow street. Anna's
heart beat and she would have run to him
but for the knowledge that "that woman"
was peeping timidly past his shoulder.
Then WUl went over t- history of the
day as it Tis known to hJm, Umphiay
standing glooming in the doorway with the
warm and lighted house kitchen behind
him and my mother's knitting dropped on
the c'.eon-swept hearth.
At even mention of my being lost my
mother uttered a little moan of apprehen
sion. For since tbe Tett house terror set
night and day contiguous to her lips. At
the third repetition Umphray Spurway
turned him about swiftly.
"Mary," he said, "do not fear. I will
bring tke led back to you if he be In this
town'"
And te wheeled Into he house again to
get h'x oread, uupluraed hat.
"Shut the door. .Mary, behind us," he
said: "open rt to none. And keep yeur
heart up. This is but some boyish ,lay of
Philip's, toe which I will tan his Itl-con-dltl-wd
hide."
"Kay. nay. not if you love me." said
irr mother tfaroogh tbe door: "pronie
ycu vrtU net. for my sake. It is all Phil
ip's Mgh apirttr
"Hlgit devil's tricks," Umphray growled.
''Sick alffb spirits are best moderated
with a rope's end! Bide within, Mary, and
do aa I bid you!"
Umphray had found his ordinary -way
with all men to serve him best with my
mother also. For she loved masterful
men (as indeed most women do), and -naturally
obeyed them.
So out into the mild, star-sown clarity
of the sight Umphray Spurway came. And
as soon as Anna heard the chain rattle
back to Its place behind the door of the
little corner house in the Vennel, ahe ran
lightly to Umphray and clasped him by
the arm.
"Anna!" he cried, in great astonishment,
stopping at the edge of the quay, "what
In heaven's name do you in this place at
such an hour?" And he turned the girl
about with her face to a lighted window,
that he might see what was in her mind.
Then, in hasty, broken sentences, the
girl told him all the tale that has been
told already of my uncle John, of Saul
Mark, of the bout at single-stick and of
the tracking of her father across the hill,
finishing with her meeting with Will, and
how the two of them had lost their quarry
at the outer port of the town.
Umphray Spurway went on stroking his
beard as he listened. The masts of the
ships stood up black Into the sky, a star
greater or smaller sitting upon the top of
each. The surface of the harbor swayed
and dimpled, tremuious star dust sown
broadcast across it. JLlttle Anna had nev
er seen the like, and even in the turmoil
of her sp.rit it came to her with a kind of
shock that she was In another world,
wbere her acquired cleverness of the
woods and hillsides was of no use to her.
The creaking of mast-tackle, the groan
ing ot main-braces, a boatswain's piercing
wnistle, the ciear notes of a unip'b bed
stricken somewnere out In the dark over
tne water all were wonderful enough to
the girl, anu remained with her all her
life, as impressions and circumstances,
however trivial, are wont to do whicu co
incide wltn borne supreme moment.
Inow, it cnancea that, even as these
three, Anna, Will and Mr. Spurway, stood
thus on the quay ot Abercairn, and wnlij
Umphray ruoutd his cum with his lin
gers, that a couple of men stroiled down
the fairway, if such the nariow path
could be called which led between the
gables of the seaward houses and the
ranged barreis and cooper's staves upon
the wharf.
One of these was large and portly of
body, with an outline in the region of
the stomach which obscured both the
head and the tall lights of the ship an
chored out in the bay. He wore a great
hat tucked up with a silver buckle at
the side, while a well-fed, pursy face,
twinkling eyes and short, thick legs tha;
hardly passed each other In walking, in
formed all concerned that Provost Greg
ory Partan was seeing to the safety and
prosperity of the town of which he was
at once the ornament and chief ruler.
His companion on the right was of an
other mold; a lithe, dark man, wearing
a hat of foreign make pulled low over
his eyes. And as he went, large sliver
rings as wide as crown pieces, glinted
in his ears. At sight of him Anna Mark
grasped the arm of Umphray Spurway.
"Look look!" she whispered, "there is
my father. Ask him where Philip is."
The two men were walking arm in
arm, and presently, stumbling over a
cask, the provost swerved a little to the
left to avoid the piled confusion of the
quay, and, as he did so, he noted Um
phray Spurway standing by the corner of
the street with his companions a little
way behind him in the dusk of the wall.
"A braw and balmy nlcht," he said, mak
ing his magisterial salutation, which was
always considered to be of super-excellent
dignity. "Ah! good Master Spurway,
what gives us poor folks of Abercairn the
pleasure (and I may add honor) of your
company? But I forgot yes, yes, I have
heard there is an attraction at the foot
of the "Vennel that robes us in a worthi
ness not our own. A dainty bit widow,
Master Spurway, or, rather, when I think
of It, scarcely a widow, but If one may
say so without offense, so much the more
taking on that account!"
"Not even you. Provost Partan, can say
such things without offense," returned
Umphray very gravely, while Anna
shrank deeper Into the dusk pf a doorway.
and Will Bowman spread his masters
coat-tails abroad to shield the girl from
her father's eyes.
"No offense, man; no offense at all!"
replied the provost amicably. "Surely we
have kenned ane anlther weel aneuch this
score o' years that I may take the free
dom o a jest wl' you, Umphray, my
friend?"
"I have been seeking a lad of the name
of Philip Stansfleld," said Mr. Spurway.
without continuing the subject; "he was
last seen In the company of your com
panion. Mr. Saul Mark. Perhaps he can
give us some information as to the boy's
present whereabouts!"
My companion, cried the provost,
scandalized; "nae, nae companion o'
mine. Saul Mark Is just the supercargo
o' a bit boatle that rlns to Bordeaux wi'
oor Abercairn staples thread, baith black,
white and whltey-broon, blrk pirns to
wind it on, and your aln manufacture o'
braldcloth whllk, pin I may say sae, has
made us famous through a the land o'
France."
"0 what ship is Saul Mark the super
cargo?" asked Umphray
The provost tilted his broad hat a little
to the side as he slowly and meditatively
scratched his head.
"The name o' the boat?" he answered.
"Dod I canna julst bring It to mind at
this present moment." (Here he glanced
cautiously over his shoulder.) "Te see
there's the trip back frae Bordeaux, and
though, of coorse, she comes in ballast,
pavin' stanes an' gun flints, there's whiles
odd things get stowed awa' sic as ankers
o brandy, wee barrels o' the fine dairy
wine, tobacco that will mak' the noblest
sheeshan In the wort' (will yet try ma
boxie. it's o the best? Na, weel than!),
and maybes a warp or twa o' Valenceens
lace, A halrmless eneuch. but not to be
spoken aboot as loud as Master Eben
ezer preaches In the muckle kirk. To
tak' me! I. Gregory Partan, am the
chief magistrate o this ceety. and as
such a law-abidln man. But the itl-set
customs duties are neither house dues nor
town dues, nor yet for the common guid.
They are nocht but a sendln' awa o
mild siller oot o the munioipallty. And
I cllnna hauld wl them ava!"
Tn thl fashion, and at considerable
lonrH. 1h novopt pxoounded his thporv
of the spv'-M 'nrJdmt' of imperial and
local fixator, to wh!h Umnray Spur
wav listened p-atlpntlv enough.,
"But. provost." r- br"ke In is oon n
opportune allowed, "th's lad wns pppr
to entor the oT-n -Ith nn' Mrfe nn-'
Tf rnenn to find irhere he is onnenJpj
Tn -rvth -vm nv for your mpltprlal a
fe- t bo on ehlnbo-- w -"inf
A - it" cnwT hlr. Ph"n Stppp-..-.
t. tv,P ..... t0 n tarce av Itntw"
i-o"rty. pnd is. lnc',WI a ward nf th
mast" At Stair, the king's own advocatr
hlmse'f "
and pinching Mr. Spurway's arm jo
cosely, "the only son o' his mither and
her a weedow or the next thing to it!"
"The name of the man's ship, if you
please, provost!" said Umphray in a curt
tone. He was getting angry, and began
to suspect that the provost was merely
putting him off.
lflY thp llllHr rTI Tll.f Via Vav..a.3 nqat)ltti '
o' a bonnier traffic and a mair profitable.
Gregory Partan, twa or three cargoes
like the last anfl VP nro 51 marls Trftl V.
t may retire and buy landed estate. Then
the king will gie ye a title for your valu-
n.b!e services to the guid toon. Sir George
Gregory Partanr-SIr Gregory Partan!
j What think ye o' that? Sir Gregory,!"
I But though the hour was late and' even
I the late change houses and drinking
booths along the sea front were disgorg
ing their noisy occunants on the street.
Provost Gregory still paced up and down
-j among the cordage and barrel staves
j humming softly to himself:
Heard ye e'er o the Bailie o Mlckleham's coo?
Her face It was basont and black was her
moo
Ftar milk or for butter her match I ne'er knew,
This' basorrt-faced, rlng-stralklt sonsy auld coo!
And as he hummed the provost's small
and wary eye was turned every way In
succession, and he cocked his ear at ev
ery sound. Presently the regular dip of
I oars came to him across the harbor. At
tne distance of a hundred yards from the
land a light was waved three times, horl
zontalwlse, and then after a pause once
up and down. The provost moved nearer
to the steps and leaned against a stone
post grooved and smooth with the fric
tion of ships hawsers. A muttered order
made him Incline his ear. He heard be
neath him the grating sound of a boat's
keel, an oath, and then the dull rumble
of oars softly shipped and the scuffle of
'men fending off with the palms of their
hands.
A head popped up cautiously over the
gettln ye the toon park in lease perpet
ual?" The provost did not answer the taunt.
He kept on muttering to himself and
shaking his head.
"I canna allow that I wanna hae that
on a ship o' mine. A risk In the way o
business or the bllnkln o' an e'e for a
certain profit, I will tak". wl only roan. I
will gang as far as It Is in mortal man
to gang accordln' to my conscience, that
it. But to sell ane's flesh and blood "
" 'Apprentice,' Is the word, provost."
said Saul Mark, smllbig; "but you hin
der us. Rest assured the girl Is safe
with me. We will find her very useful aft
er she Is snugly settled. I will put her
Into good training on the other side. Be
sides, you know, she will be near her
mother. And In the meantime she will
serve to civilize us aboard the Corraman
tee. God knows we need it."
"And what will 'he' say to a woman
on board?" Saul Mark chuckled as he re
plied. " 'He, as you call him, Is a fury and
all of a fine captain. But well, Saul
Mark is a supercargo of -the Corramantee,
and the entire cargo is his business. Bear
that In mind, provost! Now. lads, bend
your stiff shellbacks. On hands and knees
till we are clear of these accursed light!
Good night to you, provost
And, like the links of a great serpent,
one pair of bowed shoulders after another
passed Gregory Partan as- he stood there
leaning on the grooved stqne pillar, till
full 20 men had gone by, and, save for
the scraping of cutless sheaths against the
piled barrels and the gleam of a distant
"Umphray Spurway, help! They are
choking mel"
The great .Englfsnman turned and drew
his sword. He ran back along the nar
row three-foot passage, thrusting Ms lan
tern before him, and, almost before he
was aware, touched the black muasles
of half a dozen muskets which with one
accord were pointed at his breast. But,
nothing daunted, he lifted his sword and
would have driven on furiously into their
midst.
"Stand there! on your Ufa! or we
fire!"
It was Saul Mark who spoke. He stood
behind those of his men whose guns feeM
Umphray Spurway trapped in the narrow
pen of the Provost's Close.
"Surrender, Umphray Spurway. or ye
are a dead man," continued Saul Mark,
"and deliver up the money you carry in
the pocketbook in your breast. Quick,
too; we have no time to waste!"
"I will surrender to no manl" cried
Umphray. "Will, cry the alarm; knoak
upon the provost's door!"
"Your 'Will" is provided for. He wBl
give us no more trouble," retorted Saul
Mark, fiercely. "Nor wilt you. Mao.er
Spurway, if you delay another minute."
"Then I will cry the alarm myself."
He lifted up his mighty voice so that It
shook the sleeping town till the burgesses
trembled in their beds.
"Help there! Murder! black murder."
"Front rank, make ready to fire. Scioto,
cut the prisoner's throat if he snouts
again. Now, Umphray Spurway, will you
surrender or will you die?".
The great Englishman was not yet conquered.
"For me." he said, "I would rather die
than yield to any tallow-faced sea-ewao
alive. I will fight any man of you wnh
any weapon you like to name."
"Fighting for honor is not our business.
Our business is to have your meney and
get aboard. Now, I give you" 30 seconds
and If you will not deliver it, by the Lord
I will kill the lad and the girl before
your eyes!"
"Mercy of God, man, she is your own
daughter!"
The more reason then that I should do
what I like with my own. Now, you
are wasting time. Will you give up the
money and submit? Half a minute from
now. ticipio, count the seconds."
A rich oleaginous voice In the back
ground, with a sea swing in it like the
overword of a chantey began to count,
"One, one one one one Two, two
two two two Three,, three three
three three!" And so on through the
numerals, each set of repetitions telling
off a second as nearly aa might be.
Umphray Spurway hung a moment in
the wind, doubtful whether to make a
rush for it. Instead, he elevated hte lan
tern, and its light fell on Anna Mark, help
less in the arms of a gigantic black, whose
great palm was pressed aganst the girl's
mouth. It was this man who was count
ing the seconds in a monotonous sing
song, and swaying from side to side as he
did so. Behind him Umphray caught a
glimpse of a couple of dark-skinned ruf
fians stuffing a gag into Will Bowman's
open'mouth, while other two held hkn pin
ioned by either arm.
Umphray was a braye man, but he
knew when to gjve in.
"Enough," he said. "I surrender."
"Pass over the money then!" ordered
Saul Mark, -shortly.
The Englishman, tooR a shagreen pocket
book out of his coat, and slipped the
leather strai over the leveled mouth of
the nearest musket. The owner reached"
It back as a haymaker lifts hay on a
fork. Saul Mark opened it briefly.
"Here, bos'n. the dark lantern! Let the
glim fall on this," he said, and with a
quick and methodical accuracy he checked
the amount, nodding his head as he did so
with a satisfied air.
"It Is as well for you, Umphray Spur
way," he said, as he buckled it up, "that
you have not tried to play with us. Now.
right-about face! Put your hands behind
you. Take thre steps backward. Halt!
Bos'n, tie the gentleman up."
Moreover, you shall have a chatwft to gala
some of it in the same wiy ho did or
thereabouts. You r going seafaring.
Philip, my lad. and I fear ma your kit
something of the shortest. But this your
benefactor will sumtiy. Put your hand
into Ms pocket and see what you find
"I will never rob Mr. Spurway. ' I a'd.
bttaktof; as boldly aa I could at the man
wth the stiver rings in Ma oars. He was
still smiling the fettle, contemptuous smile
when I bated so.
"What do you say to tha Master Spur
way?" jtfg he apoko ho turned to the
SngUshman.
"PMlp," add Umpteay. ktatMy. not an
swering directly, but stoaMag to me 'do
as you aie Ma. Put your hand into my
pocket and take what you And there It
Is aU Tomrm.'l
"X thought avM erted Satrt with simu
lated generosity; I know Ik spoken llk
a generous Torkshiremanr You are going
to a far country, lad. Tott will need all
you. can got te make a nguse there So do.
not fall to take advantaga of this, your
benefactor's kindness."
TJen, seeing that It was useless to do
otherwise, and since he himself bade m?,
I put my hand reluctantly enough in
Mr. Spurway's pockets, on by one an I
drew out from his coattaiis a snuff), x
fof gold, sot with pearls, and a silk kr-
enfor of one material, uut ot tne mvt
came a little Ted-bound prayer-bonic,
I which struck me as Strang, for Umph
ray was never known to be pious or
even so much as to cross a kirk door
"I win relieve you of that snuffbox.
Philip." said Saul Mark. 'It is a habit
most foul, and one that growng boys will
do wen not to aoantre." And he held out
his hand for tne box.
For a moment I hesitated, and the
next Saul's vole chanced from suavi'y
tnto a perfect gust of ferocity.
"Ship's manners!" he cried. "Learn
to obey! Not at one, but a long mil
ahead of that. After you have been a
month on the Corramantee with the
captain on board, you will learn t
obey, before, not after, you are spoken.
to!" -'
Startled almost out of my judgment, I
handed Mm the box.
"3fow proceed with your Inventory,
and make haste! I cannot keep my
lads here all, night watting on your
fumbttng!"
Then I took from my friend's breeches
pocket Ms tobacco pipe in Its silver case.
The stem unscrewed Into two pieces, and
tbe bowl was larger man common. After
that came his tobacco box and tinder
These also Saul Mark took from me on
the same pretext, and handed to the sea
men behind him. I never saw them again.
Mr. Spurway's keys he permitted me to
put back into his pocket, saying that as
he was to return to the Miln house and.
weave more money for them, he had bet
ter have no more difficulties than wer
necessary put in his way. Next came h la
purse, which the supercargo bade me put
into my own pocket, "for the present '
Then I was commanded to search t he
pockets in his waistcoat, to take tbe
watch and seals out of Ms fob, and to
put my hand Into his breast, from which
though I knew it not, he had himself al
ready taken out the pocketbook. As I
did this last I felt something small and
oval bidden deep witMn, and each time
my hand passed across It I could feel him.
wince. So I judged that Umphray desired,
above all the rest, to retain this article.
whatever It might be. So, of course, I
passed it by.
So busy was I at this work that I diet
not hear the sound of feet along the
passage, nor any one ascending the steps.
which led into my dungeon.
"What is this?" said a voice that sound
ed in my earn like a trump of doom,
"ungrateful young tiger cat. is he rob
bing bis benefactor, his foster parent'"
We must teach Mm better manners on
the Corramantee!"
I turned me about, and there taller
than any by a head (except Umphray
Spurway alone), stood my rather, Philip
Stansneid, the condemned parricide, tho
almost assassin of mr mother.
"HEARD YE E'ER O THE BAILIE 0 MICKELHAM'S COO?"
The provost shook his great head, re- ' quay edge. A mouth whistled the first
moved his hat, and coolly wiped the brim , line of the tune the provost had just been
meditatively with his cuff j humming to himself:
in a, Maister spurway, try as l wuii, l
canna call it to mind. My memory is no'
what it was. But I ken a better way o't
The man shall tell ye himsel'. Saul!" (he
put his hands to his mouth and made a
trumpet of them). "Saul Mark! come
hither, man, Umphray Spurway has lost j From where he stood the provost of
ma uuuiio twin numo .u ncii j i ADercairn couia see tne stern oi tne Doat,
Heard ye e'er o' the Bailie o' MIckleham's coo?
The provost from behind the stone pil
lar responded with a flutelike second line:
Her face It wae bascnt, and black was her
moo!
hae him In your tail pooch!"
By this time Saul Mark had disappeared
among the tumbled casks and cordage
piled upon the quay. They could see noth
ing but the masts standing thick against
the sky, and even the light of the stars
was dimmed by clouds which began to
bear up on the land wind.
"Saul Saul Mark! Come hither and
speak with Master Spurway!"
The bass bull's thunder of the provost's
summons seemed to wake most of the
sea front. Doors opened and shut. There
ensued a noise of men moving cautiously
In dark places. Lanterns gleamed a
moment and were gone. The sound of oars
came up from the water, together with
a muttered curse as somebody at the bot
tom of the rude stone steps fell Inward
Into a boat with a clatter and a barked
shin. The surface of the bay was stirred
with phosphorescence by the regular dip
of oarblades, and then dulled again, as
little flurries and catspaws began to ripple
the dark water Into a thousand wavering
diamond points. Then, passing through
the masts with a sharp flick-flick of cord
age, they sped away over the town of
Abercairn toward the unseen hills where
the sheep lay out among the heather.
"Na," said the provost, "I'm dootfu',
Saul's gane on. His time Is unco prec
ious, ye understand'! A supercargo in a
Bordeaux ship has nae slny-cure. A richt
honest lad, Saul will render ye a reckon
ing to the value o a bawbee. Meddles a
wee over muckle wl' the cartes and the
dice, says you. But that's neither here
nor there when every penny ol the profit
o' your venture Is cllnkit doon on the
nail!"
"I must pursue my search alone, then,
provost, if you cannot assist me," broke
In Umphray Spurway, for the notion that
he was being played with to put off time
was now almost a certainty.
"Hoot awa'," cried the provost, genially;
"the nlcht's young yet. I warrant' the
young vagabond Is off to see the lasses.
He will be turnln' oot some ragin galll
vantln' blrkie He the daddle o' him. He
will be hame at his mlther's heartstane
by this time. Tse warrant. It's julst no
possible that a muckle laddie like that
can be lost in this decent, law-abidln.'
God-fearln' toon o' Abercairn, and that
under the provostshlp o' Gregory Partan,
merchant and shipowner there!"
"I can wait no longer. I bid you good
night, sir," cried Umphray Spurway. sa
luting the magistrate and moving on. So
the three searchers left the provost of Ab
ercairn standing on the quay with hjs
hands behind his back. He watched them
go with his fingers netted In front of him
and his thumbs running races after each
other like a pupov chasing Its tall. A
curious light twinkled in his small shrewd
eyes as they followed the three till the
darkness swallowed them up.
"Ave. aye umpha aye, guid Maister
Englishman." he meditated, "ye think
voutpI clever. But It will be mony a
inr day and short nlcht afore ye can
flls"ovr your weedow's up on In my auld
Mme-kiln. Faith, my dafldle kennpd whit
he was aboot when 'he contrived the
bonv sli'n' drvor that y nlrht .cook for
a vour life an no find. anr! then Vp-clt a
5typrrom to cover n' "'jr . r"n o
Oul'd he wns and n maister m"in, th",vh
he never raise to b nrovot like hip! He
Wended the aul hole-ln-thp-wa' to be
j black against the softly-heaving phosphor
escence of the Inner harbor. For an east
erly wind had been filling the water with
jellyfish till the nearer deeps appeared to
pulse with a softly silver light, now black
as night, again soft and lawny like moon
light filtered through mist.
The men were scrambling out of the
boat now and ascending the steps one
after the other. The provost moved near
er the verge. The owner of the black
head which had emitted the whistle pro
jected his whole body above the stone
parapet.
"Is all safe?" he whispered as he erect
ed himself.
"It is," answered the provost.
"Where is the Englishman now?"
The provost silently indicated the direc
tion in which Umphray Spurway had tak
en his departure. The door of a change
house In Ship row opened. A broad beam
of light crossed the quay and momentar
ily Illumed the group of dark heads and
the massive form of the provost. The
heads of the newcomers were mostly tied
up in colored handkerchiefs, and in the
ears Of the whistler twinkled softly a
pair of large sliver rings.
"Will he have the bulk of the money
on him, think you?" whispered the ring
leader. "God forbid that I should ken ocht
aboot that," said the provost quickly; "I
hae neither alrt not pairt In your unholy
ploys. Business Is business, but Gregory
Partan Is nae highway robber."
This he said Indignantly. Then h,e paused
a moment and added In a thoughtful,
musing tone as if to himself:
"But yet I seena where he could hae
left it. He has been in nae hoose in .Ab
ercairn except that o' Mistress Stansfleld
In the "Vennel, and It's no like that he
wad trust sic & great sum to a woman!
Na, aye. umpha it's mair nor likely!"
"Thank you. We must be off," said
Saul Mark. "Any orders, provost?"
"When Is 'he' to be aboard?" asked the
provost, going a step nearer the super
cargo. "By 12 o'clock at latest," said Saul,
succinctly, "we sail with the morning tide,
full to the hatches with bonny young
two-legged cattle."
"And a fine rlddanca It will be to the
toon o' Abercairn, forbye some siller In
my pooch, gin the Lord gie ye success and
a guid market on the ither side of the
water. But, mind ye, keep within the law.
And be prcparlt to render a strict account
o' every head amang them, either in yel
low guineas or the best Virginian tobac
co. Are ye to tak' the boy on board wi'
ye the nlcht?"
r filled wl' low country lace, French bran-
"Forfcye," said th.e provost coming qvcj dy, and whatever tbe king's officers mcht
B.i8ont. i. .. damped -with -white.
"Aye, an' the lassie, too, if we have
luck."
"What lassie?" The provost turned
quickly. "I thocht that It was a strict
rule that there should be naething
that kind!"
Saul Mark laughed an ugly little laugh.
"Surely you have forgotten the heart nf
a parent, and you a man with a family!
Provost, I mean my own daughter, An
na," - ' '
"God" srasnpd the provost: "ye are nev
e" sipcan a flepx'l' lr-arnate as to sell your
aln flash and hloodr'
"And wat for no"" returnpd the suop'--cargor
"Is it not done every dav? Did
not you yourself give your daughter Bl
apetj to the drunken lawyer KJxkup for
light dimly reflected on a pistol butt, there
was nothing to tell that a score of tha
moat desperate ruffians In the world were
abroad in the streets of Abercairn.
CHAPTER XXII.
Supercargo of Corramantee.
In the narrowest part of the alley which
wound Its way past the gable of Gregory
Partan's property, Umphray Spurway
was groping with his lantern in his hand.
A noisome place It was in the daytime,
gloomy even In mid June, with its slanted
bars qf light and its deep shadows, where
low villainously browed doorways opened
off into the unknown. At night It be
came a mere pit of darkness, avoided by
man and dreamed of as a standing horror
by .women and children; for it was re
puted haunted by crouching, malignant
fiends and nameless horrors among all the
superstitious of Abercairn. Strange
sounds came up out of its deep throat!
Lights had been seen by scudding night
wanderers flickering far down It, like the
will-o'-the-wisps in the marshes.
But Umphray Spurway was not the
man to be Intimidated by balrnly dreads
or old wives' tales. In the course of his
search for me he had obtained a lantern
at the King's Arms' by the simple pro
cess of going into the stable and light
ing it with his tinder box; and now, with
a spare candle in his pocket, he was
systematically searching every corner 6f
the town of Abercairn to which by any
chance I, might have wandered.
As he passed up the High street he
kept close to the houses on one side,
flashing his lantern this way and that,
as If he were sweeping the uneven cause
way with a broom of light. Qn many
unholy and unbeautlful things did that
feeble illumination fall. But It was Anna
Mark who obtained the first clew, for,
like a roving free lance, the girl went
peering and trying back from side to
side of the narrow street, doubling and
twisting as a scent dog does on a mixed
trail.
At the very entering -in of Partan's
Close she lifted a riding switch of wil
low, or, as It is called In these parts,
"saugh wand."
"See!" she cried, "he has been here
This proves it. I cut this with my own
gully knife on the banks of the Linn of
Klrkconnel this very day at 4 o' the clock.
See, there Is where the gully slipped and
nearly whanged my flnger off."
She handed the switch to Umphray
Spurway, who examined It with much In
terest. Will Bowman also bent over It.
"It certainly looks as If you might be
right," said Umphray, "but, after all.
one cannot be certain. There are a thou
sand 'saugh' bushes betwixt Abercairn
and the Linn of Klrkconnel. And, be
sides, any knife may slip."
"That Is the wand I gave into Philip's
Angers as he rode away, scolding him
that he had spent over much time al
ready, and warning him to rjde like mulr
burn before a following wind."
Anna Mark spoke positively. She was
not a girl to have doubts when she made
up her mind.
"Well," said Umphray Spurway, "beg
gars must not be choosers. It Is a poor
clew, but the only one we can find. Here
goes to examine the Provost's Close.
Ugh" (he sniffed) "the filthy plg3. These
shore folk never clpan anything till they
have laired themselves to the eyes In
muck!"
He took his way down the alley, thrust
ing his lantern out in front of him and
feeling the clammy sides with his unoc
cupied hand till he came to a locked door
"Bide where you are, Annar" he called
back; "and you. Will. look to her. It is
fair wading here. What's that?"
"Help!" It was Will Bowman's votcev
"Father, let me go!" This time It was
Anna's hut strangely muffled.
CHAPTER XXIII.
Jacob nnd Esau.
"Will you let the boy and girl go?" said
Umphray, when he had obeyed, which he
did without murmuring, knowing that
with such desperate ruffians there was
nothing else" to be done.
"The girl Is my daughter," said Saul
Mark; "you have too long separated par
ent and child. I am sure your warm and
generous heart will take pleasure in hav
ing brought about so happy a reunion. I
am infinitely obliged to you for your
care of Anna. But now I will relieve
you of yoUr guardianship. Indeed, the
girl wishes it herself, do you not, my
daughter?"
Anna struggled vehemently in the
clutches of the black Colossus who held
her, but only one muffled, Inaudible sound
escaped from under the great palm.
"You hear?" said Saul Mark, smiting,
"she cannot even express her Joy."
"You are a devil," cried Umphray, in
dignantly. "Listen take my life and let
the girl go."
Saul Mark laughed aloud.
"That would be neither profitable nor
yet a Christian act. It is true, you can
not go back to your mill until after you
have remained a little while a a secluded
spot. But we are not murderers. Be
sides, we want you to go and weave u
more money than this paltry sum you
have oaid us on account. Do not imag
ine that this pays back the blood money
you owe for Dominie Ringrose's life! Ha
death we will require at your hands and
at those of this brave young man here,
whose fame Is so great In all the country
side." He turned about to Will as he spoke.
"Ah, sirrah," he said with a deep sneer,
"you are but an apprentice, but for all
that you will pay. Oh, yes, you also will
help to settle the blood debt. Blood for
blood shall you pay. Drop for drop.
Agony for agony, till every jot and tittle
be redeemed."
To all which, wisely enough. Will Bow
man answered nothing. For the fellows
who held him on either side threatened
him with knives if he tried to speak. By
this time they had tied up Umphray Spur
way as he stood, with his back to Saul
Mark and his men, in the opening of
the Provost's Close.
"Now," said Saul, "it remains that so
bold a seeker should be taught how to
find."
He passed Umphray by andr taking the
lantern, which had fallen to the ground.
I he followed the darksome passage to its
end. Here he unlocked a door under an
archway, the same by which some hours
before I had descended to view the treas
ure of Sir Harry Morgan.
"Bring him along, three of you!" Saul
cried back, "the rest He snug! Now
Umphray Spurway, bend your head if
you wish your brains to remain in their
case. Follow me along the passage, and
at the end you shall find safe and soumt
that for which you have searched m
vain all this nlgjit."
It was at the same .moment of time
that I started up from the dusty floor
of the deserted llme-klln, a wild hope
that I was to be delivered singing in my
heart. I heard voices, footsteps, the tramp
I-of men approaching. Fear and hope laid
alternate hand on me. The low door,
which I had not been able to And in the
dark, showed itself plainly enough now,
light darting from the keyhole and flash
ing all around the ill-fitting edges.
The door opened. A tall, broad-shouldered
figure filled "all the doorway. I was
found I was delivered.
"Umphray Spurway!" I cried and sprang
towards him.
"My poor boy," he said, "I can do noth
ing for you. I also am a captive In cruet
hands."
"What!" I cried; "you a prisoner?" For
I had deemed such a thing impossible.
Then appeared Saul Mark carrying the
lantern and three other men behind him,
whom I had never seen, all with weapons
in their hands. I could now see the Eng
lishman's wrists tied behind him.
"Now, Master Philip," began Saul Mark,
"I promised you that you should see Sir
Harry Morgan'3 treasure. It was neces
sary to try your courage first. Now,
since that is proven. I shall keep my
word. Harry Morgan's treasure you shaH
3ee, and that in the feeH C company.
I mwid afterwords that the reason I could
net discover thte deer tn tne dark was because
the inner eMe ( It, that towards me, had been
pwrpeaety faced wttk Mwo. lowahoncd on the
srfae and made te adhora srmly with plaa
terershair. Be "WW arteieaia'alfameSonTegoTa
laced coat, with epaulettes upon his shoul
ders and a cocked hat on his head, like
that worn by high officers of his majesty s
navy. As ever, he was a man of hand
some figure, and carried himself proudly
and masterfully.
As he entered Saul Mark stood back.
and I could see the sallormen shake with
fear. Philip Stansfleld stiode over to
where I stood speechless beside Umphray
Spurway.
"A lantern here!" he eried. And when
Saul Mark obediently breuaht It, he put
his hand under my ehtn more gently han
I had expectes, and fell to pursuing my
face as though It had been a pi Intact
book.
"Humph I" he said, sho try after a pause,
and then turned away.
"And, now, brave Master Spurway"
he went on in another totre, "I hear you
have set yourself up on my property aa
a power m the land. What hinders that
I should not stick a knife Into you and
have you flung over the quay9 You hunt
ed me with dogs, did you? You brought
the evidence to condemn me to the gal
lows, did you? Have you gone through
him, men? What! my gallant son rae al
ready lifted the loot. Well, I am not
proud; I will see if there are any leav
ings." And with that he strode to where Um
phray stood, very grave and quiet his
arms strained behind his back and bgan
to pass his Angers across his person,
seeking for anything that he might have
concealed. I could see ''the Englishman s
face wince every time Philip Stansfleld s
hand went near his breast, where 1 had
felt a little hard, oval thing.
The searcner noted the Involuntary
movement and thrust his hand Into the
inner pocket of Ms waistcoat, from which
he brought out a little miniature on ivory,
handsomely set with diamonds. I was
standing a little behind, and as Philip
Stansneid held it underneath the rays of
the lantern I could see It quite plainly
within a yard of my eyes.
It was a portrait of my mother!
At this unexpected climax my father
lattghed a curious laugh. I never heard
but one thing like ft In all the world of
sound. That was the low growling rum
ble of boulders grinding against each other
m the bed of a flooded river. It was not
a loud noise, but there was certainly
something appalling about it.
"So," said my father, turning to Um
phray Spurway. "It te as I thought. Mas
ter Jacob, tbe Snpplanter. You have been.
amusing yourself with Xsau's wife, have
you? And that when tha p-or man was
abroad In the desert. Well, Ssau has come
borne again. What have you to say xo
him?"
"I have nothing to say to you. "P lp
Stansfleld," said Umphray very calmly,
"save that I chortsn, for the unfortuna e
lady who once was your wife a feeling
such as your nature could never under
stand. Tne ptctntr you hold tn your nana
I had mad privately. She knows noth
ing of It."
"That win do," sa!d my father shortly
"I need neither Instruction nor Informa
tion from you. What i; between us I
can settle for myself. Here, supercargo,
take my son and the other prisoners
aboard tbe Cocramantoa immediately '
He turned upon Umphray Spurwav
"And now. h" ho said, "b? g od
enough, to observe the manifold conven
iences of this kiln as an eligible perma
nent restdene. Here," (he pulled away
a loose board by a ring) "is a quiet rest
ing place deep, you see and quit" ur oc
cupied. There" (potatteg to a whi'Ish
gray heap m the corner) "Is an abundance
of quicklime waiting only a can of water
to do its duty. I have a knlfa here harp
enough to settle all scores with Master
i .mco. In the meantime I am a fee ing
hearted man Take your charming minia
ture to the place you are go.ng to 1
do not desire to possess such a constant
fremtndor of past fttetty."
(To be continued,)
i