Pittston Gazette

              * i •tabltshed 1850.i TOL. L No. K f Oldest Newsoauer in the Wvomine Vallev PITTSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY, PA., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER^S^ A Weekly Local and Family Journal. I 81 00 a Year ; In Advance. THE FORAY OF ¥HE IKANK / 9 COPYRIGHT MuKEMZKlIF/ II |l 1699) C* •« (Kw£r ejuv-flSi. 5 F.MSAVILE.^ Two persons rose to greet them as they entered—a tall*- gray mustached military gentleman and a slight, fair haired girl. meats to help him and could but smue tier helplessness. Lane, the skipper, when appealed to, was most evidently agreeable to losing his passengers, having an eye to the dangerous nature of both them and their cargo. Finally the long and the short of It was that within two hours the Polish refugees were ensconced in the yacht's best cabins and the cases of rities in her hold. When morning dawned, the merchant vessel was a dwindling speck upon the horizon, and with every sail set the Hemlrlk Hudson was flying north to Stockholm. to do with such a creature?" lady's blush the conversation ended, but something else had only Just begun."I)o!" cried Desmond. "Tell him that he has a higher sense of honor than I have, for one. I owe you a thousand apologies. It has only just struck me how extraordinary this cool appropriation of search rights for another's property appears. The possibility of a lord of the fell never occurred to ine. We are apt to think of Finland as a waste where burled spoils would beloug naturally to the finder. Accept my deepest penitence, sir, for this barefaced purpose of burglary on your emate. Now I shall have the happiness, I hope, of assisting you to your own." feet that divided her from the shore, where they stepped upon the bowlders. There was a light crackle of seaweed and grate of pebbles as they crossed the rocks behind the bay. Then they faded utterly into the darkness. A sailor hauled back the line which attached the boat to the stern and looped It upon one of the davits. silent forest from the bed of a peDDiy stream. He thought of the Joyous or devout concourse that had formerly surrounded It compared with the little band of adventurers now dragging It forth In haste and secrecy from Its hiding place of centuries. From hand to hand the salver passed, and greedy fingers played about Its carvings. Then It was laid aside, and two fresh workers took the spades and flung the sand aside from the place of Its sepulture. aDove nis neaa, smote nis nanacults with fearful force Into the other's eyes, A stream of blood burst from the wound and flooded the battered face. Blinded and stunned, the scoundrel staggered back into the arms of a companion. Paul Preobeslas turned Just In time to see the blow. With a snarl of rage he snatched a rifle from the soldier beside him and, scarce taking ~ aim, fired point blank at the Englishman as he stood across his foe. As the clatter of the shot died into the echoes Desmond flung up his hands and spun round. With a thud he fell upon his face, rolled half over and slid back again. As his body settled into the angle between two bowlders a Bhlver twitched his shoulders. Then he lay still. "My passengers," announced the American, with matter-of-factness, "let me Introduce Colonel and Miss Preobeslas. Mr.—er—Desmond." THE DAMMING OF THE  CHAPTER VI The landward breeze was Just dying with the set of sun. Far away, outlined against a pale green sky, showed a dark green edging of forest above a shore of r.ock. The soft lap of the ripple sang against the yacht's cutwater, and she lingered across the calm, the four knot breeze taking her gently, silently, toward the east Desmond began to be acutely conscious of his general dirt and dlshevelment. His clothing was gashed and ragged and his face a resting place for smuts unnumbered. Dark stains splashed his Jacket here and there. No wonder, then, that he blushed and stammered like a schoolboy as he eyed this wonderful apparition in surroundings so unlikely, for this maiden who bowed and smiled at him with such sweet cordiality was, so he swiftly realized, the one peerless woman In the wide world. Then he joined his fellows In the forecastle. Amidship Jones and the mate kept motionless watch, one seaward, one toward the shore. The boat lay rubbing and nosing gently against the timbers of the hull, like a puppy nestling to Its mother. Then, almost Imperceptibly, the ripples swung her shoreward again, and she stretched out to her full tether. The shadow lay black between the companlonway and the deckhouse, and through It a figure moved ghostlike on noiseless feet Suddenly the dingey, as if endowed with life, turned and made back toward the ship. A white hand leaned through the taffrail and pulled gently but steadily at the painter. As the boat swung under the stern two little feet were poised above her, feeling carefully for foothold. Then Hllmar slid noiselessly down In the. darkness and pushed away from the hull, speeding to the shore with silent Impulse. She caught the rocks with outstretched hands before a timber conld grate and crept out upon them. She spurned back the boat as she landed, and without a ripple It glided again to the ship's side and resumed Its dull tapping against the planks. Unseen In her dark cloak, Hllmar crept along the reef, gained the sand and was In her turn swallowed by the darkness. The deck watch, engrossed In other directions, had not caught a vestige of her as she passed. The hunt began to wax furious. At first the treasure came up in single objects, but, as the hole grew in size, In heaps. The very heart of the hoard was laid bare. Great beakers there were, with curious handles and grotesque embossings; necklets of gold and silver, with precious stones agllnt in them; cavern crosses and candlesticks, the spoil of many a sacked monastery and convent; plate of all conditions and descriptions, from hug$ wassail Jugs of gallon capacity to the delicate flagons of the ladies' bower. Money, too, was there In quantitiesold coins, in handfuls, from which the bags had perished by damp and decay; strings of beads in amber and mother of pearl, over which many a finger long dead had counted pious prayers; lumps of precious metal as yet tinworked or molten down from other objects for easier transport; uncut gems, bracelets, torques, anklets, brooches— a giant hoard of all the richest spoils of the day when civilization was not and lust of gain was strong. Pladja, the Finn, was talking in the little English he had managed to pick op when Desmond and his guests strolled on deck after breakfast. Ho was addressing Jones excitedly, licking his lips remlniscently over the glories of the tight A cutlass wound had seared his forehead and was bound with ample folds of lint. In this he resembled more than one of the yacht's crew, but Barr had pronounced them all to be healthy wounds and likely to heal, though some of them were shrewd enough gashes. Up In the bows Desmond stood beside Miss Hllmar and watched enviously the light that shone In her eyes as she gazed at the gray dimness of the shore—the shore that for her meant home. If only that gaze had been for him and his! iiiuejackets, dealing deatti ana aestruction, while hot upon his track followed Barr and Desmond. With muskets clubbed and eyes and knives agieam the crew flung themselves into the fray. Preobeslas waved his cigar deprecatingly and smiled. "You forget my very dear friend, that the treasure In question Is the declared property of the Russian government They themselves say so and ought to know. Anything on the land which once was mine they pronounce themselves heir to." MB. JOKES FINDS HIS COURAGE. The Russian, with the bated yellow at the main, came along with a swing before the favoring breese. Her sails bellied out prosperously. Her cutwater spurned the spray. She leaped the billows with a proud and superior air. To her commander oppoeltlon was a thing unthinkable. A puff of smoke burst from her bow. A column of spray followed quickly, rising 50 feet ahead of the merchantman's bows. The union jack seemed to flick contemptuously from the yacht's stern as the foam died down among the waves. The Russian sped along her course, and from her captain's speaking trumpet came a ball. Over went the yards, and the helm was put about. 8he rounded to within 100 fathoms. "Give to me your sheep, or I sink youl" came the challenge across the sea lane. The pronunciation was poor, but the meaning unmistakable. The Yankee answer went back swift and straight "See you swlmmin first!" defied the skipper, and a mighty cheer rose from the English decks. Forthwith followed another puff of smoke. This time the ball plowed the deck of the disabled craft and took a corner of the deckhouse Into the sea. The flying splinters smote down a man. Blood showed duskily upon the white decks, visible enough to the watching crew of the yacht Jones gripped the taffrail In front of him, using wicked words. Barr and Desmond swore aloud. A murmur rustled Inarticulately among the men. Again the 6 pounder roared. The answering thud as It passed clean through an American seaman's body was sickeningly audible. The shot sped on and crashed into the bulwarks A groan rose from all the captives as they stood paralyzed by the sudden tragedy. The groan became a shout, and they flung themselves desperately upon their guards and fought, swinging each his fettered wrists. A vain struggle! Within five minutes all were batterer and roped Into utter subjection, and the long line of praised wretches was stumbling anew down the track, half blinded, bleeding, smitten and cowed. At the head again the leader raged, venting fnrlous curses, while between two of his fellows the disfigured soldier was led, bemoaning his sightless eyes, over which the blood caked continually as It welled from his scarred cheeks. Over the huddle of wrestling, smiting, swearing sailors the powder smoke hung like a fog, and out of it came crieB and thud of fist and club and the grate of rasping bulwarks as the ships tore at their fixed grapnels like living foes. The combatants lost themselves in a very mist of passion and fighting lust. CHAPTER V. "Can you recognize anything yet?" he queried. "1 suppose we shouldn't In any case get a glimpse of the house from this direction." It was the colonel who broke the silence. He held out his hand with a frank smile, speaking In excellent English.PLADJA, THE FINN, EXPLAINS HIMSELF. "Then It is fcur manifest duty to get it from them," said Desmond, "and if you will assist with your special knowledge 1 can assure you I shall account It an honor to convey It where it will best aid the cause of Poland." "Oh, no! Lars Is taking us well out of view of that. If Cousin Paul saw a ship in this deserted sea, he might get suspicious." "We owe you great thanks, sir," he said, "for aid most opportune. But for your assistance 1 fear we should have been compulsory passengers aboard the gunboat you have so valiancy beaten off, sailing for Cronstadt, wnTch tp my case, at any rate, would have meant a very early death. We should have ranked as prisoners, but not of war." As the colonel's voice was raised in answer to some remark of his host a strange thing happened. The Finn whirled round and stared at him from beneath his. bandaged brows, his eyes ablaze, his mouth open, intense amazement shining In every feature. With a wild cry he rushed across the Intervening deck and cast himself at the otiler's feet, snatching at his hands, covering them with kisses, pouring out a babel of disjointed, tremulous words, fawning like a dog who has 4bund his master after long days of separation. "I thought perhaps you could see some landmark. You looked so earnestly.""Ah, there you vanquish me. Anything for Poland, my friend—anything for my poor country. But how do you propose setting to work?" Half the Russian# were upon the British decks. A score of British held the Russian forecastle. Jones and Desmond, unknowingly raging forward into the bows of the man-of-war, found themselves hewing clear space round the Russian gun. Barr, with half a 3oxen English tars, held his own deckhouse from a score of Muscovites. Across the gray haze of smoke a musket flash showed redly here and there. Desmond, falling, gripped unseeingly at the lanyard of the carronade, whose gunner had been found by a chance bullet ere he could Are her after reloading. With a resounding Crash the charge roared Into the bulwarks before her muzzle. With sudden inspiration he seized the lever and started the carriage at a run down the decks. Gathering Impetus with the heave of the ship, the gun smote upon the shattered ' planking and leaped into the sea. A I yell of delight rang out from the Brit- I lsh crew as they saw the drawing of ' their enemy's single tooth. From the yacht's hatchway answered another echoing shout. Out of the companion sprang Pladja, the Finn, bearded, wild eyed, wondering upon the sudden turmoil. For one moment he stared in amaze. Then, as the familiar hated uniform caught his eye, I with a snarl as of a wolf a-hunt he ! hurled himself Into the fight, roaring, hewing, stabbing, like one possessed. The white faced Russians fell before him like leaves in an autumn gust. ! A crash from the far side proclaimed the gunboat attacked starboard as well as port With a cheer the Yankees sprang down upon her decks and linked forces with the British. Silently, unseen, they had towed their disabled hulk to the rescue and now swept the Muscovites before them In irresistible leaguer with their comrades of the yacht. Another two minutes' huriy burly, wherein the snap of pistols and the thudding of clubs contended ceaselessly, and the cowed sailors of the cur were driven pellmell down the hatchways in tumbled heaps and battened down. Then, with shouts of victory, the yellow flag whereon sat the double headed eagle was hauled down and cast into the sea Vigorous were the shakings of each Yankee hand and hearty the slaps upon each British back. Upon the quarter deck the two commanders met and strove to make themselves beard above the gratulatory din. "Of course I look and look. It's home! here, borne! It'll never be tbat again, eally. But can't you understand wnai ,t Is only to gaze at It after being a wanderer In strange countries all these years?" f "As far as I can make out from I'ladja, the stream in question,' which I have no doubt still flows ovW the treasure, is about five miles inland aud the same distance from Skelligen. It is in the heart of the pine forest and near no ordinary pathway. He talks also of a small rock ringed bay on a deserted part of the coast where we might anchor unseen. My Idea was to arrive at evening, obtain the treasure duriug the night and be off at dawn. What have you to say V" "But why?" stammered Desmond. "Surely the fact of your vessel bearing contraband of war doesn't affect you?" Before they left they raised and looked at the prone figure between the Btonea. A red ooze was spreading over Desmond's side. His face was colorless. His inert body was limp, and the clothes hung haggard about him. The breath waa silent between his white lips. "All these years," laughed Desmond. "Come, now. We're not so old as all that, are we?" They gathered up this harvest of the streamlet bed and bestowed it In the coal bags they had brought. When the burdens were arranged, each man fairly staggered under his load of treasure. Before they set out on their homeward march they broke down the dam of earth and let in the streamlet, rejoicing, to its natural bed. Then each heaved up his appointed share and, Pladja leading, began the weary march back to the sea. "Unfortunately," replied the colonel, "it belonged to me. I see I must explain a little. The fact Is, I have had my little differences with the paternal government of the czar. I and a few thousand of my fellow countrymen—I have the honor to be a Pole—took upon ourselves to reason with our Russian administrators on a matter of sentiment We objected to their methods and perhaps were a trifle forcible in our manner of expressing our ideas. In fact, as you probably are aware," continued he, "we killed a few thousand of them a year or two back." For the moment the colonel was entirely nonplused. Then as the bearded "No. Perhaps I exaggerate my case," she answered brightly, "but still I should like to have somewhere that I could call home again." And her voice broke with just the suspicion of a. sigh. —A A mile away in the forest the treasure seekers were stumbling along. The rotting pine branches crossed their path here, there and everywhere, and many were the trips they made and numberless the imprecations they muttered. At their head strode Lars, staring round him and pointing now and again to some huge trunk or bowlder as he signified that he recognized familiar landmarks. "A cursed shrewd shot, captain," said the sergeant "This cock will crow no more." "Most excellently devised, but—there is always a but—I have knowledge which complicates the question. My cousin, whom you lately saw, Is, as I say, government bailiff at Skelllgen. lie was put there to prevent the rural population from showing in any substantial manner its regard for myself. My cousin, who has always been my enemy, discovered that the brave villagers were subscribing to my support in secret and forwarding the proceeds abroad. Representations in the proper quarter sent him down to Skelllgen to superintend operations to prevent this. He has done so most effectively by taxing the hapless peasants beyond any chance of raising more tiiau the bare necessaries of existence. At the same time, by watching and spying on my messenger, he doubtless discovered my presence In Bremen and put the gunboat on my track. Now we shall find him installed again in Skelllgen on our arrival." Desmond looked steadily back into her face as she turned her eyes to his. "I don't think you would find much difficulty in the matter," he said very quietly, but with yearning in his voice. "The English dog!" answered the officer. "Let the carrion rot A fit meal for the forest. Let wolf eat wolf. There'll be little .left of him by morning."It was no light task, that stumble through the forest. For every mile they bad trodden before two seemed to stretch out along their return. The roughnesses of scrub and bowlder over which they had stridden lightly In the buoyancy of hope and in the promise of adventure now seemed serried and rampant against them as they staggered under their loads. They tripped and slid, they wearied utterly, they grew numb to any chance of discovery and cursed aloud without regard. For one moment she met bis gaze with Innocent wonder in her face. Then as his meaning grew Into her brain she blushed furiously. She walked forward without another word and Joined her father. It was a pity Desmond walked humbly behind, for thert was a shine in her eyes that matched Ik -ft dis. if tt -*he^ Desmond held out his hand. "If you arc one of the Polish patriots, sir, I should like to shake hands with you again. By Jo.ve, I wish we'd sunk those-brutes! But bow in the world did you come to l»e pursued? Where did you sail from?" They flans the body back among the stones and continued down the faint forest track. For some few minutes the crackle of their trend among the underwood was heard, and the gleam of the bayonets showed through the pine needles. Then quiet fell again upon the forest. Upon the bowlders Desmond slept motionless. A stealthy step among the scrub, and a white face looked out from behind a rock and glanced anxiously round. Then lightly a girl ran across the glade and Bank to her knees beside Desmond's body. The tears were streaming down her cheeks. The sobs choked her as she bent over him and chafed his listless hands. Prom her pocket she took a flask and poured a drop or two between his clinched teeth. There was a cough, and a faint color rose to his face. His eyes opened and stared at her with jronderlng inquiry. Suddenly he sat up and gazed round him The night was dull and heavy. Thick clouds moved sluggishly across the sky, opening at short intervals to let down a ray of light from the crescent moon. e sc .'u —nee o .j evening sheeu "From Bremen," said the colonel, "as 1 think I heard our friend here inform you." flicked Jones' calf. With a howl of rage and a flaming countenance be turned to Desmond. "Are we to suck our thumbs while she spits on us?" he roared. "Blast their yellow faces! Aren't we to defend ourselves? We've been assaulted on the high seas. Ain't that good enough? God bless me! Can't I throw a pill aboard her, sir?" of the yacht A twisted bit of rail Just Now and again, disturbed by some erratic stumble from one or other member of the party, the half waked chuckle of a willow grouse was heard. The shrill cries of the owls answered each other from thicket to thicket. Here and there huge patches of winter drift lay white between the bowlders and were religiously skirted by the party, who desired to leave no trail. Once or twice lean black shapes swerved shadowlike across their path, only the gleam of a pair of i&vage eyes proclaiming that a wolfs lair had been Invaded, so ghostlike did they flit from one dark recess of the undergrowth to another. Out of the pine trees the occasional gurgle of a night- Jar came startllngly. Worn out, with the perspiration standing In beads upon their foreheads, with muscles stiff as wire ropes and limbs that ached in every Joint, thej reeled at last down the sands of the little rock ringed bay and called softly for their boat "Of course. I forgot. But how in the world did a Russian gunboat come to be on your trail from Bremen?" "I see 1 must give you the whole story. Besides my Polish property, 1 have a good deal of land on the Baltic coast. This has been confiscated by the paternal government aforesaid, together with what I own elsewhere. The creature whom they have Installed as their agent Is, I much regret to say, my cousin. This vile wretch found out by some means unknown to me, my presence in Bremen and notified the executive. He was, in fact the gentleman who bid us that dramatic farewell from the gunboat's deck just now. How he got his gunboat timed to meet us in the Baltic 1 cannot say. Probably we were watched leaving Bremen harbor. Anyway, there we were, and the result we have seen." Raiting the man to his feet, he wrung his hand. face was turned up to him, the brown eyes appealing hungrily for recognition, the thin hands catching at his knees, a shoii burst from between his lips. Raising the man to his feet, he wrung his hand, smiling, talking, patting his shoulder, while great tears coursed down his cheeks. "But why should he expect us to descond upon him?" Then from behind each bowlder at their back rose a gray coated man, and with sudden and simultaneous action they were seized about the arms and flung face to earth. By deft, sinuous fingers were they bound and laid helpless on the saad Desmond laughed joyously. "1 thought you'd come to see It In that light, skipper," he replied. "Let for her, my boy! -Give her two for her evone! We'll show her what'B what!" 1 whirl round the little i his own hands. Tnnoa Knnf tn "I think," said the colonel dryly, "that my cousin is not the man to let himself be surprised for want of a little suspicion. He has seen me In these waters. He may not now think it likely, but still he will prepare for the possibility of a visit. We must be cautious." From the stern of the yacht a torch flared up, and a line of grinning facet showed over the taffralL Beside the torch bearer stood a gray uniformed man and bowed In mockeqr toward the colonel and his companions. "Greeting, noble cousin V he called. "Greeting to my poor hospitality!" , « "Lars! Lars!" he called continually, and the babel of words rioted gladly between them, while the English could only watch and wonder. For an Instant Miss Preobeslas regarded her fatter wttji- — ssfptehending amazement. Then, with a glad cry, she, too, ran to the chattering, hand grasping pair and joined in the melee of happy words. An hour's toil among the branches and bowlders and the tinkle of running water broke upon their ears. At a gesture from their guide they turned to the right and debouched upon the bank of a rivulet, a little brook that leaped and plashed from pool to pool, laving great rocks that stemmed its course among shallows a bare foot deep. Only the worn and smooth course of the rocky channel showed to what heights It rose in winter or autumn spate. L "What force can he have? Barely, if the villagers are favorable, we defy capture eve* If we're discovered." The colonel laughed aloud. "If it weren't for the fDard with which ho has been furnished, he would have been assassinated long ere this. Though most of the regiments have been drawn south, there Is still a squadron of dragoons at Osbrog. No, my dear sir, we must not rely on a want of force to oppose us." "Don't him please, lie still till 1 can get help." Desmond winked and blinked at her stupidly. Then, with an effort, h« stood up. Hllmar gasped In her amaze* oent He slapped himself about the ribs with a grimace. Then he stared confusedly down at the blood smear on his side. He thrust his hand beneath his jacket and tugged at something. He produced a jagged bit of silver that winked cheerfully in the lunllght A hoarse giggle broke from him. smartly. Away roared the ball and— oh. Joy i—slap Into into the enemy's hull. A delightful white splintering •bowed up against her pitched planks. "But the contraband of war—he must have known of that or wouldn't have dared to stop a ship under the stars and 8tripes." Desmond and Ming Preobetlcu ttroUed CHAPTER VII. forward. DESMOND'S LUCK IN BEING A SHOKXH. The outcry with which Pladja had greeted her father was a whisper compared to the triumphant 'yell with which he flung himself upon his knees before the daughter and caught at and kissed her skirts, fondling her extended hand, weeping, gesticulating, raising his hands and calling on every saint in the Greek calendar to bless this unsought meeting. The colonel saw the curiosity written large on Desmond's face, for he turned toward him while the war of question and answer still raged between his daughter and the Finn and with many smiles gave shortly his explanation of the matter. upon the waters. Colonel Preobeslas was staring at the desolate coast before him, turning now and again to shout directions to Lars, who was at the helm. In the gray of the dawning a procession wound down the aisles of the pine forest, straggling dismally among the littered debris of the woods. At the head strode a dark, heavily mustached man in the uniform of an officer of Russian infantry. Beside him, carrying coal bags, were a dozen figures. As he surveyed their strong exertion under the weight they bore he smiled complacently and stroked his chin. He A rare English cheer rang oat upon the sea, but the merchant skipper shook his head doubtfully across at Desmond, though be could but smile approval of this distinguished marksmanship."That he doubtless heard of from the same source whence he got the news of my movements. You must understand," continued the colonel, smiling, "that the executive put an exaggerated value on the control of my person and talents. I fear I have been a sore thorn in their flesh. It was owing to the fact that your British government bad begun seriously to agree wjth me in my estimate of Russian affairs that I thought the time was ripe again to bring forward my old arguments. The rifles and powder were to have been lauded farther north—on my own old estates, in fact—and a rising fomented. This was due to the fact that we had information that the countryside was drained of troops for the south. I fear now that further action in the matter has been prevented by this untimely affray." "What are we to do then7" sighed Desmond. "It's a burning shame to let the stuff waste." The yacht took a devious, not to say intricate, course, bespeaking a reef strewn channel. As the shore grew plainer before them they saw the point of their desire. The guide looked eagerly from right to left. Then stealthily he crept forward and laid his hand upon a bowlder face. He shook his head as he passed his palm over the smooth surface and stepped on to another. Some half dozen times did he finger the mighty stones that ridged across the stream without result At the seventh or eighth attempt an exclamation broke from him. Turning, he beckoned to the colonel, who crept noiselessly to bis side. Catching his master's hand, Pladja placed it beside his own. The colonel felt a rough cross graven In the stone. C "Thanks, mister, a hundred times!" As the Russian recognized that she had a second assailant she began to alter her position. Sbe slewed her one gun and pointed it at the yacht's bow, where it projected beyond the larger vessel. The shot, however, missed, passing over her as she dipped between the waves. said the merchant skipper soberly. "But the Lord—he only knows what to make of this" "Make of it!" shouted Desmond, the unstanched blood flowing down his face. "Why, tow her back to England, the first prize of the war." "Mercy me!" replied the other sadly. "You're young Indeed, mister, or you wouldn't frame the words. This is piracy of sorts, this is. We're filibusters, we are. No commission to levy war, don't you know." "Dang the commission!" quoth Desmond. "Let's chance it." "There, again, mister, yon show your youth. There might be some chance for you If you've declared war, and that you can't tell yet But there ain't a morsel for me and mine. Piracy on the high seas. It is, and no error. By all that's reasonable, let her go her evil way and pray to be forgotten and forgiven. Two good men have I lost over this most mlsfortunate affair, and you've been let blood, too, as your ash decks show only too plainly. Chuck their arms into the sea and send them back to Cronstadt and the devil." Preobeslas shrugged his shoulders. "I am a fatalist. I believe destiny meets us at the appointed hour, no sooner. I should say go and leave the result to chance, but I can't urge this point of view upon you. I risk nothing but my worthless life and should have the satisfaction of perishing, If perish I must, on the lands of my fathers. To you It is my plain duty to point out the obstacles." "He's delirious !*' sobbed Hllmar in lespalr. "What shall I do?" At her voice Desmond's wits began Deeply cleft In the rocky foreshore lay a little bay, ringed with rocks that ran out In circling breakwaters on either side. Within these #as a still pool, lapping lazily a sandy beach. There seemed bare entrance room for a vessel of the yacbt'B tonnage, and as they approached the colonel's shouts were frequent Finally, at his request a boat was dropped astern and, with a crew of six, lay with the oars at the ready. The yacht seemed to be charging straight upon the rocks. Only the Jib was set and as rocks began to show visibly beneath her keel even this was dropped. Her way still urged her on, and all on board drew their breath. to grow to him again. He took the jirl's hand and held it fast The color was back again in his face finely now. "Dear Miss Preobeslas, I ffisure you I'm right as the malL The beggar hit my cigarette case my pocketbook. The bullet nefer penetrated. Bar having every vestige of breath knocked out of me, I'm as fit as be da—as a fiddle, I mean." As the gun was run back the Russian began to get weigh again. She began to torn and circle toward her adversary. There was no doubt about It, sbe meant boarding. "I have hardly yet been gather how my old servant aw foster brother comes to be on your yacht, my dear sir, but you will understand my delight In finding him here when 1 had believed him dead these three years back. He was the forester on my Finnish estate and the most faithful of servants—of comrades, let me say. Word was brought to me of his death In a Russian prison some time back. I had indeed thought that he had succumbed to his torments rather than betray my whereabouts. 1 see now it was only a device oMrhe enemy to cause me pain. He says you are sailing to his very my own estate, In fact, mine at least before It was confiscated by the righteous executive which denies rights of property to those from whom it differs." Desmond's face brightened. "Oh, you want to go, then. That settles the question. So do 1. It's only a matter of detail how to do It. We can settle that when we've got to Stockholm, sent the wounded to hospital and landed Miss Preobeslas." There was a snapping of clasps •board the yacht as the seamen got out their knives. The capstan bars were collected and belaying pins laid handy. Every rifle and shotgun was loaded. Then in a breathless silence the crew waited, watching the approaching vessel. The girl eyed him doubtfully. "But the blood!" she gasped. "You must be wounded." "My own mark, one of noble birthr exclaimed the Finn, with suppressed excitement "Between these stones 1 saw the cup and scepter rise. Beneath our feet lies the treasure." "Well, I am still more proud and thankful, now 1 hear the rights of the case, that we got to you in time," said Desmond. "But how can I serve you now?" "Never a bit," he answered cheerily. "A jag of my cigarette case has Just scratched me; that's all. Any bit of sticking plaster will put that right But how on earth did you get here?" « * The colonel looked at his daughter fondly. "Yes, I was forgetting. You must remain, Hllmar, mine, though I puzzle my old wits to think where." In low voiced tones Desmond and Preobeslas consulted, and their purpose took shape as follows: Desmond followed every movement on her deck as sbe neared them. His gaze was concentrated on the winking brass gun at her bow. Suddenly he gave a shout. Then, at a sharp scream from Lars, the wheel whirred round, and the rowers adtern bent furiously to their oars, hauling at the rope which was passed from them to the ship's stern. With swiftness Incredible the yacht turned, slowed and, slipping between the reefs, shot into the still pool, and the anchor went In four fathoms. It was a fine display of steersmanship. There was barely room In the little bay to hold her. Her bow nosed within 20 feet of the shore and her stern of the circling ring of rocks. "My dedMbir, you pile up the obligation. You have already risked life and property for entire strangers. What is there left for your kindness to suggest? I heard your offer to take us off before the fight began. It was only because 1 knew that we should be seeu and pursued that I didn't accept it Believe me, the Russians would have followed you under the guns of Fort Waxholm rather than let you escape Into Stockholm with us on board. You have Indeed done all there is to do." Centrally down the channel of the water course they threw up a ridge of sand and stone, running it parallel with the banks and not striving as yet to divert the streamlet's course. Some three or four yards above where they believed the treasure to lie they began their embankment, stemming the current with a huge bowlder. Working down from this, they dug sand and silt with vigorous spade strokes, and soon a ridge about three feet High began to stand up In mldstrealn. "I followed yon last night. I saw 70a find the treasure. I watched you all the time. After the first few minutes I was never 20 yards from you. I walked behind you all the way back. I wanted to triumph over father and all of you and shew that I was quite capable of sharing your adventure. I was going to burst upon you and—and —laugh at you when I saw those horrible men rise up and fell you. 1 Just kept from screaming and ran back into the shadow. Then 1 didn't know . what to do. I was so frightened, all alone. At last I thought of our old jager, Stefan. He lives In a little cottage in the woods apart from the village. If s he who always sent father the rents he managed to collect. It took me two hours to get there, and it was still dark when 1 arrived. 1 didn't dare knock. In case there should be some one with him. So 1 sat about in the bushes till morning, and then he came out, and 1 knew him. When I ran down, he crossed himself and tried to exercise me," and a watery smile crossed her face. "He thought 1 was a ghost. He took me in and gave me food. Then he went out to reconnoiter and told me that you were all coming along bound. Then 1 watched with him and saw you killed, as 1 thought," and the speaker's lips trembled. Stefan has gone on to see what becomes of dear father and the rest. Now we must go back to Stefan's cottage and think what's to be done." Ills daughter gazed back at him in blauk amazement. "Father, what can you be thinking of? I remain when you go to our dear Skelllgen without me! You must be dreaming." "Down behind the bulwarks, every man jack of your he bawled. "She's loaded canister! When she touches off, up and give her back all you've got!" minutes they toiled burdens greedily. Then bis gkmce strayed to tbe tall of tbe procession, where, handcuffed and roped, a score and a half of captives slunk between as many guards. He chuckled aloud In his glee and once, as Preobeslas raised his head and shot a fiery glance at him, lifted his cap and saluted him mockingly. "But my own, how can I take you into danger and perchance to death?" The pale face flushed proudly, and the blue eyes glanced with a clear shining into her father's face. "I am your daughter. 1 claim my right to be at your side." Then, with a burst of sudden entreaty, she continued, "And how could 1 be left alone, father, darling?"Desmond looked half convinced and unhappy. "Well, skipper," he said unwillingly, "1 suppose you know your business best. But bow in the name of all thafs extraordinary did you come to be carrying oontraband In these seas? Is the Turkish fleet coming up?" "That's a tale as I'll nnfold in the cabin," said the American. "Leastways I've them there as will. Just for the present let's get quit of this here splintered wreck." And he shouted to his crew. She was circling to them now a bare hundred yards away. The foam ran up her stem and shot Into the air against her bulge as she heeled. They could note the rainbow rays as the sun glanced upon it. "We are certainly suiting for Skelligen," said Desmond, "urged thereto by Pladja himself. He had promised us possession of a treasure which I now perceive belongs to j;ou. How he reconciled It with his conscience to give us knowledge of it 1 can't say. Perhaps better ask him." "Yes, indeed you have," chimed in the daughter. "How can we thank you enough?" With the rattle of the chain the sun died down into the sea, and darkness gathered. No lights were lit save in the saloon, and here the ports were closed. Never a sound disturbed the stillness. All spoke in whispers. When darkness closed in, not a soul would have been able to discern the presence of the ship. While the sailors continued to pile up and strengthen this embankment Desmond and the colonel proceeded to hurl stones and lumps between the head of the new made mound and the Bhore, Joining the two slantingly, and gradually deflecting the water into the narrowed channel, down which it coursed deeper and swifter in Its straitened bounds. "Boyez le bienvenu, mon cousin; soyez le bienvenu!" he called Ironically and pointed before him with a laugh. Fifty yards now, and they could see the expectant faces of the sailors and the eyes of the gunner turned upon his commander. There was a pause, while all held their breath. Then quickly the officer nodded, and Desmond ducked. The canister hailed down upon the planks, carrying destruction to the deckhouse and skylight, but never a man was touched, though splinters flew wide and white. As Desmond looked up be felt that she of all people in the world could find a means. Yet the audacity of the mere thought made him blush and mutter inanities as he strove to find a reply. The soft earnestness of those blue eyes, the sweet gratitude that shone in the deliclously flushed fate— these things made his brain whirl with the rapture of regarding them. It seemed impossible this charming creature could really be considering him when she spoke in this manner. The colonel looked at her wistfully and choked a little sigh. "So be it, then, dear. We go together If," he added, with a charming smile, "Mr. Desmond can tolerate femfnlne society on a bachelor's yacht." An Imprecation shot from between the colonel's teeth, and he whispered to his companion, Dessqpnd, who stumbled beside him: "Thfc dogl My life for his if 1 have but luck! But my Hilmar, my Hllmar! If I did but know of her safety!" . The colonel turned to the Finn again, and the talk went on. The expressions of amusement, surprise and finally indignation that crossed his countenance as his former forester explained himself were varied. Suddenly his genial face shut up hard and rigid. He glared at the Finn. His words grew stern and lashed out at the other, who, cringing and growling, turned to the lady for support. Her face was as set as her father's, and she repelled him with a contemptuous gesture. He turned eagerly, imploringly, from one to the other, pouring out a words as evidently he strove to And excuse and explanation for some part of his recital. From father and daughter he received only scorn and reptflse. Finally, with a despairing countenance, the unfortunate man crept away forward, while the colonel turned again to Desmond and began gravely to speak. Down in the saloon a hasty meal was snatched. Plans were made in low voiced tones, and one of the cases of rifles was opened and the contents distributed. Pistols were served out to all who were of the landing party. This consisted of Colonel Preobeslas, Desmond, Pladja and six seamen. Besides their rifles, they took spades and mattocks. Barr was to remain in charge with Mr. Jones. Hilmar, In spite of earnest pleading, was condemned to stay aboard also, and was In consequence in a most becoming state of melancholy. As her father finished his preparations she turned to him with one last appeal, but in this case he was adamant I Desmond bawled to his own men. "Fling over those grapnels!" he called to the wondering crew, who were already discussing prize averages, and they did as they were bid in a silence of stupefaction. With empty, silent decks the gunboat slid from between her antagonists, like a big bully out of the grip of two revengeful urchins. Yawing to port masterless and unsteered, she was buffeted by the billows wantonly. As »he drifted slowly apart from the other vessels one of her battened hatchways was flung Into the air by an unseen force, and a man in military uniform* stepped upon her decks, "Pirates!" he shouted to them and shook his fist. "Pirates! But I not forget—no, I not forget!" Then the ravaged gunboat slipped away into the darkness of the evening mist, which gathered her Into its bosom, covering her wounded decks and bulwarks as with a lint of cloud. Barr was below, and stretched upon the table of the saloon were three poor fellows with wounds that gaped scarlet—cutlass gashes that drained their lifeblood hideously. Desmond Joined his trained assistance to Barr's skill, and between them thev stitched find wiped and bandaged with swiftness wonderful. Half a dozen more were slightly scarred by sword or bullet and patientjy waited their turn Upon the other ship's deck as she rode Mr. Desmond was so overpowered by Ills astounding luck In having the prospect of this delightful maiden for a fellow adventurer that at first words failed him In which to express his satisfaction. He stammered his pleasure lamely enough, but with an earnestness that brought a blush to Miss mimar's cheeks. Her father looked for a moment from his daughter to the young man. With a whimsical expression and the barest shrug of the shoulder he turned away and beckoned Pladja back to him. Desmond and Miss Preobeslas strolled forward. As the last of the pools drained away and left the sandy Intervals dry they left this work and took their stand before the rock first indicated by the Finn. "He can't possibly have captured her," muttered the other. "D'you suppose he wouldn't have been throwing It In your teeth and glorying over you by now If he had? She has found refuge among somehow. You may be sure of It It must be so," he continued fiercely, Insistently. "He doesn't even know of her being here. He thinks her left behind at Stockholm."As the crash died away the sailors leaped to their feet. WJth a yell they greeted the clash of the meeting bulwarks, and a volley clanged at close "Anything 1 have done has been an honor as well as a pleasure," he stammered. "But don't you think another vessel may be still in pursuit? If they set such importance on your capture, they will surely try to insure it. If you would only condescend to accept the hospitality of my yacht, I should have the greatest pleasure in conveying you to Stockholm or wherever you like as soon as possible, This unfortunate accident to your mast must detain you." With spade and mattock they flung themselves upon the river bed and hurled aside the sand with eager haste. For ten minutes they toiled unrewarded. Then the colonel resigned his spade to Pladja. Desmond, lti better training and with the determination of youth, stuck to his task. The other six continued to buttress the bulwark of sand between these workers and the «tr»»R m outside. Suddenly there was a chink. Pladja flung down his spade and seized the object against which it had struck. He held it up In the wavering moonlight, and In a trice all nine had gathered about him, peering with straining eyes at what he held. It was a huge llsk of metal—that much could be ascertained In the dimness of the overhanging boughs—but It was not till a sudden parting of the clouds sent down a shaft of silver light between the pines that the nature of the thing was accurately seen. A broad salver of virgin gold was poised In the Finn's hands, richly embossed and chased. The figures were slightly dulled and worn by the action of the damp earth, but they shone with a luster no other metal could match. It was unmistakable In Its soft sheen. "Who can tell?" sighed the colonaL "He is fit for any devlllshness. My God, if she should be in his hands! But she knows how to die, as do all Polish gentlewomen. She has her little platoL""D'you think you'll be able to put up with our rough wavs?" said Desmond. "I'm afraid you Hardly know what you're letting yourself In for. Have you all you want In your cabin ? We've never had ladles before In this bachelor retreat." "No, my own, no. Here I make a stand. There is no work for girls tonight. Who knows if we have been seen? We may have to fight. We may be surprised. Who knows what may happen? You wouldn't have your old father's arm made weak by the knowledge that you shared his peril." "Whatever we find to do, Miss Hilmar," he said, with a look into her eyes that made the long lashes droop, "believe me that only with my life will I give up the attempt to free your father." Then the girl led the way sllenH» dnvn the narrow forest. To be ooDtiuu«-d. "While nothing can really excuse the treachery which It is my painful duty to detail to you, let me ask you to bear In mind in extenuation the fervent feudal devotion which Finns as well as Poles bear to their overlord; also 1 may plead their overmastering patriotism, which allows all methods to be used which advance the cause of their country. Lars has told to me Ills discovery of the treasure. He has also had the assurance to explain to me that he meant to use you as instruments only In obtaining it. Afterward he purposed frankly to steal it anCl bring it to the leaders of my party. The dishonesty of this course of action has simply never occurred to him. His moral horizon is bounded very narrowly. He first regards things as they affect myself and family; secondly, Finland, and, thirdly, and solely on my account, Poland. Your interests in the matter were outside consideration, as far as he is concerned. I have just tried to whip a little sense of honor into him, but 1 fear he now only regards me as an unjust and very foolish old man, who has not the good of the cause properly at heart. In fact," and the colonel burst out laughing, HI believe be thinks me as entire tu* idiot sa he ever met What are we "Don't," shuddered Desmond, "for God's sake! 1 can't bear to think of it. I should go mad." The''colonel spread out his hands deprecatingly. "You are kindness Itself," he answered. "I couldn't think of disturbing your cruise"— he began, but Desmond Interrupted eagerly. "I've everything I could possibly wish for," said the girl. "And, oh, 1 can't thank you enough for taking us! To see Skelligen again! The Joy ofr It is more than I can say." The colonel turned to him. "What can it be to you compared with me, her father, on whose responsibility her coming restsT Curse those fools of yours who let themselves be surprised!" he burst out with the sudden Irritation born of utter despair. "'T1b ever an Englishman who in his thick hided conceit believes himself beyond the possibility of an overreach. But for them we might be sailing— Ah, forgive me, my friend!" as Desmond's white face and haggard eyes showed his silent misery. "1 am an old man. She was my one hope. 1 am unstrung. I babble 1 know not what The fault is mine, mine alone! Forgive"— One of the guards turned and hit the speaker across the shoulder with his ramrod. "I was bound for Stockholm In any case," he averred mendaciously, "and if Miss will excuse our bachelor menage"—the blue eyes sparkled merrily—"I can promise to try at any rate to make you fairly comfortable.""But, father, dearest, I can use a pistol as well as you can. I'm just as good a shot and twice as strong." M-UNATiJ * OftteCHobafar "Is It your home, then? How is It that your father, a Pole, has lived so much in Finland?" "Hear her!" said the colonel, turning to the others, with a look of comical despair. "Was there ever such a termagant?" Then, changing his voice to one of quiet command: "Seriously, sweetheart, I don't want you tonight. Be patient and wait for our return. Perhaps we shall have good news for Tl "It's the home of my mother. She was the daughter of Count Waritzln, and my grandmother was a Scotch lady. I have many relatives In Scotland and passed years there when I was small. Didn't you think it strange I should speak English as I do?" The colonel was overwhelmed by this offer, but in truth it could not be accepted. There were the munitions of war. These he could not bring himself to desert. With answering yett» the Rwuian boarder• swarmed upon the deck. quarters Into the ranged lines of manof-war's men. A dozen of them rolled you." upon the decks in sudden helplessness. With answering yells the Russian boarders broke across the lashed ham- llongslde could still be seen the crimson remnants of the seaman who had been pulped by the round shot. The Desmond was determined. The munitions of war could be transshipped. The colonel owed it not only to himself, but to his country, to do that which served her best. As a mere question of principle he hoped the matter might be reconsidered from this point of view. "Perhaps I did In some ways, yet it seems quite right too. You look so delightfully English, you know. One quite expects It." She made no further effort, but slid silently out of the group and down the passage. Her cabin door shut gently—the desire to slam it was evident—and for an Instant there was a silence in the saloon. Here was, no doubt, the trophy of some raid of long ago, when the fierce Lapps and Finns carried sword and fire Into many a soft southern lagoon, probably a portion ot sacrament piate from some wealthy abbey or perchance the festival dish of some proud count or baron. mocks and swarmed upon the British scarlet stains were dramatic evidence "The language of compliment can go no further," said the girl, bowing and making a charming little courtesy. "To be told by an Englishman that I resemble the maidens of his heroic race entirely overpowers me. Attempt no further flatteries, Mr. Desmond. I am beyond them now." "Silence!" he shouted. "Silence, you muttering old reprobate! Name of all the saints, can't you obey the commands of your superior?" And he glanced to the head of the procession for approval. deck. Then ensued a scrimmage grim and great Jones, erstwhile coward, now ramped the bloody planks a very lion of war. Whirling a capstan bar, he years of peace. After the wounded had been got to their berths Desmond and two or three hale members of the crew transshipped of the shattering of England's 30 long "I fear I'm an old fool to have spoiled her so," said the colonel, "but you must excuse an old man whose one treasure she is. Mow, gentlemen, if you're ready, I'm at your service." The colonel wavered and was profound in his acknowledgments. How could he force himself on such astounding good nature? He appealed to his daughter. She, with graceful outspread hand* could find no argu- To Desmond's mind rose quickly a disjointed, half thought comparison of the gay banquets or solemn masses In which this relic of a long forgotten past had played a part, with its grim unearthing now in the depth* of the », Minister*, prominent people. advanced upon the attacking party and to the Jemina to offer assistance with a single blow smote upon the the footing of the new The "a head, cracking It like an skipper, with much politeness, ushered ttitt hi Mxllshlin his wtap- Detunond into hla cabin to wet the octfc* Mhiafct imtm wwrttltorttelwwiiil ' k Desmond's face flushed a passionate crimson as he saw this outrage on the father of his heart's desire. With a roar of reckless rage he leaped at the JteUow and, bringing his fettered hands They went on deck and there Joined Pladja and the six -twUors. Quietly they dropped one by one Into the dingey ant ahoved her mefvm the 10. "You are indeed," said the young man, looking wistfully into her smlltn* Mwtm and with that word and the «k*»i