THE CURSE OF THE CARDEWS OR AFTER THREE HUNDRED YEARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 142, 25 March 1909, Page 6

THE CURSE OF THE CARDEWS OR AFTER THREE HUNDRED YEARS.

(All flights Heserved.)

By W. mUK AY cuaypon. Anther of "Hi- niftckmail'is.' "Kim| inii the Whirlwind," "Thl> Heir of the l.ocidouits," Elc. TAUT XI. Tin- coolies. infuM'd with a show •of roiirttfH' l»y the imminent peril oi ! their tivcrswr. uttered shrill pro<ol and ron forward in interfere. I T!»> v had if> Istt il lon Inns,*. hnwI ft*»r„ h:nil tin* murdemws deed would . hRVr Nvii ilixi' 1 I»ut for tin instani's hesitation »»n the pari awl i the simidtnnemi* np|»earnnie nt I l»irk ICti,>lie <*laggi<riil through I tl-p rmwd. *|H'ivi ntiil ga.*|«in?:. The i rru'lvir «n» in hi* hand. mid he | niiiiwl nitil firi il in the nirk of time. "Uitlt ihe sharp the de- ! Spade. lIH nl'lVMed hnlf-tvn.t. struck the grniiml n fiwi j Imiii (i>ii|lfrrv\ »|n»ip|«i-r lllacl> Tmm'jt riglil arm »lr«»t>j'<>l limply, and with a howl r>( pni't ami rage |rp fuTiteil and Innf. In lII.* ho l«. Yells oi «|" light s: reeled I!»•" resell-, and five ttlmlp moll i>i <»»>li>s. I>rate fiiniigh »tnw when lliey were in nn itaNp-r, gavp hot chas** In I lie fugi- ! «sv». They stnpiwd when he lurn- ; f.(. then fnll»>-.ted «s icir as the edge ; i>f th» <»«r«Ttl. inl>i whii'h lllack Tmn I I'ttngMil ami t aitish'd. Nnt »lt»i • nj4 1 ti » j;.i an*. further. I he pursuers «tr»ef;l"<l »l'»nlj l»mi». invyniing i-x- ---!.• iwt* (t>i: their rimariiir». Itn| liej* awl f-etil»eiw>* «{ml nut avail I hem. ; tin<l tliey shook mi ■••r»»Mv as they li.<trn«it l«» llie »»i»e I'neat* «»l puncn.'Sj" that Were r»'ttil «»>t t»« I hem : Hn f{i-«i>fEre* . wit,* '»v l«n*.v Was on his; | fr*'t and (((i'Uth'S Iri'iii the I »• iter is. ni i'»» l»lnw in the stomarh. | "You desert e I he lash. •very one ! nf vpn," he ruml'iilnl. wrathlully . I "Ymi would hate s'tmil l>y and wvn j nw n)itrd>cv«! In % mir c>rs. .fust ' nnit I ill ynifr master home." ' 11 was as near n 5 hiw; s*.h et er I saw." said l>irk Hutsdel.. "" I was afrnid >«»n winiifl dn snmelhiuß reck-l-ss. and I knew live ;vigger".H temper. sn I ran l»»»ih tto)."." ''Awl their tt *imi t » to ; S'iir»\" replieil tieofrrej . "Ili> arm (•> anil nn ilmiiil ii will I deed fur a tim*>. I Wiint >nn In Isikr n «!»»/•»•« I'jclieil hciit'fe. I'irk. nii'l-vni'iii {'nrnSft. h.l«-. I'll J^.'iitl tuvv to tttch»r«l*.'9» |e nn«l l««»r----rim hut Khnwl hniiml* ami their H i.- l>i'»«l«"j! nre nn tr;i." Irwil. I I'tunrt l-he k Tniii willl»c nii» a tr' in i*en«.»-«. lit.in on>'. f'tvi.' r-rniKitlrcl Ki ••»!'» to |> k iti Itirsr"l!>■ lt.j> pvctli ! kill»*«l *i*hin»»ui«n." Wifh lint! Ii»- i>irn"'<| li» • at t"iii mn ; In l.i Shell. wli»». f»iirrin»iMl«'«| I»v f It* imli(:VT>'ni «•«»..Il> .v. v w 11» bins; ami ll.'nwmcn'sf with II'" w -». H il ||lil>> ri iieft ami •lit.*!. Iml F-ii- v. h* sil'l " In ih (*s: Siir»t>«-|l' In f 1.1 •(.»(,»%■> i.T-i. »»ki*'h he lrie»l to i.-!i>t.rn»r. "»'■ (low hm:i '!.»•»»• h«-f Isnrl So f •* l» -5. liwrkcl 5 >'t." In- Mli'l. ieelt|> . '" 51r»irt. il-'Vil hil» e Iml'ii. ; ♦* e run nil. V>n Mti'"' l.i'?- | |r(V. t|r %eIS.N |w>nr |»i|;t»iii. I»«it iiwr H»:| Sfe gl»t» (ill l annr white ! in«n." I Ilirfiliil l;»r(K»i«-»l. ' A I'lnimiiian .t i'." ip*|.» iisVl f.«>itll t»re«||| !»«• 1 v-,»••=< t-ri it." lie s-stiil. I'niitempt n- ' ' S »E■ ph"f v •>■ «tn il jsh«»nl«lii"t : ■"; «•. art* li-inlr lilt' th • ri"s»l »»< ' ;••»>?.>•••. rej'fi ; tltnl (I t it tie WON (.>•> f.ii:: en! ri h<" v. • »«tIrI rni>.eml»'i • ho «" » art It--- j*-I.- ->j»nl.en *r*>r«f». "Tnf.e . t" k' !►»>»»:• l«. Itf- hw! ."* !:»•««!- tU-tl. Ifiii * !;«■ list* ftntt«'n* tn>». l |, H' r . ami t'uit !v» ; ' tt.nin«b nni; r> I .•l»-i»n»'i| awl iH'«-»-.>-il. If is- nj« i k i"fens' a fnilrngSi' I >lia!l f e vi-r.v n>u<"h »ar|>riMil." I'«»r fle r.-nn.i(Hir»' i i I lie «ln>—il »3>t a "I'ui" ln«* s-Vi'i",;l •In *» »lliTf#nl» 15- nf r-y lisnl Iii:l« j; 'fmnre t»> ttirk nlmiit lie liiliti--. | (i , ► »il «'»>■!• V.; 11l I 1 rtn. siml hiy f r .-1 r-t' »r» IVijjir i»r»S I r •«el'e ry was h. I'"* ai ri«ii[«ti»ii' I l{u>**ilel ! aii«l n numt-er •»( nts:'*r ,s « <«si a Iriiit- | H Ii I ho I lii«t«'>l until I In* mtilj I- . br s?if Aft>'rni»>(>. ami inwanK ! ei ertiup lie rnile iitsT In J I ii'tinr*!*'.", rulfp" planialinn—lwe|v«i mil,'« In the Btxilh-'a't wltei-- Inf sin'iit the nieht. r»'tnrntnsr c.irl.t I In j tu«\l mnrning with |{iiln»ril> himy w|f, Iks overseer, I he thru' I IntHlhoiiniN that luul lira lrain>'<l ! t»y the latter. j lie ninile one oi the piir-iifiittt I partv. nnmlwring n iln/<-n. who j np Itlack TnmS trail wi«li | tie ai'l ni the int« Ihgeiil h«niinl>. j ami Inlloweii it all >lav WeilneSilay j I'h»*y en»"nl«i|>e«l il.Tp in the lnre-t | that ni«ht. ami having 1«»»S th.r | went next day In n swampy region I that tintllwl the ilogs nml men. Ihej ! i»l>nndoneil h«>|« »>f cn|»t wring the t»i- ---! rtrgrr*, mid Inrneil their *tep* in j Itirhonijt'n plate, around whirh Ihe chanv had led I hem in n w ide de tniir. Here tn/ofln-y slept nn Thnrjtday night. anil alter l»r«ak<a>t he hnrrnwitl n hor»te frmn lii> urn* and rode Imck tn San I'arima. Thnngli Isu>.sdel hail* lui'll I, ill in charge during hi* nlwnce. he I'lFiirvel plenty In ki-ep him l»u»y nn- I fit I'rtday evening, when lie lamr in ,r jrmn the rnni-lie|d> n*o«lj i[r»>|i nter with latigne. Ak h<- • tnwn in Mip|«i'r he m-meiiilM-red ■ t i [» thing nf a shock thai th« I intli «lay wits diawing t«i a cln?«e. ....i trial »hmdd hate n~ 1.1.y nnW had I.C gnne In rsvt tnwn lor the M»le pnr|io.se ol i I'liKi? the poliee. I in ton tired In think nf flight," tnfd hlm-'Plf, with tlogged rrrk--rt>s". "■l'll take Ihr ehanci-J* I ill i i re. and if they haven'l" come m ill I egin In lielieve that I'm i »i ii. and llial l-Vrguwni i* not t..sd n.H I've pointed him. I'm I'.'tid ntH.wf it. though ; thing* ■ ■■is Mack. I woiidej" jf H will l»c t urn next to lw chas«?«l through i ti»t>««i l»t those «lcvili»h liloorf* I ii.-uuilsf of I{icharil»'H I

niii crftfclcd slowly across the liurning skies, the hours wore 011 to midday. and still Ferguson and his dreaded companions had not come. tJeoflrcy remained at Snn Pnriina. was in two minds by now. and th«-y alternately pulled hisn different w ays. t)ne moment he was nil for llight, lilaining hiuwlf for having wnst«-d so intich precious time : the next he was laughing at his fears, vowing that conscience hail worked upon his imagination, and that Ferguson was quite incapable of the treacherous purpose he had been attributing to him.

He busied himself about the estate as usual, outwardly as cool ami unconcerned as if he had no thought save for his duties ; but he furtively kept watch in every direction. and was prepared to make n flash for the forest at the first warning of danger. 'Hie day dragg>il on. and it» |»eacefiil monotony was not disturbed. Towards siin-s-i he returned to the bungalow, which, as lie drew cautiously near, wore n reassuring asjieet of lonelin>-*. Whi-n he had eaten his su|>i <t. and the table had been cleared lie Ht his pipe and went out on the • e aii'luh. where he stood for .some. : with his eyes fixed on the dfvi;. white rond that led lo dis!ant tJeorgeiown ami the coast.

" I have had all this worry for uolhiiiig." he told hiniM-li. "and I vlh.i.l'l i»- ashamed to confess how' deei-l- I have wronged Ferguson, to whom I owe more than I can ever

«»■•;.«>. It i* an easy two days' ri«le 1.1 Ge»»rgetow 11, an«l ii he had toil- 1 lure lo denounce Hie. lie iv .mill have Iwert back *vith the po- !«• In last night, or by this morni'>e s:« the latest. Mm no sneli i.i k entered his head. I am -»u-e •t| it. He went down on busi--1 es* : and as for the newspaper. i!ii.ii?li it doubtless contained an ,t> roiini of the. duel, he took il with lim • imply to prevent me from e^t.liter it- The lo\ al fellow means !-» 8_«— 1> iip> WflU 1 !." ?■"<» (••••■■■lev reaxiie-d. and lo that f e|i. 1 be held *teaiifnst. his «*ld

I- ,4 svrs ito longer recuriing to him. W|>-n the sun lia«l vt. aiel the brief ti'>l''(-«l twilight had f.'sll -si to the a> • o;>i;;<aniiiEeiil of weinl *ound* ol I»ir«i and I i';»si from tl.e s'lrroiimliu.s* foi(*t. h<* went into tl.e bungalow- and fa.'tened the door. At the I * * • 1 l.iiii of a chest he found a eonpie of pa|H-r-hotind novels that hj« liail previously overlooke-1- ami drawing a basket-chair lo the lamp, he rend and smoked for sev■ral hours, in better spirits than he had ln*en since the of i Iv He was ipiite alone, for tie- Imuve .vrvants slept in a little row* of cottages across the garden, and Mirk lluysdel had a tiny bungalow of his own near the men's quartets. At ilevcn o'clock (JeofYrey put his book aside, knocked the ashes out of hi* pipe, and rose yawning. "I may as well lie oft to bed," he reflected. -"There's no use in sitting up for Ferguson any longer. If lie hit ticorgetown this morning—us he probably did —he will get here late to-morrow afternoon." lie had poured some whisky into glass, nnd was thoughtfully measuring the water from u d-canter, when he fancied he heard creeping footsteps 011 the verandah. The iie.\t instnut there was a rap, faint t>ut unmistakable, on tie- <loor. His heart seojned to fly up into his* throat* Putting the des-ant-r down with a shaking hand, he listened. A short interval, nnd the rap was repeated, slightly louder this time. "Who's there ?" demanded CSeoffre%. his former suspicions roused. I ' A friend," was the reply, given in Knglish .with a trace of a foreign accent. "Are you Mr. Ilardinge ?" "Yes. W"ho are jou, nnd what do 1 oil want?" "" I have come in haste from Georgetown, and f have a message for >Oll from Senor Ferutison. It 1* \er\ important, ami tn> one must know Ihnt I am here. Put i"tt the lamp and o|.en the iloor." toolirey picked up his revolver iiom the tal'l"*. and hesitated for n moment, uncertain what lo do. "I don't like the look of things," he thought. "It is a strange voice, and the fellow's oljpi-ec ma.v be robbery. Ten lo one. though, the poI lice are outside, and if that is the I cav 1 hey will have the house surrounded A4H you I'omine. senor inquir-->l his unknown visitor. " If I am trap|Mil, there is nothing to lie gaiueil bv ••••sistaii'-e," roniiudeil CJeofliey. with a resigned shrug of his shoulders. "P.ui tliere is just a chance thai l-Vrgusoii has JM'lll il lill'SMlge." With that he e\t iugui-hed the lamp, nnd hnvlng unlinr|ei| the door and thrown it open, lie sie|e I e.l ipiiekly back with his revolvei linlf-liiiefl. N"o attack followe<l. howi-ver. There was but a singk man on the verandah, ami his hands were rni-ei| to show, that they were •niptj - He utood with his fea-iur«-s in de«*p shadow* and his back 10 the brilliant glare of the risen moon. "I-'ear nothing, senor." he whisl*Ted. as he stepjieil to the threshhold of the room. "You may trust ami l»clieve me. I am .Yavier Castro. a Portuguese, ami 1 bring you .111 urgent message from Senor Ferguson. who has known me for years : wherefoio he sought me out in this hour of need, ami hat r e me come to • on. I am to warn you, senor. Imt von are in danger, and that if • on would save yourself \ou must lake to imiuediale flighl." "What danger?" i|>-mamle<l Geuf>r», though he knew without ask- " You would nudcr>laml, Senoi Uig. Ferguson said." was .the reph . " It is some indiscretion—if I ma\ say so much—that 1 uu commit led in tlu ;iH*t, They Jeanietl in F.uglam) thai >Oll were at San Parima, and an ollicer was s-nt to i; -orgelowr uiili a warrant to demand >our e.xiraditioii. The police are now* on their way here to urn si >Oll, and tlvy will arrive within a few hours —rertain|y bv dn«brcuk. Mul \oi< ♦till have plenty of tjiue. Tliej wi-re to start from C.'eorgetowti at toon on Friday—vesierdny—and by 'hat hour 1 had ridden a dozen idles ami more to the south on Senor Ferguson's own horse. Ht heur«l of |.hiß through 11 friend whe is a elerk to one of the magistrates, ami at once he came to me" "Why did not Ferguson come himjelf ?" asked Geoffrey. "For good reasons, senor," rc*

plied the Fori nipie.se, who was clearv a man of education. "In the Irst place, he is detained by important business, and in the second place, as you will believe, he did not wish it to be known that he tud warned you of any danger. With mc it is different, though 1 also hope to conceal what I have done." "And I trust you will, my good fallow. Hut how am I to escape ? Where shall 1 go ?" "1 have careful instructions for the senor ; and the mare is waiting vunder. at his service. Clonic, and I will li*ll yuti all- It is no wise I i linger here. lest I be seen and i-\ iriii-ai'd." "True," assented GeofTrej*. I'll In* wiih von in a moment." Though not in the way he ex-|»-c!e'l. the dreaded blow had fallen mine the less surely, and he must fa:e it as best he could. Not a doubt was in his mind, not tin. faintest shadow of a suspicion, ami it was only natural that it should Ite so : for what motive could an> one possibly have for persuading him. by a lying subterfuge, to flee from San I'ariina ? "Ferguson is f true friend." Ik t nought. "Heaven !>!< s.s him foi his generous Ihoughuuln's . and Heaven help me to escape '■ sli:er\ and suffering and perhaps death await me in the forest, but anything is bet ie,- than to be ai r-st'.-<1 ami • alen back to Kneland like a felon, and l»e tried there for llrian's murl.r. Th- law will call it that, I •iiippose. .Murder As if I would willingly have harmed a hair of Brian's head A |latter of maize and ■al»«-s wiiv in the cupboard, and liastil*.- pin ting tlie.se into a leather baj: —there was 110 chance of obtaining iiilfr supplies—lie slung it over his: should'l*. Then, having noiselessly -|ose<| the door of the bungalow, he inin-'d Xavier ("astro at the foot ot the verandah, and they glided like two spe.-iiv."* through the garde;: -hru'Jl**ry. thence ai a more rapid pace along the shaded road. At the northern borders of the estate, hall a mile distant. Firefly greeted them witlt a low whinny. "She has not been ridden hard." K aid the Portuguese, as he untied the mare and gave the reins to Geoffrey. "She will hear you well as far as you will be able to go. Seitor Ferguson bade iw* give you this envelope, which contains banknotes and two pieces 01" gold. Here also are a pistol and a sheathknif "And my instructions?" inquired Cleoflrey, as he pocketed the envelope and thrust the weapons into his kummerhund. "They are brief, senor. Vou know Colonel Hicardo's place?"' "Yes : it is nine miles from here." "And two miles this side of it a l»ridl<*-jiath. seldom used, leads out to the river and there turns up st ream." "I know that as well. *!•» on."' "Take the path, senor. and ride lo tin* river. Yon will find a boat pear by, and in that \ou must float flown the Ks.-eipiibo. travelling only by night anil hiding yourself and your craft by day. There is souk li.-k. of course. but with vigilance vmi shoiiM in a week—the current is very sluggish—arrive at <iueenstown, on the coast. Vessels li-.' there, and you will doubt less be al-l«.' to embark 011 one for a foreign port. "it won't be as easy as it sounds," muttered tlcofiriy. " but it is a Iftter plan than I should have thought of mvself". Is that 1! ?"

"Thai is all. senor. As for tin mar- 1 . tie her securely lr, the river. I will come for her when it is safe l ) do so—while the police are looking for \ oji at San I'nrima —and will I'nh- her back to Georgetown. And r.o'.v. Senor Uardinge. I pray ymi 1r i-i't. Th«* minutes are pre ioi:s." And for the li' sl sev.-ii miles I s":aU be ridinir into the i«*«-t h of th> •lar;:«" '. s.ii«i {tVo.'iVey. "(lood-by*.-. Illv l f;r-1 \ fellow. If I i'ViT havi ,tn opport ni:iiy of rewarding you"—

".Mil) \oil at 1-ast remember mc Ura'efnlly." it)t|»t«•«! ("astro, who whe'her from iiiiontion or not. ha<l I o|;l his features in shadow. "Farewell. ontl Coil lie with you."

Was it only iaiaginution. or did lie <\»te«-t a inoi-kinir. sardonical ring in t'l" last word.-; ol the I'ortUfOiesu ? tIeoli: - e\ wondeied for an instant a.' he suniiir hiuijel:" into the ;;adr'l ar..l jtrathereil up the reins. Then the I.re--/-- of ill-- ni-jht, laiie-i with a ihi>us.iii«; licjvy scents. was fannji.:s ho: cheeks. an«l Firefly w;is I -aritiff him a' a fraliop over th« haril white roa<l —the narrow ribbon that r!efi the priniev.il wilderness—tali re the tropical vegetation hung rijiht ami left like lofty walls, ami patche.s of black«*sl shallow alternated with bands of moonlight that irloweil like molten silver. And as h<- f.iiiirr-d on some strange enchantment. as if it had been the touch ><f a magician's wand, fell upon liini. It was an Knglislr lane that stret•heil before him. and on both sides an Knglish park rolled behind thi hi'dperows. He law the turrets oi Meechcotnbe. ami Violet. Desmond's sweet, sad face. Thi-y dissolved ami vanished, and the spell was broken.

"l.ost—all lost !" In* groaned iloihl. "What is there 1 o live for 7 ("an I e\er hope to know one hour'* liafi!»in<.>.*-'fi —ono hour's p»ace ?" As hi* spoke Firefly suddenly snortwith fright, and swerved so f|iiit-kly to one side that her ridei had all he could do to keep hi?There had been no sound, nor was anything alarming visible : Iml ■-••riainly something had terriljod ill"- inaiv, for the gallop became a ■■ml flight, and she trembled ami inhered with every st ruining stride • hat t«jok her further from ih<■I rea dri I spol. " Queer !" thought Geoffrey. "iShe wind of something. 1 wonder what it could have hcen ? A wild .inimal lurking in the thicket, no loillil His mood had changed, and though H- was not less miserable, he felt 1 fierce desire to t-scapn from his from the shamo and ignominy ilia I capture would entail, and to '••tain at any hazard the freedom that was worth so lit tie to him. (To be Continued.)