THE CURSE OF THE CARDEWS OR AFTER THREE HUNDRED YEARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 147, 15 April 1909, Page 4

THE CURSE OF THE CARDEWS OR AFTER THREE HUNDRED YEARS.

(Atl Rinuil.)

1»y W. HVHRAY GRAYDON, Author of "The Blackmailer*." "Ee»l iim( the tlWrlwimJ," "Tb# Ite r of Ike Loudoun," Etc. TAUT XVI. '"lf* no use to hope nnv longer." h~ bitterly. "I was n fool l» Wiptr that any such lurk *n# in for lie. Jf I didn't imagine the whole thing—ami I coulon't »T*ir to it one way or the other — • >:n ts Ing ha;* gone wrong since Perhaps* the o(h»T warder has turned r*«oril nl laM. and refused to »>tf»nd l»v Calrraft." lint just then. as the party had renct-vd the gSoomi«wt part of the •. a significant tap on th« f>h »ilili-r olinrnt wrung a cry of relief front (Jitiflrcy"» lips. A hand • il. m'h him round, and thrust Mm lo ih«' right of the path. "t»fj you gd. No. 30." A voice breathed in hi* ear. It «n!' *|»ickiv and easily done. At ore insinnt Cwflrn marching in I»!»»•.. Us heart as heavy as lead, awl t*«' n«-v be had l«ent low nn«l i,» Ui-n the rustling wnll »■< iMing"".. lie stood erect a »•«»• )»• n! Lint. ami venturing n cautious (li.rknuril—he Could not resist he t ion—he saw for a brief »b«- «ro|»|»-d heads and arm" I Initirs «>f the pair ol »» nt whtifH' he**!* he lind r' t .»«IWini». Tbn hurried on. fol-lm-1 «« » shmt interval by the r » -vnrdr>s. mtd then all passed out i f is -i :ht rround a curv; of the /.J.*'. ' I !u r- they «•»." muttered Cieofn»* . -ho «n<> it entitling with Joyut c-,i i' "i e it. "The curbed link rm . '• " ■ I. Irre, (m- ! Thank God '• r : l.> vr~i !" Il>' t r rl .mil crept ileejwr Into ii»- r»» forcing hi* way tliroiigh tar** T * nli" nn»l thicket. s|»e*rur#'.<t %n-l / ink vegetation, until he rot: I*l I i:i«er . ee a yard liefore hint. I t * >»tlii;bt *»» g»me now. and »ie :ts»bt imd fallen. Coming to a nxiicL-fl s»»one. against which he l r»fiiwi| .ii« shins. he sat down upon it iu» 1 «v|i in anxious vigil. "I his intprval »>f waiting was e -'n h»ir«ler to Itear than had :> n iK* susperM' of th? afternoon. If>* wa?« lw>'t bv IcHf, nnd hi# l'inw|f.l loudly and Ino-s----«intlv : for though lie knew that ib- rwn irt« would break ranks direr* I. they merged from the jungle rn'.p- i.it the border* «■( the camp, though h> bad •-.cry reason to trust to the »i>r>'»tiiM'*,') of t'alcrafl and lti.<t Ml w-«flnlir. he could not shake off t»e conviction that los es-a|>e rtsi:.s{ i r>iti.|*ll> l>" discovered, and nhat l.is en»tni«s would soon l»e in «esm h *4 hint. His (Misgivings were not justified, however. The passing niinutn> grannt>ll. ea*"d the len»ion of hi.s mind, and a' tlt»* end of half an ho«;r. no h«i«* and cry having jel broken the .silence, he listened with r.«nff«fr»irv instead »»f dread. When ir had waitvl for an hour and more. at as he could judge, -ears »l gratitui!.' canu* to his eves. K«* kwA that th-* crisis #nS over. r>ntl thnt for the present he was ill r:•< darg«r of puisuit and recap- ' T I »* Me convit-t- have had Jhejr su|»i.i (titil luti turned into the sleejr hi; sh*h« v told Mu;s»l». "( hav~v t l e. n and I won't l»e until day'ight at the «*t»rlies# and then. CJod willing. I shall be in ,» <r.l» hiiiirr|{-| lr.rp. ' SB<i «r iij. »?» his thin garments, for rfe eir wr> k».n and biting, to-of-vr snnd set ofl hi»|efuUv nnd sly to eroJ's the island, lie nigl I wr.s «lark. the moon not having mti'lr her tardy ap|«earansc os i .■«. l>ui the distance was> umkT. n «|UBrier «»i a mile, ond lie n»«nnfcetl to Me r a fairly accurate •uiiiw. though he bore further to lie l :t ihan he Tho re».U was that when he emerged from t*e j«rs,l" «>n the sandy margin of' tie ti ir. he was n»» more than a hnn<t;i>' r arils above the landing* *f»jr*. which he could vaguely di»lirp ish. 1 1 fulled out on piles*. • mi i» i.-iml l«-«l straight back from it I » the buil»iing?» and the convict .mi |v 'Wha» a >ltw shaver" he reflcct- •». tr -iiti line at the thought of ' \ s**nt"v i* Ih.re, ;iiiil l"*.e narrowly missed running ieto Hiii." .*» he linger*il f*»r a moiiK'iit. fearing he might have made .some slight no'** to l etrav his presence, he wa* slfir 1:1 to hear li e splash and dir of oars. Gazing out upon the miirkv l* tirh of the Kj>>i!«|u|lmi. he dimjv pr,«i-«»l a lirge iH.oi approaching th*- i land from a point to the (eft and tlih a b«-|flii«»* ihiti lt»ld CJeof« f r it pot the jnift he was in •ea;choorf r It on rapidly, amj wa-H pl'iirit in the shatlow of the. lanriirigtfcta'jif a man. I*»» renlrv , pi|V(iiHv«l to Ihv end Ol I* C I H "Stop. i>r I'll lire." lie cried : and a gllMiir.cr cf !>'e l was seen. "*Whc are vo*i. ami what do you want lure 7" ' it's « II right, warder : don't shoot." nn&vvcrcd a voice that wa? un| le.isani l.v familiar to the listener. "I am Coloiti-I Kieonlo. ami my busini'jt: i> ini|xirla»il- 1 want to w: y„nr Hut vou will do as well Have any of yojir prisoners c£ rap*-*! ?" "X**ne. sir." "Are you sure that'i Isn'V 0W n>i: sing ?" **lf then* tna I .should know ft* n.ey arc all in the sheds, sir, do |*end on It. You've had your fMI 11- for nothing." "Will. I may have lieen iui»led,M repl'e.l the eolor.cl : and as bt sfote the boat touched the *htfrf tnd lie ami two companions stepped nt. "The fact is," he added, "word wow >crrrlly sent to m) I Ijre a couple i»f hours ago thai the convict llardingi—he is No. 1 thiH%-meant to cacape to-nighl wilh oulsfde help. He was to I*en smuggled across th-- |

understand, and his friends have ' '.-.i«i plan* for hiding him until tli hi.r nntl cry I.lows otor. .My in- : -liMotitm lacked porliculnrs. so 1 'ii'.iipht it lust to conic here at ■• < ■■ nn«l put you on your guard." l ! 's a good thing vou did," »!<•- ■ i.i <il tin- sentry, "for otherwise \'o. ■"•'■ might have given "S the slip I**— i :'"!■■• morning, and the chonces would im\<- l.cen in his'favour if a boat wn* wailing for him. He hasn't gone vet, I'll warrant. 'llic camp is watched too closely for a man to break away without being scon mill fired at. though it's not certaiit he would Ik* hit. Hut wilt you come up and make a statement tc ihe head warder, sir 7" "Yes. by nil means." assented Colonel Itienrdo. "I won't Ik* satisfict unt : l I know that this fellow llarilinge is still in custody. Jfe must I*- watched hereafter, or you will hue him. f have suspected for some lime that certain persons were desirious of effecting his escape, and il i he hail !*cn missing to-night I I should have known where to took I for him." Geoffrey. who had listened to t lit foregoing conversation with feeling? that may be imagined, waited to hear no more. He hurried silent Iv up stream, first keeping within th< edge of the bushes, and then running along the strip of sand. His heart was heavy, and his bright ho|ies had turned to tear ami alarm, though he was by no meant ready to admit that all was lost. '"ln ten minutes— in a quarter oi an hour nt the most—they will discover my absence." he reflected : "bin l»» then, if no time is wasted in finding the boat. I should he in th- trackless forest across the Ksseipiiho. Coin'- wha,l may. 1 won't le taken alive." Two t.r thrc«* minuti-s later he saw just in front of him the fall -n iret that Calcrnft hud spoken of. and as he reached it and sto|*|*cd to e> t his hi cat h. a man rove up from h-hiiid the dead and whitened trunk. That he was of swarthy complexion, jnil attired like an overseer or a factory hand, wax all the dim light revealed. •'Sheldon ?'« Geoffrey c.\clain«d. fn a whisper. ••Sheldon, is that you ?" "The senor is mistaken." was the reply, given in English, with a foreign accent. ""My name is Manuel." "But you are looking for me 7" »nd Geoffrey drew back doubtfully, for he had not lieen told to expect , any one. "1 am. if your are the Senor llardinge," was the reassuring answer, "and I neeil not ask that. Come, the boat is ready." ■•Thank Heaven '." iniiUcred Geoffrev . Who sent you here, my good fellow ? Can vou tell me?" "Von will know in good time," said the man. "My instructions forbid me to tell >ou anything at pr»sent. Is all we!l at the camp, senor ?" "Far from it.'' Geofircy replied. "Colonel Iticardo—you doubtless *now him—hns just arrived on the island for the purpose of informing the warders that I meant to escape to-night. Some one betrayed your plans and brought him worn. He has gone up to the camp, and in a f»»w minutes, as soon as the., search the sheds, the alarm will Ik* raised." "This is bad news, senor, and I know- not what to think of il. Hut at least you have won your freedom." • And I mean to keep it. or die." vowed Geoffrey. "The boat ! Where is it ?" As he spoke it appeared before his -ves. his companion having drawn it from under the spreading limbs of the tr.c. They seated themselves in the long, narrow craft. which w,»s very similar to a canoe, and. like a thing of life, it leaped forw«nl to Manuel's -kili'ul paddlestrokes. cleaving the water with a faint gurgling sound. It slipped rapidly across the sluggish tide of the f*ss»Hpiiiio—thoiich not fast .Miough for Geoffrey'k impatience—and right and left the hungry crocoilil s. scenting a possil*!-* meal, poked their ugly snouts above the surface or swam ohstiaatclv in the rippling wake.. Twite a collision with one of the monsters, v.' n . s barely ivoidiil. and the thought of what wotipt hop's-ii if the boat capsized mail<* Geoffrey 's blood run cold. When twit-thirds of the distance hod I een covered and the black l>ulk o>' the mainland was looming ii'Nir. the quiet of the night was disturbed by a single shout. The lamour quickly spread, swelling louder and louder, until the whole i-land swfihed to lie in a state of commotion. Torches I cgau to glimmer through the tre,-s in the vicinity of the convict camp, and in an incredibly short lime thi-v were flaring down at the )anding-wharf. "Was i here ever such confounded luck ?" exclaimed Geoffrey. "1 counlM on a dean starl of seven or •ighl hours. 1 wonder what they will ilo next? Have we far to gO ?'" 'A roil pie of leagues, that (s all.'' Manuel •"••plied. "Courage, senor : v our enemies w ill first search the island. without doubt, and after that, fortunately, they will be at a 'os» to know |n which direction you vave gone or wtaerc to look for »ou." Geoffrey did not conMadict this statement : nor. Indeed. had he urnsfied at the time the ominous ognilicance of Colonel Uicardo's last wortls, else the course of future events might have been changed. A few seconds la it the boat shot half a dozen yards up a deep and narrow inlet of t" c shore, dislodging overhanging boughs that swung into place In-hind it and formed a screen of dens: foliage. The two stcpiied out on firm ground, and Manuel, having grouped in the black dafkness for a moment, drew a b un -dle from a clump of bushes and hand.*l it to Geoffrey. "For you, senor," he said. "Ikquick ! We must hasten on our «"ay.' T . ■ _L. ■ ■ I CHAPTEH XXIU. TIDINGS OF DESPAIR. The bundle contained a complete suit of flannels, a«pair of boots, and a palmetto straw hat, and while Geoffrey was stripping off his convict uniform, and doning the garments of respectability and manhood oipv more, his companion was cngaged in cutting a ho,k* through the bottom of th*j Wat. which soon fdl-d to the gunwale. I *, and went

down with a gurglrng noise. The rliscard<-d clothing came next. Weighed by a large stone, the arrow-*t»nrk<-'l tunir and trousers sank into ■ ighi net of tii'id and water. A silvcrv Ir'-nni oi" light slant inp between the foliage—the moon was up Dt Inst —showeil the burst irag- bubbles rhat rose to the .surfae.-. "1 fe»l a difi"eii*iit man now." said Geoffrey. "What a degradation it was to wear those terrible things '." •' No eyes will ever see. them again." declared Manuel. "And the boat, senor—your enemies will look for it in vain, and then, persuaded that vou arc trusting to the water and not to the forest, they will search for you up and down the Essequibo." "If you can make them believe that." said Geoffrey, "»e shall l>c all right- Hut I fear that Colonel Iticardo will not l>e so easily fooled. Are you ready to start ?'.' "Forward, senor," was the reply. "I will lead the way, and do you follow close behind." The river was hidden front view, but they could still hear a confused clamour, a faint shout, as lh«*y look their way inland. Trail oi paih there was none. The "'feeble glow of the moon was their only goiue. and it was enough for the man Manuel. For a time they silently threaded .the mazy fastnesses of the jungle, hissed at by angry s-rpents that rustled across theii course- Save for a distant cry now and again from some animal prowling in quest of food, the solitude of the night remained unbroken. "We surely ought to have heard the alarm-gun," Geoffrey said. ;i' length. "Thay alwavs fire one wh< n t convict escapes." "Thev have not done so in this cas-." replied Manuel. ."Ilui why ? Are they so confident oi taking me 7" ' I ihi not know, senor. Perhaps they believe that vou have not I ecu able to gel away from the island." This explanation satisfied Geoffrey, and his spirits rose as he pressed on. listening in vain for the dooming of the small piece of ordnance that he knew was kept ready and loaded at the convict camp. For nearly an hour he followed at the h<els of his guide, and then, of a sudden, the two broke cover anil stood on the edge of a hard white road that ran north and south through the forest, and was i\a\rpleil in both directions with patches of moonlight. "Why, I know where we are. now," exclaimed Geoffrey. "This is the highway that leads down to the ."oast." "And elsewhere, 'senor—to safety and freedom." said Manuel, hearing to the right as he spoke. "Nobody travels here by night, so we have nothing to fear," he added. " A few more yards, and wc must part company. I have olteyed my orders, and what remains is very simple. Hut 1 would urge upon you, senor, to lose no time in acquuiuting your friends with Colonel Uicardo's visit to the island. .If their plans have been l>ctrayed. both they and you will l>e in danger." "I will tell them," said Geoffrey. "Heaven forbid that they should suffer for my sake. Arc they close by ?" "In twenty minutes you will l»e with tbent. Thev arc expecting you, rcnor." With that, bidding his companion wait for a moment. Manuel entered the forest and quickly returned lead-, ing a horse. Geoffrey started forward, and recognition flashed upon him as the animal whinnied with pleasure and thrust a damp nose against his check. "Firefly !'*hc gasped. "This is LJordon KcrgTOon's mare !" "The same, senor. She has not "orgotten you, I perceive. Mount sntl l.c off. Itide straight to San Parima, and be guided by what happens when you have reached the aousc." "To San Parima '.'" cried Geoffrey, staggered and incredulous. "Am ( to go there ?"• "Assuredly," "Then tho man Sheldon that I ipoko of" "The name is not known to mc," Interrupted Manuel. "It is Senor Ferguson whom I serve to-night, j who is waiting for you even now. j -He has aided you to escai*e, and he means to do much more. Surely j •ou do not fear to trust him ?"■ j "So : far from it. Hut I do not j understand"— j "Go, senor« Time presses, and you know* not what peril may be on cour track. My duty ends here. Farewell, and peace be with you.'With that, before he could receive the thanks that were due to him, Manuel stepped aside into the shallows and disappeared. An instant later Geoffrey had swung himself into the saddle aud was riding south along the moonlit road to the utufMC of the thudding hoofs, with tiis thoughts in a whirl and his icart beating with fervent gratitude for the old friend who had j second time reached forth a helping hand in the hour of sore need. There was much that puzzled him, that was beyond bis comprehension, •»ut one thing admitted of no doubt. -"Ferguson knows thai I never lit'tid a finger against him,'" he told himself. "He b-lieves in my innocence, or he would have left mc to my fate." On an.d an sped Firefly, now at a trot, now at a gallop. The road gluatued in front, uncoiling like a silver band, and the overarching trees reelod by in a dizzy blur The familiar neighbourhood, the fragrant scent of tropical flowers and plants, vividly reminded Geoffrey of that eventful night—it seemed years ago—when he hail spurred madly in the opposite direction, a deluded victim rushing headlong to his doom. Would his evil stat drag him down again, or were his troubles at an end » lb* thought of the Curse of the Cardews aud shuddered. (To be Continued).