THE CURSE OF THE CARDEWS OR AFTER THREE HUNDRED YEARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 150, 26 April 1909, Page 3

THE CURSE OF THE CARDEWS OR AFTER THREE HUNDRED YEARS.

(AH Bights Reserved,)

By W. MURRAY GRAYDON, Author of "The Blackmailers." "Real ing the Whirlwind," "Tho Heir or the Loudouus," Etc.

PART XIX. Clival was" the surprise in store for thorn ; never since the days of puppyhood had their feelings boon so outraged. It was not hard to dislodge them from such a narrow and slippery p.'reh. The first three were ruthlessly kicked oIY, yelping" indignant protest as they son;ed into the slimy pool. The next, fell in the act of tinning round, and the remaining two, showing light, were toppled into the water by a rap from the cudgel. The six dogs had thus been cleared out of the way, and were splashing and swimming to a, thrill-voiced chorus before the truth dawned upon Geoffrey, who had watched the brief scene with speechless amazement, lie forgot the agonising pain he was suffering, and his brain reeled with joy as he comprehended Unit tin; devoted Chinaman, out of gratitude for a past kindness, meant to save him not only from the quagmire. but from the prison warders as well. "Cod bless you he cried, hor.rs"ly. "J>e careful : don't miss." It was an anxious moment, but Li Shea was lean and wiry, withal Mirprisingly J-trong. anil as sure footed as a mountain goat, lie ran along the mink and shot into the air, t) e liut 'cap taking him to the gras-s tie si'.clc in mid-water. Tie rested on it for a half s cond. then landed fairly and squaio'y on the island. At once he threw one arm around the slender trunk of tin. crabtrie, thus bracing hiirself so curely, and, fastening his grip on the overhanging bough, he began to draw on it slowly and steadily, bending it to or.o side, "You budgie some ?" he demanded. "A little," gasped (ieofi'rey, gritting his teeth so that ho should not scream with the intense pain. "\es, I am coming. The mire is giving way. Keep on, and you'll do it. l!e as quick as you can, Li." A minute of torture followed"; The task was difficult for the Chinaman, and the strain was Worse than anything (ieofi'rey had suffered before. Then events necessitated a partial interruption, for Gumbo —ho had been but temporarily stunned by a blow that woidd have killed an ordinary man —was on his feet again and prancing about in a howling rage. The hounds, who had all swum safely ashore, leapt around the negro and barked a savage chorus to his threats and curses. He picked up a stone as large as his head, and climbed upon the tree, with what murderous intent was clear. "You must stop the fellow, JLi," cried Geoffrey, "or he'll smash my skull with that rock." "Me shootec pletty click," vowed Li. "Xo ; doli't kill him. 1 forbid it." The Chinaman reluctantly obeyed. Releasing his right hand from the limb, on which he continued to pull with his left, he whipped out his revolver and pointed it at (.Jumbo, "You go click, or me killee," he ?umnianded, ferociously. ,\|ul the negro went. With a yell pf terror, he sprang off the tree and fled across the open, bawling at the top of his voice, as if he feared a bullet would overtake him. 1-1 e; was soon out of sight, followed by two of the bloodhounds, the other four remaining at their pose of duty, "There is no time to lose," Geoffrpy sail), faintly, as he heard the shouting of men from the direction of the base of the hill. "The rest of the party are coming, and it won't be long before they meet (Jumbo. Do you think you can get me out ? I am pretty nearly done for." Li Shell's answer was not in Ho steadily incroasod the strain, which he had not for air instant relaxed, and of a sudden the limb broke off near the .yunk of the tree. It was the best thing that could have happened. The branch was now a l'l'oe link betwepn tlip two, and each hold to it like grim death. The Chinaman tugged till tils eyeballs seemed to be starting' from his head, and Geoffrey, racked with pain and dizzy from exhaustion, scarcoly darod to breathe as he felt himself to be slowly but surely moving- Up lie came out of the foul, black depths—up -by fractions of inches. A desperate jerk, anjther. and another. Then, just as ho felt that he was slipping back, a liana closed on his collar. With a smacking, sucking noise the watery quicksand let go of him, and ho was swung safely on to Jirni ground. "Allee right," exclaimed Li Shell. ''Jhftn lleaven !" Geoffrey ~i moaned. }Je did pot lpsp consclovisjifiss, though fof a few niompnts hp ivas incapable of speech or action, and appeared to be more dead than alive. He lay flat on his back in thp deep marsh grass, with numbed jjlji«l eramppd limbs, his pyos htilfcloscd and his facp likp wax. tunately, he had retained his boots, which were high and tight-fitting. They were partly off his feet, however, and the first tjiing Li Shpn (lit] was to pull them on for him. The Chinaman wae himself terribly exhausted by his almost superhuman offorts, and for a briof interval he leaned against the tree, panting for breath, while he kept a watchful eye on the open ground beyond the swamp. Then kneeling beside Geoffrey, he took a flask from his clothing, unscrewed it, and put it to the other's lips. 1 "Drink," lie urged. . "Gettee wcil pli'clt. ..".Wg go soon. White devils pp fmd." - '•{'m— gp—now,'' VP\cp(l Gpoffrey, as the fiery spirit trickle*}

down his throat''"and■"•sent, now life and strength coursing through his veins: lie sat tip, his lace flushing, and took another pull r.t the flask. Brandy j" lie ejaculated. "Where did | you get it ?" "From volly good friend," was I the reply.- "Alicesamce Ferguson." "So Ferguson sent.you to join the hunt," said Geoffrey, "thinking thai I would need a stiff drink after the hounds had run mo to .earth. lint he never dreamed that anything pi this sort would happen. You saved me from the worst kind of> dehtlv Li, and I shan't forget it, I'm. afraid you've got yourself in a pretty ugly scrape, though'!" "Li no care little bitee." "It's good of you to. sav so, but but -you're in a tight place, all the same. I don't see how, after this, you can expect to" —— With'-that, cutting short the sentence, Geoffrey pulled himself to his feet, and pointed eagerly. "Look !" he exclaimed. "There they are Yes. the belated pursuers were in sight at last, straggling by twos and threes from out the jungle. Tliey came rapidly on across the open, vet with evident signs of exhaustion. The foremost- were Gumbo and Colonel Ricardo, the latter easily recognised by his beard, and among the rest could be distinguished several of the prison warders. "You can walkee now?" Li Shen anxiously demanded. . "I'll show you," replied Geoffrey, who, though still shaky pii.,his feet and uniurved by his terrible experience, felt ready for fresh flight. "Quick ! They see us." Tie picked up his rifle, and-with a backward glance started off at the hee!s of the Chinaman, relieved to find that the stiffness of his limbs ivlaxod with every stride. They ran on and on, seeking with hasty but accurate judgment the path that led precariously across a chain of pools and islands, while fainter and fainter behind them ebbed the shouting of angry men and the whimpering of the disappointed bloodhounds. "Had devils no follow," said Li Shen. at length. "Xo, I don't think they will," assented Geoffrey. "F.ven if tlicy cared to risk the jump, they are not such fools as to come any further without the dogs, though they will probably make a detour round in hopes of discovering our trail. But for the present we' are safe. After a quarter of an hour the last echoes of pursuit faded into welcome silence. The fugitives continued steadily to thread their way through tfie marshy fastnesses of the Red Swamp, at times at fault, but invariably finding with brief search a means of' Solving the. difficulty, either by fallen trees or tussocks of bog-grass, or outcropping patches of stony soil. As they went 011 Li Shen told in fairly intelligible language, in replyto questions, what little he knew of the events of the night. it happened that Colonel .Ricardo had arrived at San Parinia with a number of warders and workmen from the island, and when they had fruitlessly searched the bungalow they sent without delay to tlie Richards estate to borrow the hounds. Theso were promptly brought over by Gumbo and the overseer, and at the first flush of dawn , the whole _party took up the chase, the Chinaman's offer to accompany them being unsuspiciously accepted. Naturally worried 011 behalf of his friends, of whom he. could obtain 110 information, Geoffrey listened with a heavy heart. He was in the lowest spirits when at last the two emerged from the borders of the swamp and stood upon firm and rising ground. "Me 110 leave you," declared -Li Shen, with a. shake of the head. "You savee poor yellow nian from black devil Tom. My life yours—me not go back. ,Li allee sameo stay. Go where you go." And from this dot.n-minatioii the grateful Chinaman was not to be moved. CIIAI'THR .WWII. fi {lis 11 mis i\>! rr 1: :n~ ics. Having exhausted argument ano entreaty, which produced 110 effect whatever upon the Chinaman, Geoffrey made the best of the situation and yielded his consent. He was unfeignedly glad —after performing his duty unselfishly—that itliad so turned out. To have a companion to share his wanderings 'and [:erils,_ and one whd had already shown himself so capable of grappling with emergencies, was indeed a priceless boon. "Well, do as you like," he said. "It is a noble heart that beats under your yellow, skin, Li, and if ever 1 pull through' my troubles, you shall want for nothing as long as you live." "Me 110 wantep reward," protested the Chinaman. "Me yelly grateful." "Yes, I know that —grateful for a thing that most white men would have forgotten. If I saved your life, you have doubly saved mine. You got me out of the quicksand, and you baffled those scoundrels who would have dragged "ni.o back to the Ma/.aruni prison. However, we won't discuss that cjuestion now. We are not out of danger yet—far from it — and the first" thing is to find a more healthy neighbourhood. They will be sure to cut around the swamp in search of lis. I wonder if there is any wav 'or getting rid cf the hounds for good—of throwing them off the trail There was, according to Li SI en "Muehee good phaiicc," he said, and in a few .words -lie explained liia meaning, thereby raising himself still. higher in the Englishman's estimation. - ' They set off at once, bcavtag due east, and the hope of pluding his canine foes--in whiph case, his human ones were 110 longer to be reckoned ■with either—roused Geoffrey from his despondency, and put him in better spirits. Nor was it a vain hope. By midday,, no sound of pursuit having reached their ears, the two came tu a lofty > mountain range that was barren of vegetation. An arduous climb and an equally difficult descent, during which everv footstep was planted on solid rock, took them into the next, valley. They waded a broad but shallow stream, and crossed another rocky spur; and now, having left no, scent in the last haif-dozen miles ol their flight, they, fqiit :that was indeed impossible fjy;.-"the bloodhounds to cause them* any further annoyance. They \vefc isolated ip

the heart of the wilderness, and whatever danger? they anight encotmfeeiy they at-least- .had...nothingmore to fear from Colonel Iticardo and his man-hunters. | On the following morning, however, after they "h'ad slept through the night in a dry, cavern 'on the hillside, they were disposed to take additional precautions. Nothing was left of the food Geoffrey had brought from the bungalow, .but when he awoke art hour after sunrise he found his hunger provided for. Li Shen was just back from a foraging expedition, laden with tempting fruits and edible roots and berries. On several occasions he had travelled for months in the interior with gold prospectors, in the capacity of cook and general 'provider, and had thus acquired a valuable" knowledge of the natural resources of British Guiana. "Mebbe bad mens come this far, no telite," ho said, as he watched his companion eating. "X was thinking of that," Cieoffivy replied. "What's to be done ? Shall we go on in the same direction?" As yet, indeed, he had formed no plans for the future, and the suggestion that the Chinaman promptly offered was so cheering to him that he could have embraced the worthy fellow. Li Shen proposed, in short, that they should make a couple of days' journey to the south, towards the headwaters of the Esscquibo River, and seek a permanent hiding-place ift that neighbourhood. Then, he added, he would return alone to San Parima, .either by water or along the edge of the stream, and bring back such news and instructions as Ferguson might send by him. "Nothing could be better," Geoffrey vowed,' gratefully. "What should I have done without you, Li? 1 wish it was possible to write a letter and a lump rof.e in his throat as he thought of Violet Desmond. "You.no flaid stoppee bv B oiuself ?'' asked the Chinaman. "Not a bit," Ceof.'rey laughed. "We'll find a 'cave somewhere, and you can stock it with fruit and berries, and 1 won't put my face outside while you are gone. You have given me fresh hope, Li. Ferguson is a trusty friend, and you may be sure that he will have some scheme for my advantage by that time." The matter thus settled, they set oft'- without delay, and they had little more than started when a curious thing occurred. "Wait," said Geoffrey, slopping suddenly. "I believe 1 have forgotten something." "What ?" asked Li Shen. "I—l don't know." The answer was literally true. A blind impulse that he could not resist was upon Geoffrey, as had happened more than once before —he imagined that a still voice had whispered to him "Go back." He hurriedly retraced his steps, chiding himself for his folly, and as he glanced about the floor of the cavern he saw a yellow-brown object lying between two stones. It was the treasure-chart, and it must have fallen there when he pulled oft his boots. Save for one or two slight stains, it had not been soiled by the mire of the swamp. "I was sent back for this, by a will stronger than my own," Geoffrey muttered, as he slipped the tiny roll of parchment into its former hidingplace. "But why? Is the thing going to lead me into further trouble ? Does the malice of that old Spaniard still hang over me? Or"—and he caught his breath at the thought—" am I the slave of some strange, subtle influence that will drive me oxi snd on, through peril and suffering, until T have lii'tpd the Cuvsc of the Cjirdews." J-Ie was staggered l\y the theory fpr a moment ; then told himself it was ridiculous, though the explanation of the mysterious force was as far to seek as ever. With an absent look on his face he rejoined Li Shen, who was waiting for him. "It was a bit of paper," he said, carelessly ; and the Chinaman asked no questions. In this manner began the second day's flight, The ' incident, soon ceased to perplex Geoffrey ; but it was to recur to him again, and with cumulative evidence to strengthen his belief in a supernatural agency, before he was. much older. No dreaded clam pur, no deepthroated bay of pursuing hound, broke tlie vast solitude as the fugitives pressed oil their way, traversing a thickly-wooded valley that grew wider with each hour. They met with no adventure, though wild beasts rustled in tho coverts and grpat serpents slid hissing across then* path. They rested for a lima during the heat of the day, and, resuming the march with fresh energy, they were passing along a gloomy aisle of the forest towards evening, when misfortune fell upon them like a thunderbolt from a clear sky. At one moment the silence was profound and peaceful ; the next the air rang with bloodcurdling yells as a' band of Indians leapt right and left from the leafy thickets. There was no chance of escape or resistance. Arrows were drawn ready to fly, and spears and knotted clubs menaced tho .hapless two, who woulfj certainly have beer ruthlessly slain but for the prompt interference of the chief of tho wild tribesmen. This stalwart, savage—he was distinguished by a mantle and headdress of brilliant furthers—lifted his arms .and shouted a few words to his followers, as if to an order previously given. The weapons were sullenly and reluctantly lowered. .With brutal force and much outlandish chattering of tongues Geoffrey aiid Li Shen were disarmed,' their hands were bound behind their backs with rawhide thongs, and in less time than it takes to tell captors and captives were swiftly moving through the forest in a south-westerly .direction. • Dazed by this unexpected blow of fortune, tlieir hopes crushed, the feelings of the two were , fov a time beyond words. (To be j*