For Love and Glory.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8158, 12 June 1906, Page 2

For Love and Glory.

CHAPTER Vl.—Contnued

"It's too bad, but true, nevertheless. They departed quite a time since, and be on board by now." "And my escape may hurry matters somewhat, for those fellows are determined euouuh to carry away the whole party if necessary." "Are you in a condition to go back?" "Ay! both able and eager, for the bairn ia there, in danger," find at the thought, Geordie's figure seemed to swell until be looked gigantic. Armand had never been l so well able to comprehend the truth of the deeds of valour and strength laid at the door of this man's ancestor, the Red McGregor, or Kob Boy of history, as when he noted the muscles rlay, and saw the fierce light in bis eyes, as of an untamed beast ready to spring. "Then we are fools if we lose another minute than it necessary. Stay, it is possible and probable that we may have to fight?" "Surely," admitted Geordie, fiercely. His recent experience had apparently served to rouse the wolf blood of his wild Highland nature Men who are born and reared smJd the crags and mountain tops, breathing the pure air of their eyrie native beiabts, always make much better fighters than those of the valleys and pains, where a Jiving is obtained with less violent effort, even as their figures are more mußOular and gigantic. "Then 1 must go prepared. Wait jußt a minute here, or better still, at the door." Geordie nodded his head, and the muttered words of approval told that he instantly guessed what mission the other bad upon his mind. . it Wb§ firms, and the math Armand was as good as hia word, foi scarcely a scant sixty seconds later he hurried alongside the impatient Soot just outside the door. Geordie had already engaged a Bturdy "jinriksba" man to hustle them over the intervening apace, and deposit thorn fresh and eager at the* quay nearest the anchorage of the yaoht. • . * The Jap knew there was need of haste. Double pay was an incentive to do bis prettiest, and he chased along the streets of Yokohama like an evil spirit, constantly shooting the usual cry of warning to clear the way for a person of quality. Armand was something of a lawyer »- his way, and desirous of getting as incomprehensive a grasp upon the situation as the limited space of time affoided, he tired quwbtions quick ami fast at his companion, questions that had a pertinent bearing upon the run of the boat, since that was of prime importance now. Besides., he was also endeavour* ing to call in his own mind what he knew concerning the position of the yacht at the time he Bailed past her with Teasie in the "sampan." Although it was alwajß possible the boat might have been moved from her anchorage since that time. Hustled along in this way by the man who ran between the shafts of the "'rifcisha.j" they traversed noisy streets where children and dogs gamboled and romped, and their elders gathered in groups to talk over the latest newa from Peking, where some of their rave little soldiers bad recently carried off honours of the allied forces sent to subdue the Boxer rebellion and resuue the ministers shot up in the legation. At length the harbour was bofore their, the smell of the sea greeted their nostrils. Armand sniffed it eagerly. So might a war corse scent the smoke of battle, and uerve himself 1 for the fray. To those who love the sea, thereisalwajsan inspiration about its salt breßth, something that arouses them as few other things could. Now for a boat. Yokohama is flooded with watermen of all descriptions, those who fish for a living, others whose business it is to transfer passengers and carry goods, but taken in all, their name is legion. Hence, no one with silver in his pocket need be at all anxious about not being able to secure a boat at any hour of the day or night. The two friends were soon moving over the harbour in a "sampan" urged on by the vigorous strokes of two sturdy little natives, accustomed all their lives to this thing. McGregor acted as pilot, and Amand eoon saw that the yacht must have indeed changed her anoborage. if they were heading direct for her quarters now. He was so far as he could ascertain, as cool as at any time in his life, and this, in the face of a possible immediate and desperate struggle. When he felt bis pulse, and found it very nearly normal, Armand was mightily pleased. A coward, she said. This did not give any evidence of craven blood, if he understood what such a thing implied; and Armand, who, as we knuw, was more than curious with regard to the undeveloped qualitiea in his composition, began to take hope. He strained his eyes to discover the first glimpse of the boat for which they were heading. Lights disclosed its locality readily enough, and the "sampan" men knew just where they were going. How exceedingly fortunate that the darkness covering land and water was so dense as to preclude, the possibbility of their being discovered. Presently Armand began to make j

By St. George Rathborne. Author of " Dr. Jack," "The Witch from India," " Captain Tom," "Mynheer Joe," " Dr. Jack's Wife," etc. t etc

CHAPTER VII.

"IT IS TIME!"

out the funnel of the steam yacht. "Look—smoke and sparka coming out of the stack— they're getting ready to go," he whispered. "I'm not surprised," observed Gordie, grimly. "We must get aboard at ail events, even if they carry us to sea also," said Armand, solemnly. "Ay! and if they do, it'll be the hottest oargo ever shipped from Yokohama," growled the other, between his «et teeth. 1 The "sampan" men had been warned to approach the yacht as noiselessly ns though they were Oriental water thieves designing to steal the ship's copper from her bottom, and they knew full well how to do this to the queen's taste—whioh is not implying, please remfimher, that, either of the worthy harbour men could ever have been guilty of so dastardly a triok. They were not challenged. The dusky "sampan," floating with the tide, glided alongside the yacht, was fended oft* by lue ready hands stretched out. and went along like a wraith until the stern was almost reached, when- luckily a dangling rope fell into their possession. What more could be asked? Now, if the gentlemen were onough of athletes to clamber aboard with the help of this rope they might find themselves in possession of the golden opportunity they craved. They would then be able to play the bold part of a lion, or that of the crafty "kitsuui," or fox. Armand, oehold, the miserable oowarrt, was the first to seize hold of the rope and clamber ud to the low deck of the yacht, though the muscular sou of Caledonia came speedily after, and both were presently flattened out, recovering their breath and trying to get their bearings.

Well, luck seemed to favour them, for although some little noise must have been made while they were clambering aboard, it could not have reached the ears of those whose duty as watoh it as to guard against possible danger, or else they supposed the sounds proceeded from natural cause, such as the ebbing tide flowing against the side of the vessel. The "sampan" men remained below. They knew there was more or less danger, but the Jap fishermen are usually daring fellows, and the reward promised was bo great that there were few things they might not attempt in order to earn it. Perhaps they expected to ocurt the favor of the gods by a promised avalanche of "gohel," the queer cut strips of vari-coloured paper offered as propitiation by Shinto priests. Upon making sure that their presence on board was unsuspected, the two invaders grew bolder. "The cabin where is it?" whispered Armand, relying on his friend's knowledge, for sinoe Gordie had been detained twenty hours on board the yacht, and, as he said, kicked up more or less of a riot there, be must be somewhat familiar with the lay of the land. "Come with me,' murmured the Scot, as he began crawling along the deck. There was always more or less chance of sudden discovery, but Armand hoped their lucky star would avert that until they had at least managed to find out the facta bearing upon the case. Apparently Gordie had mapped out his little plan of campaign, for he showed not the slightest hesitation upon leading his companion in and out, around various obstaoles that littered the deck. Everything seemed in confusion, "at loggerheads," as Armand, in his yachting way, put it, and he was aghast at such a condition of affairs on board a yaoht about to make a sea voyage—surely it spoke of shiftless seamanship that would be apt to double the usual danger of; a voyage in that home of tropical typhoons, the China Sea. Then they went below. Armand knew this was not the way to the cabin, but he felt perfect trust in his pilot. \ It was not misplaced. ' The lazaret on board this boat chanced to be so placed that it adjoined the saloon cabin. It was to his former place of confinement that Gordie led the way. Seldom, indeed, has an escaped prisoner been known to voluntarily return to the dungeon from whioh a good fortune has allowed him to depart; so that Geordie must be set down as an example. Evangeline drew him. Evangeline could tempt the big fellow to wade through seas of fire, face an angry bull in the arena have a tilt like Knight of old in joust or tourna-ment—-in fact, do anything and everything her erratio , fancy might suggest. When Armand realized the nature of the place to which his friend led him, he evinced some ounosity with regard to what had happened there, for the lazaret was indeed pretty maoh of a wreck. (To be Continued)