THE EASTERNERS. OR MARRIAGE BY PROXY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10492, 1 December 1911, Page 2

THE EASTERNERS. OR MARRIAGE BY PROXY.

BY WILLIAM FEBRY BROWN.

CHAPTER XXXV^-Continucd.

"They are going to sweep the dock with, machine guns!" called Douglas. "Two boats' are .ready—another is coming back. Come!" "Stand, with me, brothers," said Dalmar to these new arrivals. "Wc must isavo a woman, and— an old man."

A bright electric flashlight rose up at the gate. The prince saw Darkoff's unmistakable figure busily training the machine gun on a knot of fugitives. Evidently ho 'had been recognized, and was using his knowledge of Daknar's exact position, for what? To slaughter his own mother..

Inma, aiding the patriarch, was still smiling. Had not her prince owned tihat, for old times' sake, she was still. dear to him —dearer even than " Some one seized her and M. Burian, and bundled them into the first boat. It was Greer, assisted by Douglas,'who shouted:

"Into the boats, all hands I The guns will sweep the dock I" On the 'hill Darkoff was depressing the muzzle. His own,'hand seized the orank by wliich these guns, at this period, poured out their rain of bullets.

The last remnant of the Armenians were tumbling head-foremost into either boat, while a third boat, returning, neared .the dock. Some jumped •into the water and were pulled on board by the . sailors. Sarkis had plucked a repeating rifle from one of "the fear-stricken fugitives, araxl clove his way. toward; the shore, not unlike a huge warship scattering impeding gunboats. "In with you, brothers!" cried the prince, forcing Douglas off the dock, then seizing Greer, for both of these liad been too busy saving others to think of themselves.

~ Tihen the Gatling above began, to snarl, its rasping discharge sweeping the dock lengthwise. Numbers of the fugitives fell shrieking, for ail had not reached the boats.

Greer, forced off by a strength superior even to his own, suddenly felt DaLmar's grasp relax, as he fell upon the man he was trying to save. The Turks made a furious Scarcely knowing what ihe did, Sidney Greer sprang into the nearest boat, holding mi his arms a wounded man. "Let me go to him!" screamed a woman's voice, and the female so carefully guarded by the Armenian prince pushed aside the others and took his head in her arms.

"Dalmar! iOh, Dadmarl" she faltered, striving for composure. "Is it serious P .For- sweet Ghrist's sake, speak!" "I —I think not. Hush, Irma. Where—is—Sarkis?" Dalmar's eyes closed. •She alone knew for several minutes that he had swooned away.

Meantime some of them could s«e at tlxo head of tlhe dock a tall form holding back a struggling mass of the enemy. Suddenly the repeating rifle was levelled, not upon the nearer* Turks but on the'-figure of Darkoff at the gate, still turning the Gat-ling's crank.

The rifle spat forth its flame, and Mui-ad Bey toppled backward. Then the giant, surrounded by shrieking foes, fought his way back, ever pressing the Turks, striking, slashing,' his rifle gone, bint his sword busy. He had silenced the Gatling and punished one to whom his prince had. mercy. The second boat was off, loaded to tho gunwales; the last hung by a clutch on the side. Were they all on board ?

"I think I seer—some one," began Greer, when a huge form upheaved itself from a mass of struggling Turks and cast itself, or rather fell, outward. It was dragged on board as the boat cast off, and sank imresisting beside the wounded Dalmar. "Give way, lads!" ordered Douglas sharply. "Give way with a. wilt!'*

The last boat shot seaward amid an ineffectual spatter of scattering shot, and was soon out of sight from si 10re. Ten, minutes later it-he' last ar-' rivals were safely on board, the Mist. On the way Dalmar, reviving, placed a weak hand on Barkis' prostrate body that Jay motionless, gashed with a score of sword thrusts and bullets. Tho body lay inert. "Does lie live?" gasped the wound-

Ed prince. Noting the sad silence that met his query; ho sighed deeply.

OUB SERIAL.

"No? It is well. Peace go with-thee, brother. As valiant and faithful wert thou as truth itself." He then raised himself with unexpected energy. "God save Armenial" he cried.

Then ho fell back and it was the second day thereafter before lie was declared by the yacht's physician to bo out of danger.

CHAPTER XXXVI

CONCLUSION.

The Mist passed the Dardanelles at a marvellous rate of speed. She was flying the British, flag. Had she been fired at sho would have kept on, but, by good fortune she was permitted to proceed unmolested.

Steaming over the blue Aegean, saddened by the death of Sarkis and many others of the hardy band that had rescued the patriarch and the treasure that would do so much for their unhappy country, the survivors buried the prince's faithful servitor at sea, after a brief but impressive service, performed by the primate himself. To be Continued.)