CHAPTER XXXIII.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2027, 4 July 1885, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER XXXIII.

"From the very first," Baid Ebby, " I never despaired of getting away. I set myself at onoe fco find out what means could bo used. After a, thorough examination I concluded if escape there was to be, a balloon must be used. To make one, though I knew how if I had the materials, seemed at firat impossible. However, as I looked mora carefully into the mitter a piospect of escape opened out. There was no silk on the island but me tine cloth woven by the natives out of the bark of trees would to a certain extent answer the purpose. I found after a long search that I could get the materials for the manufacture of the nydrogen. That was ray lesser dillioulty, and I soon overcamo it. But the making of the envelope wa3 the real diiliculty. By using the linen cloth and adding many flies together I could undoubtedly make an envelopo impervious enough to hold the gas— for a time. By using a glaze I could ensure the keeping of tho gas in for a longer period. But experiment as I would I Haw already that I could not make a balloon that would carry us auy distance. I was iti despair. We would only escapa from the island to drop into the sea and perish. At last a ray of light shot acioss my brain ; I seized the great idea — the work was done. It was suggested when Aranoah ordered the building of his boat. lat once relinquished the idea of navigating the air to the American mainland. I saw at a glance that I could make a balloon which would lift the boat into the air and over the cliff all that would be required would be to drop tho boat on the sea and let the balloon go. I set to work, I kept at it day and night, and I soon satisfied myself that I had solved the problem. The boat is finished and furnished with provisions and everything : the balloon is ready, a few hours will fill it with gas, and then we can rise from this island and in an hour the boat will skim the Pacific." Ebby had worked himself up into a great state of excitsment, his frame trembled, his eyes flashed. It was very unusual to Bee him in this state. Not giving Herbert time to reply he pulled him over to the shed. " See, there she lies," he said, " well sewn together and gUzed. I take her out of this, I begin the manufacture of the gas, I lay it on, the balloon fills, it rises, a sphere in the air, the boat moves upward, I cut the rops, we shoot into the blue heavens, the wind bears us over the cliff, I let out more of the gas, wa descend and the vea^el rides upon the ocean, wo set the sails and away, away we speed to our land, to fortune, to fame, ts Alice. Free, free, for ever free 1" The young man was so exhausted that he .«ank back on a bench. Ilerbort was little loss excited. He endeavored to keep down hi 3 feelings, but he could not. It had now grown quite dark, and the young men could not notice a white face that peered out at them from a dark shrubbery close at hand ; they could not hear tho beating of a poor little heart to whom every word Ebby uttered, though only half understood, was a dagger. " I tell you, Herbert," said Ebby, when he had recovered ; everything is calculated to a certainty. I havo placed it beyond mistake. I have experimented and experimented. At first I thought to make a confident of Aranor.h, but since I saw how things were going with Onnora I kept the secret to myaelf. 1 know what you feel— l can undeistand what love is— but there need bo no 6cone. We can ) wander away to marrow, taking Harry with I uh, nil the balloon, and vanish as we came. That poor girl still believes us gods ; sho will think we have gone to the star she smga of, and in her adoration she will forget her love. Don't answer no, Herbert, as you havo loved me, as I surrendered to you the girl I loved, as you hope to become great and famous »ud happy, do not answer no. Make an effort, tew jourself away. Oh Herbert, Herbert, do not answer no I "It iH too late," said Herbert in a low voice, which showed how deeply he was affected : " I am to be married to Onnora this night." " You can put it off," cried Ebby passionately ; pretend illness or anything. Do not sacrifice yourself, Herbert, with escape within your grasp. Herbert, think, think of the other world, of you duty to Alice, to your friends, to the world." The little hoart was almost still now, tho face frozen with terror. Upon his word her life, her^reason depended. Herbert staggered away and clasped his hands in agony. How she longed to throw herself at his feet and implore him to refuse the tempter. But she moved not ; half dazed as she was she resolved not by word or sign to influence his ohoico. II he did not love her

■ >!•_ t!l«l 1 ill l O'ji i, t.. d 111. i.l.* »I, (.UlUl t' i 1i 1 woil ', thon jot her aie— .t wa . b it. It wai Vt'ry dark now ; tha "ymJ was robb i.g faint'y in tho trcvj, the dull wash of the bounded like a dirge. Yet dark as it v. as tbe great %/hite words " ESCAPE " loomed out and ssuned to fill Heibert'a eye 3. Ho sl'ui, tfcj>n; in vain the word* were in his hx am. It was an awful raoraont. To whom w auld be be true. To gentle Alice far away, or to tender Oiinora oo near. It wag a cruel ti ial, one few men have hal to Buffer. " Let ua go now," cried Ebb;, who scernsd to have lost his rea3on in his excitement. "I Will get ready. I will set to work. Beforo two hours all will be ready— they #ill not miss U 3. L3t US gO." " I tell you, Ebby," said Herbert, " it is of no use. I have promised, I will perform." " Herbert, Herbert," nobbed Ebby hysterically, "do not say that ; in the name of God do not say that. Do not kill me." " I do not wish to kill you," Herbert managed to say, ♦' but I mean to keep my promise. This island will be ray home, Orinora will be my wife." The tension relaxed, the hands let go the shrub ; Oriaora fell forward in a faint of joy. She had won the day. " Herbert," said Ebby in a wild tone, " are you mad ? Suiely you are mad." " No, Kbby, I am not," replied Herbert, ct^ly, " but I am the victim of the most extraordinary cirdumiianceß a man over suf- 1 f'TPd. Do you know who Aianoah and Orinora are?" -„ i " Not for certain," replied Etiby, -who UfA si\b down on his balloon in a helpless he»£. The pale face, not so pale now — was again peering through the shrubbery. " Aranoah it, the very John Morden for whom we came out to search, and Orinora is Alice's halfpister." " So I often thought," replied Ebby, in a tone as if it was of no interest to him. "I have promised to marry Orinora to make up to Morden the wrougs he suffered from my father. Alice will have the property, and so the expiation will be complete." " Oh, Herbert," said Ebby, mournfully, ' thin is tho very madness of intoxioation. Surely you will not sacrifice yourself for an idea. What ia this girl to her sister ? " " I love Orinora," replied Herbert, " I love har tenderly. Not perhaps as I loved Alice, but I would not see her suffer the slightest pain. And if I were to forsake her she would die. Do not urge any more, Ebby. You have corn my heart, but I am determined to keep my world. But I not wish to imprison you, though to part with you, dear faithful friend, will be a second death. Let yourself and Harry use the balloon, a«d go back to the world." " To tell Alice you have deserted her, to witness her agonies? " cried Ebby. "Perhaps," said Herbert, slowly and painfully, " she may reward your true and conslant love when she learns I have deserted her." " Do not speak of suoh things," cried Ebby, " I would not dream of them. If I was the only man left in the world Alice would not give me her heart, and without the heart I would not ask the person. Besides, I would not leave you, not for a thousand worlds. Where you are I will be ; your land, your Gtd'a mine." " Why should you remain here a prisoner for life," said Herbert. " because I have decided upen a Quixotic but honorable course. Take your libeity, Ebby ; give Harry back to the world he 10ve3.." " Tho world will do very well without him," said Ebby, who seemed now to have recovered himself, and to have accepted tbe inevitable. " I will say no more Herbert. Let us to the boat and go home." And they were soon loss in the gathering gloom that was dosing in upon the island that fatal night.