I must send down for telegrams in
the morning," she mused when she had finally laid her spectacles
across her Bible.
It was nearing eleven o'clock when the two half-drowned thugs hiding
on Rozel Head were roused by their returning mate stumbling wildly
into the muddy cavern in the cliff. They sprang up as he muttered,
"On vient, tout pres d'ici! Soyous tous prets!" A bottle extended
was half drained by the two ruffians, who then eagerly loosened
their black jaws with a mad desire to revenge their cheerless vigil.
"Lei has," whispered the spy, pointing to a black object creeping
unsteadily up the steep path--Simpson, dreaming still of pretty
Ann's rounded white arms! It was indeed Simpson, with unsteady
steps, breasting the hill. A fear of Andrew Fraser's arrival led
the half-fuddled old veteran to hasten homeward now. "I can say the
telegram was late," he chuckled. "They never will know." And then
feeling for his pocket-flask, filled by handsome Ann, "as a last
night-cap," he turned into the little cavern, where the school-boys,
on a Saturday outing, often played "pirates," for his breath was
gone and his eyes were drenched with salt scud.
Then, a half smothered cry arose, as the three waiting thugs leaped
upon their prey. Simpson was taken off his guard! His muscles
were all relaxed by drink. He fell prone as the heavy black jacks
descended upon his head, muffled in the hood of his "dreadnaught.
Pages:
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438