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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 MICaOCOPY >ISOlUTION TEST CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) _^ APPLIED IM jGE__ln a^^ '65J East Mo[n Street =%= Rochestsf. New York U6D9 USA r^g (716) 182 - 03O0 - Phone ^S '■"5) 288 - 5989 - Fq, / 0'?ijk.J^ "S'- the Cook's tourist Nov" , ^^"P-'"PP" ="d such a carnivarof mili;!^ ''' "P' ''^"'^ "'^^^ been under the sway of t " Lw^^ S """r^' ''" ^^''^ these strangers in their hot.? ^ ^"""'^ woman, and into its vortex °^'"''^^'''^"'ly been drawn haprtCXHii::rboZ"r'^'^^"^^^--"'p- who with bare whte arm "t-"'^'".' attire wasone trade, ga.cd calm^ do vn thf "tl '^'^^^ '^'"^- one of the small aVcu.ar balconies ' "°"' ''""^ sh'::d^tSt'£;:™Thr^'^"r"^'^^- out of her teens and tl!; ?' "^"^<^""y barely hood still looked f"th fromTlfe d ^T' °' '^^^ ^''' rested serene on th/o '™"? "'^'^"p, brown eyes, and its golden-bro^n Z^J^^:"'^'' ^''^'^--d by making the ultra chic of fl'on^"^^"" "'^^ ^'-«dy *;"^a":t::^;i^°-r^-^^e stormy pos- the details of her r^T attempt to describe risivesml .ithVn'Ir' "°"" °"'^ excite the de- or Winter! aTtefhTsn^^T."''^^^"""'"^ D"«n, At that day r;.ter' :rampeToi;°'r''-'"^ "''■ ^"kthat billowed around ;:.:roi1£ tTSst^ VANITV FAIR suVotr^ ''' been nearer at hand than he' had "Yes," she answefpi-l " it j^. ,, ^' -— u aoe:> sLxm rather a nov- 4 THE NIGHT-HAWK elty to be alone, just we two to ourselves W^ h. Why, what IS it going to be over for? t u cr.-rM-b' -"'"-"-- ^ Well, I suppose that, sooner or later, we are." She spoke with a certain timidity asthou<.h !n u ■ ■ng up the subject, she had attain^d^rsXt r'l'ir bacJ^etr; y:ur[dreL;rt^^ -' - dear Amity Hall ffrst.-ZL'Ha, " 2 r^ °^1 over the words-"! wVh!^ lingered tobeagoodomen firus.""'"' "'•"^- " ""S'"' The gentleness in her voice evidently failed to m,l, any impression on him. ^ ° '"^''^ said'^-Ge!" '^'""""'y "■^■■°"-y child you are!" he sa,d Getting up romantic sentiments about a nlace that you haven> seen since you were a chiW T f n d VANITY FAIR j and Invited to Compiigne ! You have everything hat a woman can possibly wish for. and you bXin to m whltl-lid'v^^r '"7''-' '' P'-'--" iiie What would Worth say, I should like to know Schoolgirl as she was. or little more, there was a srsLi^rs^^^^^^^^ .::^^;{-r:r-LS:rt;:rrn:ir- tay ..ke that. We must surely have dut.es and re spons,b,ht.es. and our own place in our own country Remember you are a Castelle of Mariposa, and re member how people still speak of your mother's stand mg and mfluence for good. If I could only learn tt be hke her! Frivolous old people are horror^sof mine! £drpy.^°^^ "■'^^^ ^^ ^''^" '^- - '^--thing then Th^^ -tr '"''"" """'^^ '^° grow older ThT;^ ^ "", "r^ '°°" ^"°"gh ■■" -" conscience. Thank heaven ! Here comes Molly Seton to save me Molhe? as a thm flaxen-haired woman, evidently some five years or so older than Mrs. Castelle and ?rthr"^'''°^^-'"^-"-^^-^^-H.^" "Here is Antoinette turned Puritan, and, not only abjunng cakes and ale on her own account, but wanting me to do so too She has actually been lecturing ml on the duties an'^ rr-nnno.'hn-'f ^ ■■ ■ . r lit. dii- rcsponsibii,tn.s oi iioiiie hfe. What ^ THE NIGHT-HAWK course of tr,at.cnt should you rccc^end? Cold sympathetic, her gLce a^ tl ^ ' " "°' °""- both shrewd and kid,; ^"""^^ "°'"^" -*" fo^ h^er^Sf ^nTshi -sTf '""^ '^^^ ''"" '°° --•> plan and tlk n^it o,V / '^'"^ "'^ "sual feminine hear that S"^:;;;!^";,; /J.^/^''^ "^htly. -I fair and ' spirituelle 'an ' A., • ?"" "=^" ^^^^ "<> cn-cs beforras Madame CaTtenr'-^Thr" ^' '"^ ^""■'■ gnashing their teeth overit Sie ^ '" "' ^" AntiSt^'^^'^^^'^^-'hofcoidair.ranover "I cannot bear that man. He make, m f , ;Hough some one .ere wa.kin, oveTl;^ .Ta^^'sh: ^s;iwiX:2t;Sr^St'"';:"^- ""'---^ a cure yet, Molhe." ^" ^°" ''"^^"'' «"&g«ted beS: l:",;-:;^^"^ '■^'- •^-•^ f-^^^er-fan thoughtfully "^:irCo;^tt:ss^r^"'r^"'^= to the Pyrenees next week A,", .u""" °! "'"^ ""= most amusing peoole -.r. h if u "^^S^tiest and I VANITY FAIR 7 Edwa?d°" '"°"' '"^ """" °^ '■''-■' f-'hc present, joli.est thmg to do, Mollie. I wonder if Net ie \. H ;:rf::^^^^'^-^'"^-^"^"-'^-ofS;:::; Urs^sLrrl °j7^'"'"°"y "" vvork wonders," fa nana men— Here comes that FnirUsh man of yours, and I feel it in my bones that you vo are gomg to make a nieht of it ^n .. H- a c.,3, , ,, ,,^^ ?oMles:an7;;° ;;- h^ some lessons m managing husbands. Then weUl It our beauty sleep into the bargain " ^ Castelle's kst trace of discontent cleared as a st,I wart young fellow with bronzed face jo ned them wi L" 5t wal t'^i *^''^^''°"^ "^f"-" '° Mrs. cLX heJrs:;;:?:-^''^^^^'^-^^^^'---" "Ah, Mr. Arthur! Are you prepared to bear the bkme of carrying off my husband and leaving me L go to he opera with a scratch match of friends^^" One word would have made mepart of the scratch TH:lXr'' '^^^ -"'"ilated'any other'j:,^ ine cruelty lay m not speaking it " The modulations of his voice showed the high-bred deSn St -r ' -'-'' ''- -~ - -'- " I fear that I am too broken in to masculine ways ' THE NIGHT-HAWK , scheme aTdM; slorL'/f ^'^ °"' °' ""= °P"* _ ic glass tor fear of seeing wrinkles." 'ng a fresh cigar and rising said • ^ Ieav.°'h "^' '^''"' "' " ^"S''"^'-' Well, au revoir I leave her m your hands, Mollie Instill .nl \ your worldly wisdom and root out hose ,e°r ? Don t be afraid," the lady laughed, "the air of Pans soon nips such vegetation in the bJd " As the two men vanished in the crowd.' the silence of long mt.macy settled upon the women At last the elder spoke in a voice from wi.ich the forced vivacity was gone. ""^ "Were you really talking in earnest of wanting to go home and r.ettle down ? " ""umg to Antoinette turned from her contemplation of the ^rerTe^'r^'^-'-'-^'-'^-^^-'-dto";:;;: I J7 u ^ ""*'■ °°" ■'' '^'"^ =° unnatural to you that should want to see my husband's home, and to try to fill my real place in the world ? " ^ Mollie Seton was watching her intently as she said, th.- I r''^,.'""'^ "'°"e''' that there wa. enough in this kmd of life to satisfy any woman " "So there is, of its kind, and that is just what frightens mo Only think, if it should grow to be the only sort of life that did satisfy me. ^ Of course I VANITY FAIR 5 know that I am considered a bcllc— and all that— "she flushed half impatiently—" but then it is only as any stranger with a pretty face, a ready tongue and expcn- sive clothes might be. It gives me no established standing, and "—she lowered her voice.—" I don't want to be Puritanical, but men like De Morny frighten me," and h.r looks showed that she spoke in earnest. M.S. Seton laughed rather harshly : " You little goose— what have you to be afraid of ? Edward may be careless, but he is a Castclle and you are safe in his care." Antoinette looked as though repenting her impulsive words. " Well, at any rate, I want a life of more dignity. I want to be a success as the mistress of Mariposa, a success with dependants and relatives and old family friends. And Edward-he has good ab-li- ties. I want him to be some one of importance in his own country, instead of an idler here." "You want a great deal. But that is the way of young folks." And the other sighed as though hav- ing found out the futility of many aspirations. " Let sleeping dogs lie. What you say all sounds very high-toned, but there is a great virtue in letting well alone. Your husband is amused in his present life, pr jud of you, and pleased with himself for having marriea you. When you dispense with your audience and turn down the light, you dispense with half the charm. When you take him away from amusements that he has not yet tired of, you provide him with his first grievance. Beware that he does not replace them with less harmless ones. However, you are young and you are prosperous, a fatal combination. You are 10 THE NIGHT-HAWK sure to set to work to pull down the structure over your head " " Oh, MoIIie, don't make yourself out so old and worldly wise. I'm not going to do anything desperate I assure you " " If you do, you won't find it out until you've done It, and it's too late. I speak from experience, my dear. But I won't be unpleasant any more. Do come up to my room and see the magenta walking-dress that Worth has sent me home for Luchon, suppose you get a green one like it, they would go together so well." By the way, which place do you think that you and Edward would rather go to first, Luchon or Bagnferes-de Bigorre?" " What does it matter ! I dare say that they are both equally nice," Mrs. Castelle responded somewhat lan- guidly. The other looked at her sharply, as though guessing at "^er humour. " Well, we'll see what your husband says ;" then as though in an afterthought, " And oh, Nettie, I do hkte ' to sponge on you again when you've been so good to me, but that awful Madame TapiUion won't wait any longer— and she really has robbed me so ! Do you thmk you couldXet me have five hundred dollar." or so, until I can get some money out of that old uncle Robert of mine in New Orleans ?" She had persuasively twisted her arm through that of her cousin, who, as they walked through the corridor, gave a hearty and ready assent to her request. Money counted so little to her, seeming such a matter-of-course background to her brilliant young life. CHAPTER II. " IN DIXIE LAND " THE clear, mountain air of the Pyrenees and the out- door l,fe brought back Mrs. Castelle's animation, and ban.shed that languid absent-mindedness, that had seemed to be growing upon her. Amongst the solemn mountain peaks and rushing torrents, she dressed and laughed and da-.ced with the best but none the less, did she keep many things and ponder them m her heart. When the August days waxed hottest, they came out from the mountain gorges to the shmmg sands and wave-fretted rocks of Bkrritz The En- press had set the stamp of fashi , , on this remote httle corner of France, from whence the shores and peaks of her own Spanish land could be seen, and all the gay world flocked there obediently in her train There came the soldiers and the wits and the beauties' of a court, that, if corrupt, was, at any rate, always bril- hant: the Princess Metternich with her audacious tongue and grotesque face ; Prosper Mdrimce the scof fing cynic in words-the loyal friend at heart. Le Pel letierandMacMahon, the rough soldiers: some of the gay throng destined to outlive the Day of Wrath some destmed like Me'rimec to die in it. And Antoinette Castelle, with her life all before her sat m her few solitary hours of early morningstrolls, and watched the great, Atlantic billows rolling in with a 12 THE NIGHT-HAWK force started in the western world, and pondered her own little problems. The intensity of her nature was set on making a man out of that weak, wayward, lovable hust and r lers, and she instinctively felt that this was not thi ;ene for such a task. Could even the strongest help dete- riorating in such a hot-house atmosphere ? And so, in spite of Mrs. Seton's scoffs and warnings, she held to her purpose of persuading Edward Castelle to return and settle down in their own southern home. It was not all at once, but still, in the course of the next few months, she did have her own way. She was undergoing the unpleasant process of doubt- ing the advisability of the achievement, on the rainy October evening when she arrived at her husband's plantation of Mariposa. After some days of travelling in utter discomfort they had disembarked from a Mississippi steamboat at the dilapidated little wharf that marked their own la-ding. Even before they had left the steamboat wild shouts and laughter greeted them from an excited mob of negroes, the foremost of whom waved torches which, sending rays of lurid light over the dark forest und water, added to the weirdness of the scene. Faces and voices brought vague associations of ear- liest childhood to Antoinette, reawakening the hope which burned dim in her heart. A handsome carriage awaited- them, and they were at once whirled off, at a rapid rate, up a long avenue, edged by thick woods, and overhung by live oak trees, from which waved the gloomy, grey banners of the Spanish moss. "IN DIXIE LAND" ,3 A sudden freak of memory recalled to the young wife's mind the briUiant courtyard of the H6tel du Louvre, where Castelle had spoken with such distaste of the dismal woods and waters of his home. The s--ght of the waving moss chilled her, as though It might be the fingers of death or time, reaching after her with her fate. But the dark avenue was opening out into a cleared sr- ce where the twilight was still bright enough to show the stretch of low rambling white house, with its many smaller wooden dependen- cies. A cheerful radiance streamed from open doors and windows, and in its light could be seen another group of servants, scattered from the lawn to within the wide old hall. Castelle had been quite silent, save for a few necessary words, since their landing. Now as the carriage stopped and the faces of those on the veran- dah became visible, his wife heard him smother a fierce imprecation, and again the cold shadow of a threaten, ing cloud seemed to chill her. But an old black butler had rushed to the carriage- door with tears and smiles of welcome to " Massa Ed- ward ! " on his honest wrinkled face. This was the signal for a vociferous greeting that broke forth on every side. Brushing, with somewhat brusque acknowledgments, past weeping old women and the stalwart matrons, his own contemporaries, Cas- telle hurried his wife up the steps. " Yes, yes, Mammie Liza, and all of you. You shall see the new mistress and me to-morrow morning and have the presents that she brought you from Paris But she is tired now, so off with you for to-night." These dismissed, there remained the house servants '4 THE NIGHT-HAWK beyond, comparatively quieter and more deferential in their greeting. Tired as she was, Mrs. Castelle's senses were now quickened by the vague alarm caused by her husband's unusual ill-humour, and with one quick glance she took in the welcoming group. The foremost figure was that of a tall young mulatto woman, with the finely modelled, supple figure of her race. Her skin was of a clear brown, far more beauti- ful than if there had been enough white blood in her veins to have made her of a sickly yellow. Clad in a well-fitting dress of a brilliant red, she stood calmly facing her new mistress. As Antoinette, look- ing at her, met the steady stare of the great velvety brown eyes, she read in their depths the subtle thrill of hate, untouched by the welcoming smile that wreathed the face. At her side stood a fine-looking young mulatto man, and between them was a child of about four years old, with skin much fairer than either of theirs. The other men and women were of various stages of colour and smartness, but it seemed to Antoinette's quickened vision that, the darker and humbler, the more sincere was the welcome, and that in proportion as the paleness of skin and smartness of attire increased, an antagonism, scarcely veiled by a pretended delight, could be felt. With these more privileged retainers Castelle's acknowledgments were less brusque, but even then, his manner was forced and utterly wanting in the charm which no one could assume better than himself. With everything new and strange around her, An- "IN DIXIE LAND' 15 toinette even felt that she was having revealed to her a new side to her husband's character. Where was the winning grace and suavity, that had made him such a favourite with Continental servants. •' Ah, Rosalie and Maurice," he said carelessly to the couple whom Antoinette had noticed, " you got my letters, and told the others about the new mistress ? That's right ! Now you must try to teach them how to please her, for Mariposa has not known much of ladies these tei ears pr = r." "Sam -emembers the old times though ! " turning in a more friendly fashion to the black butler. " Ah, yes, massa ! If only the old missus, God bless her, had lived to see Massa Edward's wife ! She would have blessed the day ! " " Well, well ! show Mrs. Castelle's maid to her room, and leave us to get dressed and ready for dinner." The house was handsome in an old-fashioned way, and once in her room, with the soothing attentions of her own maid, the young wife began to experience a homelike sense of comfort. There was an appealing touch of the family past in the slim, old-time furniture and in the dim crayon portraits of young folks and children on the walls. Lives spent here in honour and dignity seemed to welcome her to worthily fill their vacant places, and to bear their name. She idly followed this encouraging train of thought, as, vesting upon a sofa, she watched her maid preparing for her toilette. The girl had left the room in search of a piece of luggage, when she noticed that the excited chatter- i6 THE NIGHT-HAWK ing of the people outside was dying away in the dis- tance. All at once the receding voices were drowned by the sound of her 1' asband's voice, low and cautious, but still near enough to be distinctly heard. There was a clear-cut enunciation of each syllable, which she had already learned to recognise as a sign of ill-controlled anger. " I had not expected to find you still living in the house, after my having written that I wished you to move to the West Lodge. Maurice should have seen that you obeyed my orders." The soft guttural voice that answered with mocking calm was one that Mrs. Castelle instinctively associated with the wearer of the red dress. " Oh, massa, I know you're angry with me, but don't blame poor Maurice ! You know he can't read writing and — well, I only read him bits of your letter. The day after I got it the West Lodge done be burned down, and where was the good of telling Maurice to go there then, some of de boys cooking chickens they stole, the overseer think." A fierce oath was the answer from Castelle— for a moment the listener almost thought that there had been an accompanying blow. "You fiend! Is there any mischief that you are not up to ! You had better take care not to go too far! What do you want, and what are you scheming for?" A sob, which Antoinette scornfully stamped as false, broke upon the silence. " Oh, if the massa would only not be cross with me, and would let me stay here in the house near him, and be housekeeper like I always have been ! 'Fore the "IN DIXIE LAND" ,; Lawd, I'd do everything to make the young missus com- fortable, and never let on how things used to be. Why should such a splendid, lovely lady care to know any- thing about poor, black Rosalie ! I'd do anything if only the massa wouldn't send me away to be just a common nigger, and have all the other folks mock at me ! " and again came the vehement sob. " Well, well," Castelle s voice had lost much of its harshness ! " there is no doubt that you are a smarter housekeeper than can easily be found here, and I should miss Maurice in the house too. So, if you choose to behave yourself, I don't mind your staying on— only mind, now none of your tricks or you shall be packed off to the Mobile auction-room. I am in earnest this time, remember." " Ah, massa is always so good to his poor Rosalie ! " but under the tender words there was the snaky hiss that bided its time. With a sound of footsteps the conclave ended. Antoinette sat and stared around the room whose presage of home was turned into the shadow of a prison. This then was the future that she had hastened to meet with such ready feet, such confident trust. Although she had left America as a child, yet her life since she came from her convent school, had been spent amongst southern women. In spite of her youth she could hardly have helped gathering some knowledge of the darker side of plan- tation life. And yet the blow was none the less keen when these shadows overspread her own pure young life. She i8 THE NIGHT-HAWK was still young enough to divide the world into the two forces of good and bad. There were as yet no halftones in her mental vision. But, even with all the intensity of her disillusion- ment, there was in her enough pride, self-control or com- mon sense, call it what you will, to enable her to face the music, and conceal her new knowledge from everyone. How she got through that evening, or indeed through thesuccecding days,Mrs. Castelle could never afterwards have distinctly told. They were all an equal maze of bewildered pain. Fortunately for her, these days were full of life and movement. There were numerous batches of neighbours, if such night be counted by dozens of miles, and cousins of equally distant degree of relationship, coming to make the acquamtance of the new chatelaine of Mariposa Then, as her part, there were long rides or drives through dreary woods and lonely cotton-fields, to return these visits and partake of stately hospitality ; and there was a certain relief in anything that took ',er away from Mariposa, and the daily sight of that brown face. But, whether at home or abroad, there was still the vague sensation of moving through some nightmare regions, from which she would awake to recover her own and her husband's identity. For the shadows of Mariposa seemed to have closed -ver and hidden the gay and gracious young seigneur the winning charm of whose manner she had so often watched with fond pride, working its own way in fresh surroundings. In his place she saw standing a nervous •IN DIXIE LAND '9 youth, with furtive glances and uneasy demeanour in her presence, of irritable captiousness toward his serv- ants, who seemed cowed and alarmed. It was only in society that glimpses of his former self returned, and Antoinette grew to feel the presence of guests a relief and welcome distraction. Truly, Mollie Seton's prophecies had fallen far short of the grim reality ! She herself was not without causes of irritation in the gradually increasing insolence of Rosalie the house- keeper, and her slightly veiled sense of triumph, as well as in the impish-like pranks played about 'the house by her boy Herbert. Towards this child Antoinette instinctively felt a nervous aversion, which she could scarcely control, and it was these same pranks of his which precipitated the overhanging crisis. One day, rrturning tired and depressed from a long ride with her husband, she sought the shelter of her own rooms, only to find the hated child sitting in the middle of her dressing-rooin floor. He was busily en. gaged, in bis uncannily stealthy fashion, in making aspcciesof mud-pie from the contents of the various cases of perfumes and powders on her table ; glass and ivory and silver lying scattered around him in con- fusion. This was the last straw laid on her daily burden. With a sudden outburst of wrath she jerked the child to his feet, giving him two or three smart cuts with the riding switch which she held in her hand. The boy's screams of rage and pain brought his mother flying to the rescue. 30 THE NIGHT-HAWK Antoinette loosened her grasp, giving him a shove towards ' ,jalie, who crouched over him, winding him in her arms and glaring like an enraged tigress at her mistress. The latter's wrath was already stiffening into con- tempt. Her pride of race and habit brought back her self-control before this woman. She turned from that hostile figure and rang for her maid, saying coldly, "Take the child away and keep him out of my sight. Remember that he may fare worse if I find him here again." Her coolness seemed to recall Rosalie to some sense of consequences, but as she rose, soothing the terrified child, she muttered as she went, "We'll see what the massa says to his own boy being whipped by any missus." Uncertainly as she had caught the words, their mean- ing was able to send a chill to Antoinette's heart. When Mollic her maid came, she found her standing pallid-fa d, the whip still in her hand, gazing down upon the liavoc on the floor. Mollie's consternation found a fluent vent in lamen- tations to which her mistress paid little heed. At length she roused herself with a vicious snap to the whip, paying, " The little wretch is smarting well for it, anyhow." Mollie dropped the cloth with which she was attack, ing the mud pie. " Lord sake, missus ! You didn't beat him ! " " I did, though. But not nearly as much as I shall the next time I catch hin here." "IN DIXIE LAND" „ The gravity on Mollie's face was portentous. Mercy me ! You'd better be careful, mi.sus. Dafs Mr. Castelle s own child. Rosalie done gone tell him for sure ! She s getting round him again. She could get round de debbil himself!' she whispered with careful glances around. That night a fierce combat raged between husband ana wife, and a high-spirited girl, who had never heard any save utterances of homage and affection, learned how cruel words can cut and sting, and how brutal a ••nan who is ashamed of himself can be ,rl T ""'" '°"''°''' *° ^'' '^^' h= =t '^''t shrunk from her presence like a beaten dog, cowed by the greater strength of her spirit ^ Fearlessly as she had faced him down, the strain was low : '" overwrought nerves, and she broke ^ulMoir" \Tr'f'-'=^ through which the faith, ful Molhe soothed and tended her, bolting the doors so that no one else might come near them or listen to her heart-broken sobs. And thus the night was spent! £ CHAPTF.R III. " A I.IKK AWRY." When, late the next morning Mrs. Castelle awoke from the heavy sleep of exhaustion, she looked around as on a new heaven and earth. The morning sunshine, the breath of the pine woods wafted through the open window brought her no friendly message. Her eyes did not even soften at sight of the wistful face of her little skye terrier, that, with his keen doggish sense of somethinij having gone wrong, had perched himself on the edge of the bed to watch her slumbers. There was no passion or sorrow in her heart this morning. All that belonged to the past night, and she felt a strange new cold strength coming over her. The terrier's were not the only faithful eyes to greet her awakening. Poor Mollie's soft dark ones filled with tears as Antoinette languidly tried to smile -' her. What little slumber she herself had known had been on a rug by her mistress's bed. "Any news, MoUie.'" Antoinette asked, with a dread of what she might hear. " Praise de Lord, missus, de massa's gone off this mornin" early, to go hunting with Mr. D'Entremont. Won't be back for a week, old Sam said." " That gives us plenty of time for what we have to do." Antoinette said, half to herself, and MoUie, looking at her curiously, saw her absorption and said nothing. 'A LIFE AWRY" 23 There was a great sense of relief in the knowledge that she need not meet her husband, or take any im- mod'ate action. She knew that the necessity of the next few hours was rest-rest of body, and if possible of mind. After that she knew quite well what she was to do. Her one idea was to get away from Mariposa as quickly as possible. She would take Mollie and go to her own plantation in Georgia. If ever she could learn to forgive her husband, it could not be at Mariposa. She had .10 near relatives or intimate friends to look to in America. Wei;, all the more reason for being strong and brave. Presently she asked Mollie another question— " That woman, Rosalie, have you seen her to-day ? " Mollie looked round in evident fear befoix she an- swered, " She's working hard in de kitchen, not often she works like dat. I just saw her through dc door. Frightened to go in. Wicked woman dat, missus be careful." "I am not afraid of her ! " was the quick answer ; but, all the same, some of Mollic's dread did seem to com- municate itself to her, and bid her walk cautiously. When Mollie had dressed her she pulled herself to- gether, and, pale and stately, made her usual tour of inspection. As she passed through the kitchen she saw the flut- ter of a bright coloured dress as its wearer bent over a tray of pastry, but gave no sign of recognition to the half ironical curtsy that marked her passage. She was almost alarmed at the bitter tide of cruelty 24 THE NIGHT-HAWK tip, that she felt surging up in her heart. The despotism of a hne of autocrats, was latent there, ready to be aroused by the mere sight of this scornful slave- woman. The possibilities of her own nature were at that moment her worst fear, as she knew that she could have stood by and watched this woman suffer. The morning had worn into noon when, idly pacing the verandah, she heard the mingled sound of laughing voices and horses' feet approaching up the avenue, She had grown accustomed by now to such visits en masse, and stood on the steps to greet the party vWiom she recognised as coming from the nearest plantation th?.t of the DeLatour's. She had rather fancied the girls, of a fragile butter- fly style of beauty, and the men of more or less the type of her husband— handsome courteous, gay • but now, as she smiled her greeting, she wor.deied' how near to the surface lay the seamy side in each. Bu- surely, amongst all these faces of new friends she saw one from her former life. The thin man, of the bleached blond head, who rode by one of the girls, was Humphry Martin whom she had known in Paris. A journalist of unknown antecedents, Martin had made himself a certain place in the American Parisian circles where she had queened it, by his powers of en- tertaining and plausible adaptability.. True, Castelle and some others of his ilk had affected, in their lofty Southern fashion, to regard him as merely a court jester to the women folks. But a certain reckless side to his character, making him an infatuated gambler, had often included him in some of 'A LIFE AWRY 25 their wildest night hours. He kne r hu Pans ; , well and could always provide a newcom r .„th arau ement at the shortest notice. He lived the easy life that a man may live if he always takes care only to associate with prosperous people. Antoinette had known as little as girls do know of the real life of such a man, and had graciously accepted the deferential homage which he almost timidly laid at her feet. He was such a convenient person, always knovvmg who the remarkable people at a function were and ready with amusing little stories about them. He was artistic, too, and brought from the studios the opmions that the public must learn later as the correct thing. This has always counted for more in Pans than m any other capital, and Antoinette had a real, if somewhat untrained, pleasure in art. She was thus often glad of Mr. Martin's guidance through gal- leries and in visits to studios. So, after her marriage, he had succeeded in gaining a certain standing with the Castelles. When they came to America they found that he had taken passage in the same steamer, and neither of them regretted the fact. It was natural then for him to attach himself to their party on board. If he drank Castelle's wine and smoked his cigars he played picquet with him, and talked the endless gossip of the Paris world they both loved and were both leaving. Then, when her husband was lazy, or had found some other woman to amuse him, he fetched and carried for 26 THE NIGHT-HAWK the wife sat by her side talking well of books, ideas, art. anythmg that a clever man makes use of when he IS earnestly set on interesting a woman. He had even got so far as talking of himself in the hear? °["\T"^°^y 'y"'<^'^'^ dear to the feminine heart. And she, as most women of her age and ex- per.ence would have done, had taken him at his own value, and behev.ng m his sufferings had gently con- soled and counselled him. And so she had learned to look upon him as a trusted friend and it was with a real senslTion o pleasure that she saw his face amongst those of people who friendly ,« they now were, she yet felt were of her husband s kith and kin, and would judge him the most len.ently of the two in any dift .ence. He it least, was the friend of Antoinette Castelle, not only of the mistress of Mariposa. And so, as Hum- phry Mart.n mounted the steps at whose head stood the ovely figure in white, he felt a fierce throb of exultation as he rc.d in her face the glad welcome that ne had toiled so hard to win. ^ Had Diana then really come to life for an ordinary Antoinette's silvery voice spoke its greeting Cousin Sallie, and Cousin Louise! Mr.DeLaTour thisis indeed an act of Christian charity on your part' to come when Edward is off for a week's hunting, and an old friend drop from the skies in this fashion ! But absence "'' '°" "'" '^ disappointed in Edward's " Disappointment could not exist in the sunshine of ■I "A LIFE AWRY" 37 your presence," was the answer, as Martin held her hand in a hungering pressure. Exaggerated compliments were the fashion of fi, "B.t how w., i, ,!,„ y„„ „„, J ™,h„. ,„,„. ,. w,.i,i„,,„„.,.j ,^rz':' me ,11 ,ho „„ „„„„ „, .^|__ |^._ H E I have my reivnrd, you see - -terbefTrfsa™^^' ''"'' '^" ''' '^"''-'^ ^ us whrn'' '''' '■''" "' "'"'y '° ^^k you to come to trouble ''°r •"" *° "'^™ '= '-'"'^^''- l""' ^°n,e fami^ troubles make it an impossibility " ^ ^^ H,s face immediately assumed an air of grave con- 38 THE NIGHT-HAWK I'll 'I Thefne,d;"ofe:rT '°°'^''"S ^^"^ -^ worn." nette-s composure He r "°'' '°° '""^'' '"^ Antoi- spoiled child of fortune so far, ''"' ''^'=" ''"' ^ "Ah, .f only I could rive m>, ];u t^ i he protested oassionatcly ^ ^°" '°-' ' simp'r "" ""''°" --'-'^ Wend," she answered could do for yotyou S ir'"^*-^' ^^ ^'"'"'^ ^ sure that youL'te^rL^lS,-^^::-- ^^ Vou was a rapturou^ con" cttn .r.' , ' '"h'^ heart there the heiress' wealth '' ''' ^^"''^ ^°°" <^°ntrol piuXheL'i;:jr'%f.>'-"-'^°- --•- were with th! lady of Mar p'o"? '"T '"'"'"' ^™ ^ --.ad^atir"E-:;rs:sr:r:^2 ! "A LIFE AWRY" fashion stamped with fi,» ^^ i they sat at lunch. "^ " SaHie sa.M m"' °' "'^ '^'^'"-^ over and surprise Cousin FH V "^ '^° '^' "^ "de she must often feel du" rem Ih ^ "'''=' '°^ ^'^ -- I'aris life.- You ,o Z^T.^n TTT^!"^ ""^^^^ her head on one side like a ' iv '^"'' P"«'"& you really haven't half he ST" ""'^^' " ^°' you first came. Ifs oo bad /L '' ^°' ''^'^ ^^'>-n Wk pale, isn't it ?'.appJ'';',f"P-- -akes her ^ Antoinette looked Z':^^^:^'^ ^' '^^e. faces turned upon her she ml^ ^ "^""'^ 'he kindly door the watchful staT; tf ^r ^°"^'' '''' ''^'f-Pen She would have Iked o ' ' ''* '^>'^^- the home that had p oved 1 r"" °"' ''" ''^"^^'^ to Of herself the feeHn,^::^;L 7oicr.*'^^'^"'''--P'-- I fancy that Mariposa will n„ '^ seems some poison taint Tn h airT's'"''.'""- ^"^^^ I shall probably go soon tn '^"'"- ^ think -?--^^=fiXZe?::--:: -£pp^^:irr^-"-'''-"-on quainUnce'na'rtL'h^ad"';'!^' °"" '^''°''^"' ^hose ac- - cold a disapprovtf as fe"o m"!"''"^^°" ^"-"^^ '" woman :-" You could hard I '^ '''°^^ '° ^ P-'etty Edward Castelle should el'n"'' '"^ '^^>'' ^^^^^ become a prince consort u"nH T'''''^ ''o™^ to are conservative folk ^7^!". "" T'^f "'^'^^- ^^ " ' ""'"^ ''" i°"k to the master JO THE NIGHT-HAWK of Mariposa to take his place amongst us. I think that Edward must have told you that both his parents lived to be over eighty, so that they found no poison in Mariposa air." " What is one man's meat is another man's poison," Antoinette quoted lightly. " I can see plainly that unless I want to mako all you dear people my enemies, I shall have to run off to Georgia by myself, and leave you my husband." She spoke looking straight into that dark face in the doorway, and her tone was strained, and a fixed colour glowed in her cheeks. Her listeners felt the electricity in th . air, and it took all Martin's conversational art to start their liveli- ness again. When they said adieu, Martin succeeded in lingering a moment behind the others. " You will not forget your promise ? " he said softly. " I will not forget," she answered firmly, and as she spoke she heard a rustle of the curtain in the open window behind her, and caught the flash of a red skirt. She stood and watched until the last figure had disappeared in the curves of the avenue before she turned back into her desolated home. CHAPTER IV " DANGER BENEATH AND o'ERHEAD " Never before had the evening shadows seemed to gather with such menacing gloom, as they did now to Antoinette, sitting out on the verandah where her friends left her. As it grew chilly, Mollie brought her a shawl and urged her to come in to the fire of pine logs which crackled in her room. Silently she shook her head. The air outside seemed purer than within. Then her pride warned her against allowing any appearance of forlornness to be visible. She must stick to her usual routine, and not abate one item of personal state and ceremony. And so she went to her room and ordered Mollie to dress her in her usual evening attire, and then, pale but lovely in her light blue silk draperies, she went to the dining-room and sat down to the courses of her solitary dinner. Old Sam waited on her with even more deferential care than ever, but even her painful self-absorption was at length pierced to notice the evident agitation of his manner. Do his best, his hands were shaky and his speech dis- traught, and he seemed quite helpless to control with his usual discipline the eccentricities of his numerous under-studies. 31 32 THE NIGHT-HAWK At last came a moment when they had charged out of the room to see who could first secure the femain of a scarcely touched chicken Seizing the chance, old Sam as he handed her the pudd,ng leant low and whispered i„ his mistress' ear ."tones of trembling earnestness: "For de Lord's sake, don t eat it, missus. Very unwholesome." A sudden remembrance of that red-clad figure benrl poinr^H r'T '°"' ^'"'^ ^-^ unusual energy pointed the few broken words. This then was the danger that she had to face ! Save for a more ghastly pallor Mrs. Castelle gave hLThi'stZs' ^ ''"'' ''"' "' ''' '-'• °' ''-'"^ In that land of open doors and windows she did not know what hostile eyes might be fi.xed upon her So sl,c deliberately helped herself, and then slowlv scattered the morsels over her plat'e, even hf in^^ e for. once or tw.ce to her lips, while the old man stand ."g sfffly at attention, watched her with the agonised eyes of a fa.thful hound. Presently she spole a„d her vo.ce was only a little strained and hoarse -!' Give me some fruit. I shall want nothing else " The grapes that he set before her were graf-ful to her parched hps, and the eating of them gave h t me to muster her mental strength. She dared not yTe "o he impulse wh,ch urged her to rush away like afrilhu ened ch.ld to the protection of Mollie's presence And soon she managed with outward calmness, which veiled the deadly terrorat her heart, to rise from the table and make good her retreat to the shelter of her own room Here, w.th sw.ft noiselessness. she closed doors "DANGL.R UENliATII AND O'ERHEAD " 33 and windows, before turning towards MoUie, crouched upon the floor. "Why, Mollie, what is it?" she said in amazement, at sight of an empt;- d:r,l. and an inani- mate mass of white fur that lay be^'-ic it. There was an ashy grey shadow over the rich brown of the face that the maid raised to meet her mistress and her rolling eyeballs showed an expanse of white. " Sam brought me some puddin on a plate and told me to give it to de kitten, and it's dead ! For de mercy of Heaven, missus, you didn't eat any?" " No, Sam told me," she whispered back. Dead ! The word seemed to echo through Mrs. Castelle's brain in endl ;ss reverberations. But for the whisper of that poor, faithful old slave, she herself would have been lying cold and stiff. Where and how ? she wondered. Would she have fallen on tho di.'.mg.room floor, and would there have been some moments of agony and o' horrible hideous writhings and groans, before unconsciousness had come? Would that hateful slave-woman have come and gazed in triumph upon the completion of her work, upon the overthrow of her young beauty and strength.' In that sudden moment of peril Antoinette first knew how she loved the fair world around her, and the gracious years that lay ahead of her. Whatever of hope or happiness this foe had power to despoil her of, she should not deprive her of that future, her heritage, if courage and determination were to avail aught. Every hereditary instinct that came to her from a long line of brave men, used to i„;e, sprang into life at ^aii 01 tiie luLjiii of ner iicart. 3 34 THE NIGHT-HAWK Mollie felt a new purpose in the touch of the hand upon her shoulder and looked to draw some comfort from the hght in her mistress' eyes Like many of the Louisiana slaves, Mollie wasa de- vout Roman Catholic, and as she looked up into that dauntless, ovely face, she remembered the picture of bt^M.chae! in the stained-glass window of the chapel. She vaguely felt that the powers of darkness must flee away discomfited before so peerless a being, and she took courage. " Get up, Mollie, there is no time to lose ! Think a b.t and try to tell me if there is .ny one besides Old Sam, m this accursed place, whorr, . ,u are sure that we can trust Sam is too old and feeble to ride to Bellevue to.n,ght. Remember, Mollie, our lives may depend upon whom we trust now." The light that dawned upon Molly's face was almost a simper. " I ^°"'^ "eed to tink, missus. Dere's Pete down at de stables; he d do any ting I asked him to. He's goin to ask massa to let him marry me, when he's quite sure dat dat cat Rosalie won't have a say He's waitin for me now down by de well, and if missus will say what she wants " Here then was another loyal heart to count upon Even now, if Antoinette had taken time to think she might have chosen the wiser part of holding her ground at Marrposa, but, for the first time in her young life she had looked in the eyes of death, and nothing couW allay her terror save flight from this place of And so a few words of urgent appeal for Martin's "DANGER BENEATH AND O'ERHEAD" 35 presence and help were hastily written and consigned to the care of Pete, who promised to do his best to return from Bellevue in two hours, " But de roads be bad, and de night powerful dark " he urged. When he had cautiously crept away to the stables the two women bolted and barred themselves in as far as possible. No sound from friend or foe broke the silence of the house, though often they started at the fancied tread of stealthy footsteps or the whisper of voices. Gradually the distant noises at the quarters died away, and only the mysterious night sounds of the forest could be heard,-the wail of the wind in the trees, the cry of some bird or animal. A revolver lay ready to Antoinette's hand, and she had It in her heart to use it to deadly purpose if mo- lested. She blessed now the fashionable fancy which in the past summer had set the fine ladies at Biarritz to prac Using with the weapon. She had a certain amount to do before leaving her husband's home, as she now felt for ever. She did not know whether, when she presently went out mto the darkness, she would be able to take any- thing with her. Thus there were her own jewels to dispose about her person and cherished letters and papers to destroy or lock away. When all this was done she dressed herself for trav- ell.ng and sat down to wait. How long the time seemed since her messenger had started ! Surely he 36 THE NIGHT-HAWK w,ll s note to ..-.ste,, for its repetition. It .Z'ZTn and th verandah door was unbarred to admit Mart „' man' ad lost ■' 7'' '" '^"^ "^'««^^'^ ^'^ '"'-"• "e man had lost h,s drawing-room air and showed an as pet of greater manliness. As she met his eager eye a ,ornb e m.g.ving laid hold on Antoinette "a. dTe; pride of £-raii,/f damv seemed to wim l,„ setting forth under the care of thL ma^" B ^Z And™t . ".'"^'^ '■" ^'™'"<'"'"^ him to h r aid And what other course was open to her if she Zl A away from his protection } *'""^'^ Ma^Hoo!l'°T"^'"^ '^'"''"'^ *''•'" 'f ^he tried to leave Mariposa alone she would not succeed in A ■ alive save by the merest 01.1^7:',.%,"^;: bundle of white fur had shown her with what a fo she Your need had called to me without words - I was fee. myself the' Lit horuSoTI^'^^.^-^ ' ''-'' ^L=7^-Xhu:^-s:^ a Hush of shame dved her fa,-o ■• • i ^. ^yea ner lace— a jealous mulatto "DANGER BENEATH AND O'ERHEAD " 37 woman has tried to poison me to-night. I must get away at once from this place where I can trust no one save these two poor blacks. If you will help me to "ct to the nearest town. I will go to my own planta- .ion m Georgia and communicate with my friends from there." "Whatever you wish," he assured her fervently " My one object shall be to carry out your plans." A wave of generous trust swept over her. "Oh," she cried impulsively, stretching out both hands, " I should not call myself solitary when I have one such friend as you ! " " Indeed you shall never be without a friend while Humphry Martin lives ! " he said, bending low to ki-.s the hand that lay in his own. When it came to the discussing of details Antoinette niet with her first obstacle. She had planned leaving the place in alight, strong, double buggy, which driven by Martin, would have ample room for Mollie as well as for some smaller articles of luggage. But Martin, durmg their ride, had put some questions to Pete as to ways and means. He had ascertained that while Pete could get easily enough of horses and saddles, the key of the coach-house was in the hands of Maurice Rosahe's husband, who was acting as overseer dur"- J the white official's absence, and any attempt to get at It would be full of risk. f s at " But you can surely ride," Martin urged. " I can manage your valise easily enough." " But Mollie! " Mrs. Castelle answered in great dis- ir.^ -,"„^''^ "" ^"^^y ^"'^'^ °" a l'°'-S'^, can you, Molhc? 38 THE NIGHT-HAWK The taunt was well veiled but ,> . less. ""'^^^ t>"t >t stung none the " l"^^^^ I do trust you ! IndeeH T ., go alone with you - " Antninl?; ' ^^""^ "° ^^^r to say ; But Mollie, how tnllu''^''^''"'''''^^ to revenge? "and shTllidT ^" *° that woman's der of the sobbing gw"""'"^''^"'^- the shoul. Jver the tragic brown face there dawned a wate^. -:iTc::?St=i:;-r^-Her.r.y.ifi But I'd go with you Lf ?e '''"' *° "''^'^ ">=• faithful." ^ ' ""' "^^ ^^""e. missus, glad and awt"" WeSl^ts'b-tt'^^' ^""^ ^""-^ ^- ''-^ and home than she was P"'"''"'^'' ^'t'' ^ends She gave a little laugh :-'< Well M. ivt • seenoonedisputesyourt„.rdiAn!h ' / ^^'^'"' y°" she added with a pr'oud h tie "l" tl^'H """.' ' ">'^^"'" for nothing better '' ° ''^'' ''^ad, " wish Martin bowed low in silent deference CHAPTER V A NIGHT RIDE A LATE moon was just rising in the^east, and creating a brightness before its visible presence, when Antoinette sat on her horse and looked down at MoUie's tearful face Oh misuss. my dear kind n-issus ! " the girl sobbed* ve^tlm""'^ ^"''"^'^ " ^" ''°'' ^--^ -^ "God bless you, for a faithful friend .'"she said touching softly the brown cheek, and then she looked away to Martin's eager face and to the dark myste- rious forest beyond. ^ A strange shudder of fear ran over her, and then her face hardened and she gathered the r^ins in her follotin*; '"'■"^' ^'°^'^ '"''"'^ ''^ ~. M-tin She was a good rider and was on a horse that she had grown fond of during the past weeks. There was a relief that was almost pleasure in the sense of acfon in the fresh air, after that night watch of suspense and fear. She even breathed more freely Rosalie ^"" "" ^^"' ""'"■■ "'^ ^^"-^ ^°°f^''h Martin had come up to her side, but he had tact enough to respect her evident desire for silence And then the hand of Night laid its cool touch 39 40 THE NIGHT-HAWK t^toly „ ,„ h„ ,,4;/° ""' »»" " '•■" "fed expeditions to ; 1 "^^ ''"'°"S«t and loneliest Dlare ' Tf ; , ' *"' ^'■- Martin, I know this where- e JceptT 'e' T' '■ "^ "'^ "^^^' ""'^ f-" -X" wnere except the plantation of my husband's uncle " A NIGHT RIDE "There are dozens -' such places all over this countrv a most exactly alike. We ought to be JX t Bene-' vile by „o^. I will make one of these creatures tn 2.Hi^r:.ie^iLt;r^^— 1^ and yawns, sat up and surveyed them "Yes. the missus was right. This was the road to ttre" w'th ^- °" ""^^ ""'' '°'^ °' S-°'- „ were. Was the missus going there ? " tothThr"' '^"''^■"''^ "' '^' "^°"ght °f appealing to the blear-eyed. v,cious-looking old bachelor whosf w.Id surroundmgs had on her one visit mied her S dismay. Even to her inexperienced eye the meaning had been clear of the bold-eyed, over-dressed bZ^ pasTages '''^''' ^"' ''"'" '" -'"^ows aL and ^h;n 7 "°'f°'"f here." she answered haughtily, and then drooped m her saddle in the fati.^ue of utt^r desolation. Where was she going, a he ^less lea blown before the winter wind ? wi? h ^n '^' u' ""i'" 'P°^' soothingly at her side :-•' It r't'whalwfcL...^ ^'" -ethepeopleinsideandfind Forthwith he proceeded tr. *•»,■.«,„ • the door. Which pLntfylprneS^rU'flTt:; llZT ' ^°"'"' °' ^ '''' '°- ^'--' " Their manner, at first surly, changed to a cringing tney gave no sign of recognising. Mln^uTT'^\"^ '^' "^^'■°^^' '"formation, and Martin looked at his lamed horse in disgust. Hi* 42 THE NIGHT-HAWK I scheme of getting Mrs. Castelle away from the beaten tracks had been carried out rather more thoroughly than suited his purpose. There was evidently nothing for it but to make a halt. The man professed some rude skill as a black- r/ihe h'orse"'"'"''^'^ *^^' he would try to do something Mrs. Castelle. too. was beginning to show the long stram upon her nerves, for as Martin helped her to di^ mount she reeled and .vas steadied by his arm "You cannot do more without rest and some sort of food he said decisively, and she did not gainsay him its ouls"de"°' "'^ '"" ^"^ "° """'^ attractive than • l"*°/"!"t. shuddered with a sick disgust at the sight of the filthy table and dishes. But now Martin showed to the best advantage in his chee^ ca^e t her comfort. A fire, that all-glorifying firTof pitch pine that blesses the Southern State^l, was soon shed dmg Its beneficent glow over the dreary hovel. A di- lapidated old rocker was dragged forward for her to rest in. Martin himself, with the skill of an old cam- paigner, superintended the execution and preparation of a chicken for their breakfast. Moved by his energ^ tlZT ""'" "'"' ^'"^"'' ^''°^^ '' producing"! Broken down ii. body and soul as she- was. Martin's nmeriL "r '""^'^ ' P^^^'"^ -"^ *° Anti! nettes lips as she watched him. When, heated but triumphant, he place a jug of dubious c;free before her, she made an effort to swallow some of the queer composition. ^ ^ A NIGHT RIDE 43 While he worked, the grey of dawn had gradually filled the room. " Here is a new day ; let us hope it may bring us better luck," he said as he fetched a log of wood and, turning it upright, sat down on it. She sighed and set down her cup untasted, for the long red rays of sunshine that poured into the room seemed in their bris' t promise but to reveal and mock at the barrenness of her new life, even as they did at the sordidness of the room. She started to find Mar- tin's intent eyes fixed on her wistfully. " If only I could save you from unhappiness," he murmured passionately. " What should I do without you," she answered smcerely enough ; so that he was encouraged to lay his hand upr-' hers. Antoin- jat facl-.g the open door, and staring out into the radiant, crisp winter morning of the south. All at once there dawned upon her hearing tht approaching barking of dogs and trampling of horses- feet. Bridles jingled, men's voices laughed and shouted. Thmkmg only of gaining means to get away, she cried joyfully : " Here are people who will be able to get us a horse." Turning to Martin she shrank back aghast at his livid face of rage and— was it fear ? " 01., what is it ? " she questioned feebly ; but no answer was given or required, for the sound of one laugh that she would have known anywhere struck her 44 THE NIGHT-HAWK It was her husband's, and the day of settlement between them had come. Her face blanched and hardened to the semblance of ivory ; she sat awaiting the march of fate The nders had crowded up in front of the inn and dis- mounted. One man stood in the doorway looking in and darkened all the light from her. It was Castelle's slim, boyish figure, and the eyes of husband and wife met as across a great gulf Martin sprang to his feet with a fierce oath, but still Antoinette sat motionless. On Castelle's face the first blank amazement spread into a tempest of wrath which hardened into disgust and scorn One glance of utter contempt he cast upon Martin and then let his burning gaze rest steadily upon his wife. A sudden silence had fallen upon the noisy group of his friends, who, gradually realising that thev were in the presence of tragic elements, gathered around m a httle circle. It was Castelle's voice that broke the silence-a voice that came in a strange, hissing sound from his writhing lips. " So ! This is how my virtuous wife diverts herself in my absence! she found the morals of Mariposa too lax for her purity, and thought that she would apply a counter-irritant. I certainly think that when she was in search of pleasure, she might have chosen more luxurious surroundings, and a more thorough, bred companion. The French court might surely have supplied both without taking the trouble to cross the Atlantic for this,'- and a comprehensive wave of his hand accentuated the meaning of his last word. A NIGHT RIDE ^j The spell of horror that had held her silent under h.s scorn was broken, and, forgetting her wrongs con scousonly of the horrible falseness of her po tion appe^aT"' '"""'"^ ""^"^ ^'"^ ^''^ " wild cry "i She thought and cared nothing for the circle of spec- tators, or for Marfn. Her husband and herself were the two personalities of her drama "Edward! Edward! Listen to me! You will be Tha woman tr.ed to poison me last night at dinneT My hfe was not safe at Mariposa ! I could not have remamed there another hour! Mr. Martin was stay ■ng wuh the De La Tours, and I sent for him to he^ tlth!"^ away. Before God, that is the whole .«r"'°r '^"'^"'"^ any direct answer, Castelle put her aside with a remorseless arm. "An abnormal melodramatic development" he sneered in cutting accents. "Mr. Martin." with a sudden change to sternness, ■• perhaps if yoL can tear wmcol'":^ '"■" '""^ P-tection of a woman and will come outdoors, we may settle the question between us m a more manly fashion." "ecween Her pride all gone, in utter desperation, Antoinette made o„e more effort to cling to her husband's am les he. 7^'^ '!:°°'''" "''■ '""^ f^" -d lay pow"-' less, hearing the cabin door close behind them She laTff ^e-^i-consciousness dulled her anguish, scarcelv h;"''T °' '^"— "dings, andyet could scarcely have made an effort to move if the house had been on fire over her Ji,-:^^ A f i ^ .1. vc. ner nt.dd. At last the sound of two 46 THE NIGHT-HAWK d shots scattered her stupor, and brought her to her feet with a cry of despair. In her frenzy of misery she had some difficulty with the crazy door-latch, and, as she wrenched it open, she heard the sound of receding hoofs. There were some of the ca. ilcade riding away, but now with no sound of voices or laughter,— but surely— surely there must be someone, somewhere ? Yes, over there in a rough garden-patch two men still stood dis- mounted. They were looking down at something. What was it ? As, numbed by a deadly sickness, she crept towards them, one of the men turned and mounted. Catching sight of her, he bowed profoundly, and she saw, with a cold horror, that it was Castelle who was thus leaving She attempted no word or gesture to detain him. All that was ended. That dark heap of clothes on the ground, then, was Martin. Was he dead ? She toiled on over the rough hillocks that seemed to her shaking limbs like obstructing mountains. At last she stood beside the still, recumbent figure and the almost equally still, grave, little man who watched it. " Is he dead ? " she asked quietly. _^ " No," he answered in a pleasantly casual fashion, not by any means, though he may slip away yet if he s not looked after. It was a clean shot, a beautiful shot-took him right through the shoulder. Castelle meant to kill, though-meant to kill. Can't imagine why he didn't do it." A NIGHT RIDE ^j As he seemed quite absorbed in the reminiscence Antomette shook him by the arm : ' "Aren't you going to do something for him?" she asked w.ldly. It seemed horrible to see this life ebbine out unaided. *» The dreamy little man flashed one keenly-compre- hensive glance at her, which apparently satisfied him. T . It\ T P'"^ '° ^"^ something. That's what Isayedbehmd for. You see," he went on deliber- ately, he cant be moved. Naturally enough the others would do nothing for him. With me per haps. It was merely professional instinct. At any 'rate I cannot stay here now for more than an hour or so' The question then is, madam, whether you will remain with him or leave him to the care of that female over there. It really "-in a politely conversational tone- seems as though I might call it a matter of life or death. Antoinette looked down at Martin's white, drawn face, and then over to where her horse was tethered The longing was strong upon her to mount and ride away, away from them all; but she checked herself Here was the man who had given her loyal service who she knew was ready, at her slightest sign, to give her more, and could .she leave him to die like a dog by the roadside? What mattered the consequences to her ruined life? Could anything worse come to her than had already come ? It was but a few moments of^ doubt when she turned to the doctor and said " I will stay with him of course." As though he had heard her words, Martin's closed THE NIGHT-HAWK eyelids fluttered and lifted. " Antoinette ! " he whis- pered with an appealing glance, "you will not leave met Her face was very set and grave, as, bending over h>m, she answered, " No, I will stay with you." But fully fixed, when, presently, she aided the doctor to dress the wound. whis- leave over But fitton >r to CHAPTER VI The broad noon of public scorn._s„E,L^v. increasing recklessness a ^ """'"'■" °' "^"- who had won admit ■ ^ ^T'^ ^"''""" ^°"'«". gathered to nteru" Mrs VJ' ''""^^ "^'^^'^^^ -" one of the maS^e^ ; ^^^ «:''h ^" — ' °^ ban given by the Duchr^^^ ,\^ LTe".?"^-"""^ Mrs. Seton, having ,nr;„n^ I' ^'"P'-ess' sister. debarred from the affLlnTl.^'""^' ''^'^ >«=«" accordingly. ' ^"^ ''*'' ^'e'^^'l and groaned her was stained ! At anv r^f^ 17 ^''^'^ '"* °f was, for we saw it ! " hZh ^ / ^''^'" P^^ °f her young angel. '^"'^ ^ ''"'^^ ^^'^^ the face of a " .■i'yt'^otid'hLtt;: ihe b',;" '7 ''^'■"'^'^ — . really doubt if thlv ' m ' '""'^' °^ '^^ '^'^"'ents ! I atany theatre. T^; tic"' '"""' ■^''°^'" ^'^''^^ things as we are- But ^V '7'"^'^ '° ^^^"""^ were rivulets of silvl he sT, "^' ^he Naiads wonder how they evir eo the r'"''''' °' S°'''- ^ hair like that." ^ P°'^''"' ^o stay on their J Mamie Waters said that a man fro. the Gymnase 4 49 50 THE NIGHT-HAWK ,u"'^^l.F-"'^'°' ^'''^ *•'»' she looked the best of them all. Delightful as was this gossip, there were several there who felt It but the /wrs-d-aruvre before the banquet even as comedy always takes rank before tragedy ' And so when the bride's mamma, who sat next Mrs. Il2\ '°'''^'^'\^"' "H=»ve you heard any more particulars about the Castclle divorce?" there was an expectant silence, and faces changed to the proper shade of gravity. ^ Mrs. Seton sighed and shook her head :_ " I know little more than what you all know. That that miserable adventurer Mr. Martin, who called him- se a journalist, and used to hang about her here, followed them out in the same steamer, and that her husband, all unsuspecting, encouraged, the intimacy 'The man got to know Adrian De La Tour, and managed to get invited by him into the neighbourhood Edward went ofl for a week's shooting and that very same day, Mr. Martin got the De La Tours to take h.m over to Mariposa ! It's terrible to think how care- fully It must all have been planned ! What happened afterwards is not very clearly known, as there is only the negroes' gossip. At any rate, Martin left the De La Tour's house secretly that night, and the next morning Edward, with the hunting party, walked in on the two of them at breakfast in a filthy little inn be tween Mariposa and St. Germain. It seems as though they must have lost their way or they would not have gone there. "There was a duel, and Edward left him all but aead on the ground. She had the face to stay there I THE BROAD NOON OF PUBLIC SCORN 51 In the neighbourh-od, in that low disreputable inn a mere drinking place, and nurse the man. Since then she has been at her own plantation in Georgia, but whether she took him the»e or not I don't know Such a pity Edward hadn't killed him outright ! " "Yes, indeed," chorused her sympathetic listeners These American women had still tne Puritan Icavcn at the depths of their cosmopolitanism, and had never really adapted themselves to the lax morals of *hc atmosphere in which they lived. Mrs. Seton might perhaps have given a more lenient version of her rich cousin's story, if the uncle in New Orleans had not obligingly departed this life, leaving her enough to pay her dressmaker's bills for herself in the future. The consequence was that Mrs. Seton could afford the luxury of disapproval. " I hear that she calls herself Mrs. Le Moine ' sup gested one who had used Mrs. Castelle's carriage and servants as her own. " Yes, she said so, when she wrote me a wild letter There was a ridiculous tale of a jealous mulatto woman' who tried to poison her, and from whom Mr. Martin was helping her to escape. It made me fear that poor Cousm Antoinette's brain must be a little bit queer you know." ' There was a rustling of silken skirts and a wafted breath of perfumes, as aslim, sallow compatriot joined their numbers. " Are you talking about Antoinette Castelle ? " she asked, with hardly any other greeting. " Well she arrived yesterday in the mail boat with the Dwyers They told me so just now." 52 THE NIGHT-HAWK If she had wished to create a sensation, her success should have rejoiced her. Each woman sat staring, while she mentally arranged her own course of pro'redure. Mrs. Seton gave a faint squeak of dismay, paling visibly beneath her rouge. " Was the man with her, did they say ? " she asked. " No, she was alone. It seems she had an illness in Georgia. She was very quiet and kept altogether to herself. The Dwyers had never met her before, so that it was easy for them to avoid her." "Yes, but what shall / do?" wailed Mrs. Seton. She is my cousin, and we were brought up as children together. It is very hard on me." " We are all very sorry for you, my dear. But you must be firm" answered one of the older ladies, shak- ing out her draperies prior to her departure. They all felt that the stance was broken up by this news, and went off in little groups. Hardly had they gone their ways, when a stately, plainly-dressed woman passed the conciferge and went up the great staircase with a familiar air. Mrs. Seton had lived in this cosy little flat on the new Boulevard Haussman for nearly two years. The maid who opened the door ushered her into the tiny salon with an air of astonished perplexity. She generally had a pretty good idea of her mistress's affairs. Mrs. Seton had limped to her writing table, but at the sound of footsteps, turned on her chair. " Good God ! " she gasped. " Antoinette Castelle ! And you come to me ! " Antoinette was dressed with as great care as ever, THE BROAD NOON OF PUBLIC SCORN 53 but in the scrupulous plainness of a black and white travelling dress. Her face showed traces in its thin- ness and delicacy of tinting, of past illness, though it was evident that the sea-voyage had brought back the health of youth. Mrs. Seton was fairly startled by the subtle charm which deeper experiences had given to her beauty. The signt of it awoke the old girlish grudge that her rich cousin should have everything. As for Antoinette, she stood looking down at the other, her first glad movement towards her arrested as was the tremulous smile on her lips, the light in her eyes. "Yes, I rame to you, Mollie. To vou, the only woniari relation of my own that I have. I came, as I would have expected you to come to me in trouble. I was so sure that you would want me to do so, but I see that you don't." Her voice was infinitely sad and sweet, but it only irritated the other, as weak natures are always irritated in situations too difficult for them. " How could I v/ant you after what you have done ? I am a widow with no one to fight my battles, and I must think of myself a little. If you could only have heard them all talking about you just now the Sauterelles, the Pesquiers I " A strange slow smile dawned on the face looking down so intently. " The Sauterelles ! The Pesquiers ! And so they were all pulling me to pieces ! " she said thoughtfully, then with more earnestness : " hr^Ayou ? Did^oa, too, join in the hue and cry ? "Do you think I am utterly 1 54 THE NIGHT-HAWK depraved MolUe? " There was st!Il a yearning in the vo.ce wh.ch could hardly have failed to touch a woman of hersd" "^'"'*' ^"' ^'^' ^^'°"'' ^^°"S^^^ ^«^e only haS^e"'?^'^'' """"^ ''"' ''"P questioning of those " "^^tuu^" ^ "''"''' "^^^^ y°"' °*" deeds condemn you ? When you yourself have no defence to make ? " But I wrote and told you the whole story. Perhaos her face "°' ^"' '''" '"''""' " ""'' ^ "'^ ^°P^ '^'^^ '"^° " Oh, yes I got a letter where you told your side of the story But really, you know, it was all such a queer improbable tale, and as you don't seem to have any w. nesses or anything—" she paused helplessly, and her cousm finished the sentence. " The long and the short of it is that you don't be- I's'LT!; ?'^°"' "" ''' ^'"'"^""' "°' 'h-Pesquiers. Still that strange, half-pitying smile as if bent upon some lower order of creation. Mrs. Seton twisted her- self about, but still she stuck to her guns. " Well, you see, how could we, when " " Exactly, how could such as you be exoected fr^ believe that the girl, whom you halknown from a hild whose mother and father you had honoured, had not classed of her sex? How could you have judged her differently than you have done? It was theChrilt who sa.d • Neither do I condemn thee,' not fasWontb Pans women, who can look without blinking upon the manner m which the second Empire disportsTelf!'' THE BROAD NOON OF PUBLIC SCORN 55 " Now listen to me a moment, Molly Seton, for I do not thmk that you and I shall speak together again before the Judgment Day. May God judge between us then ! W'hen the world used me hardly, my one Idea was to gat to you. I was sure of your affection and sympathy, and that kept one soft spot in my heart! It is gone now 1 The women I have liyred among cast me out. What I am, what I may do in the future remains to be seen. But, whatever I may do or become, one thing is certain, that I ask no more chanty from any of you. I go my own way, fight my own batMes, and it may be that some of you may yet repent having helped in the making of what I am Have you anyth-'ng to say to me now, before I go?" Sternly beautiful as the great Artemis in her awak- ened wrath, Mrs. Seton cowered and shrank before her. She was feebly crying now, and sobbed : " Oh Antoinette, how can you make it all so painful forme? Your violence quite upsets my nerves ! If you wan any money or anything when you go away from here. Uncle George is dead now, and I know that I owe you such a lot, and I'll try to let you have some " A cruel laugh inte.rupted her :— " Thanks, but 1 don't need any of Uncle George's money. I have plenty of my own, and I'm not going away. I'm going to stay in Paris, and spend it here I dare say that we may often pass each other in the Boi- but I won't upset your nerves again. Please make my ad.eu to your dear friends, who were once mine. I must try to make some new ones ! Good-bye, Mollie ! " 56 THE NIGHT-HAWK The clear ringing tones ceased, and Mrs Seton W ace h.dden in her handkerchi;f. heard a r stl'e o silken skirts and the closing of a d;or. cusuig thing. For the first time for many a day Mrs S ton knew that in her pleasure-weakened nature there toSSmed!"^' '^^" and conscience tosufferand CHAPTER VII AT THE TUILERIES As these early spring days went on and the Paris season was at its height, the American Colony gossiped much over the doings of Mrs. LeMoine, who had settled herself m a smart little apartment in the Champs Elys^es, and whose carriages, dresses and entertain. vlrisL,^"^ ^°'«d the termer chic by many a The society that she moved in was almost altogether French, the modem French of the court circles, and the frequency of her appearance at the Tuileries caused many a compatriot to gnash her teeth with envy. m.Tr'1' I ' compatriots her face was as ada- mant, and when some member of the former circle try. mg to hedge, made some timid advances to her she was met w.th a sarcasm that left her writhing. But S seeTd"""""'"','- ""'-^'^'-tesmen, wit! whom ferenc^at hor '° '^'^ °' '''^ '""^^^'"^ P"""'"^ '^^- Col'nTto '""■'"?'''' already caused the American Soth th°,r^r .' '"'; '"' '"° ""'P^ °f North and TuiW- *^"'/lared and scoffed at each other at the Tu.le„es and other common meeting-grounds. It was the evening of one of the fortnightly court dances, and the rooms of the Tuileries were'^aE 57 58 THE NIGHT-HAWK with the creations of Worth's prime, with every variety of French and foreign uniform, and with jewels worth a king's ransom. How many of these jewels were, within the next ten years, to go to aid in staunching some of the life-blood of two nations ! In a dress of primrose-shaded silk gauze, wreathed with deep-tinted vine leaves, Mrs. LeMoine looked a a personification of a fair Bacchante, and seemed to radiate gathered sunshine. " It is marvellous how a few yards of stuff can be made to symbolise to our heart the sunshine and the ' glory that was Greece,' " murmured a keen-faced Italian diplomat beside her. She laughed gaily, and to one who had once loved her, there would have sounded a certain new reckless- ness in the echo of that laugh. " For that, monsieur, you must thank the genius of Worth, rather than me." 'I Ah, but it is the personality that endows the artist's creation with life and light," and his ardent eyes told of the power of her charm. " And we are but poor moths fluttering around the flame, Count," put in a stalwart cavalryman whose Norman fairness was set off by the blue and silver of his uniform. Surrounded by a brilliant group of men Antoinette, as she gazed ahead through the moving vistas of people, suddenly flushed, while such an. eager light rose in her eyes that the keen Italian turned his in the same direction to learn its cause. He could not tell, however, that it was a figure from her past life that aroused her interest. All that he saw was a man of AT THE TUILERIES 59 medium height and square build in the dress of a navy officer. His face was bronzed as though from recent tropic voyages, for Captain Arthur had passed an adventur- ous year since the days when he and Edward Castelle had tasted their " cal" ^ncl of^oXTeTrath^^::Sot^*'v"^"^ the blue eyes. '''^'""'°"'' as she read the pity i„ whji:^Sb:5lt^-:;;;-s his answer. i„ "Ah, well, mine is not £ ^°'"'' -;^tyo.ii.etostron:L;ssn:t„s:' Ttxi^t°':rrt^ra-^"'r'"----- wh.ch a couple passed them sol?'. 1°°'^^>' ""'^er h.s keen eyes Arthur notedThe? IT .'' ''"'"■'>'• ^ith and saw that it was M«1;.^ .'"^ '"" "' 'he lady, duced to him by Mrs clSr' u""' ''"' ""''" ■"'■■- ""■e incident made An "S te's t" T='""' ^"''"'- man-of.the-world vision ""^^"^y <='ear to hi, "'■•t.-gated his youthful sriCn'''''"^^''^'^ "ever which he drew between the 'h' '".'"' "'''''^'"S 'ine «°. in these few minutes An '^ ' '"^ '^' goats. And ;n the balance and foTnd 1" HnTh A' "''" ^^'"^'■^'^ from her pedestal in his i J^ ^' ''"" dethroned 'e^s was his pity fo:£: S'^"^ ^'^ou.h none the pain. The situation i I AT THE TUILERIES j anceship? '^"^ ='''°"' 'heir past acquaint- with^iX^tr """" - '^^ -xt?..she asked. my next task for me." ^'""°" will be preparing "My compatriots?" she askprf t ■ face towards him " Youl , J " "'"^ * ''t^'^led going to come to war.^hen ? " '' '°" ' '"'"'' ^^^^ '' - " I do," he answered gravelv " an^ n, ^ • be many days in the coming ^esteJa^i "'" "°' veo- ominous, and haven't you not ced 1 "'"" *"' certam little groups of men to nlht ? P ^"'"""^ °' m-ght have private inform ti^l^'set"^""' "'^ comes in. I was watching a Ut^J u, "P°" =' '"^ the Rothchilds fleeinrLf. i ""^"'^ 'S°' °"^ "^ there now, there mu^^L n Jr.-''^ ^^'-"'-- See. tenttestlCrald'nste^nr-^'^'''^- -" ^^^^ -•"- the^maL^Tnd^rmS'f''^" °' '''"^^ ^'^ "- fo^ gold, "the od ma "f ^"d''"- '" ''''''' ^^P = weapon to-day as Tver W , " *' P°^"f"' ^ ^vielded in his ^"''^"^'^ ^^"^ king-maker o"-Ss:h- ;f::;;:r -;woups ^-'^ -ri. '"g. 't breaks into fTbliLg ""^"' '™"' ^'■™"'- 62 THE NIGHT-HAWK Su^^eXltr?.. Wrrl:; ''T^ \^'= -^''^' •• Port -night be heara;cris^: '"'o divine life and byTe'ctngef °" '°''"^ *° '^^ ' " ^«= -"^^d. bewildered " I am going home. What rmhfi, women to be dancing here „"' tT ""'""" gomg to arrange to Ic Zl To-morrow I am Jhave money. !n;;oTth'rd%t:eS'^rH ''°=^'''^- be some work that even such f ''"^ """^^ So.h At any rate.TLrtol.;,"" '"^ '^ ^'^ Tr";i::^t:;:^b?i^rcrpr"''"-'^--- good and evil than he had Ju "Ted ' '"''""'" ""^'^ ioZt:-'' '°^^^" --• "^' --^ -arching order, 'Foryou?" she queried. Ves. I shall probably cross to London by to.mor. AT THE TUILERIES 63 row night's mail. That is headquarters for those who nice me, fish in troubled waters " ' Impulsively she laid her hand upon his arm '■ You won t fight against the South ? " she pleaded He laughed in a very kindly fashion. No. I think tlut I shall try to fi^St for it But I z:x\cLr'--'- -" ^"- Aid S be:aTSrrw;tL^y°-:?IfTor;r;''^-— »>' -as^denmove^youl-hatea^^ri^lt ';l suppose so," was the absent answer. thing for »,„„, ;„ i tl't i ™z:i: "t leaving her, went off to seek some nf Vu ' ^*'"' at the English Embassy. °' "'^ >'°""f^ '"'=" w^ THE NIGHT-HAWK She was stand nc in her '°" ' " ^"-^ -'"^^d quietly I only know that it will be deucedly awkward («; I ^m' gtinl -• '"' "'' "°" "■= "''^'^ '° f°"- where J^^c^^f^s^'^r'" ''--''— ;■ Not contemplating suicide ? " he asked lightly >esterd?/p°"''°" ''"' ''''' '^^' -' ^ '^-^red "Whatof that?" ^lllTu "T""^ '" ^''"* was almost pleading .„.i,".''.'^'">'>'^'^^'-- that there was not^.ome !.! vuu once. Hao fh„ 1 i_ . . -Juic go . — .>. „aj „m some Has the knowledge that war was 66 THE NIGHT-HAWK ^ IT V ^T" °"'" ^"""^ ""'^ "^«°" n°t aroused one spark of manhood in you? Have you no desire to take your place among the others, and to fightTr the "'fo th fi''"'' °"'^ '"'■"'^' ^^''^^ J'ou mighfye be ?-' For the first time a cloud of shame darkened his I ^ ''''' ^''"S I ^^s likely to be would be a corpse I suppose. That would suit >-«« verv well no doTh^' but would hardly answer ., p^^pose.^ Come no mte pocL • '^ "°"" "' *'^"" P^^"y """g^ i" n,y had^'relurtV^""'"^ "' "^^' '^^' '>°^^ -^^ -^"^ -" ^^tiritds-"""-'^'"-------^-^^^ Livid fury blanched his face. " So it is at my expense that you would play the ladv bountiful to the nation?" he snarled. '■ I upiote you thmk that you can buy your way back into'tl good graces of the virtuous ladies who have dropped than you have got to whitewash you " " S°ftly. my friend, softly," came in a deep voice sZ : s°™ V' ''^^ ■^""^ ^'-^^'^ '° - A:th he sa d' "I am f°T' ^^^-entially to Antoinette ne said . I am afraid you find your visitor too em phatic. May I ask who he is ? " ""' Martin gave a measuring glance to the newcomer and underrated the strength of the sturdy frlme. AT THE TUILERIES 67 " He is Mr. Martin, the co-respondent in the Castelle divorce case. I suppose our friend Captain Arthur is the man in possession at present. I might have knovirn that " He got no further for an iron grip was on his collar, and he was shaken as a rat is shaken by a terrier! He would never again despise the power of that right aim. " If you speak one more disrespectful word in this lady's presence I will first shake your teeth down your throat, and then hand you over to the police for a blackmailer. Oh, you may threaten to talk "— as an ugly snarl came from Martin—" I don't think the Paris police will bother much as to what you may say. Shall I put him out, Mrs. LeMoine ? " Antoinette silently nodded. She had had the money ready in her hand to give him, but would not yield to his threats. In grim silence Arthur led him to the door, and in such fashion the man vanished from out her life for the time. Arthur went down --he stairway and saw him outside the great gates, and then, after giving certain instruc- tionsand a coin to the concierge returned. The face of mute, white anguish that Antoinette raised to meet him smote through all his wonderment and touched his heart. " Do not try to speak of it now," he said kindly. " /ou are too played out to talk. You leave this afternoon at four for Havre? Well, I shall come back at three to see you safely away from here. Don't be afraid." 68 THE NIGHT-HAWK and^the wa.l ,n her voice seemed to follow him as he That evening as he stood at the carriage window in sJ: said" '''""■ '°'''"^ '"'' ''^"'^ '■" f— e>l "You have bee . a good Samaritan t< me bindinir up my wounds and pouring in oil and wine Yo h "e almost made me believe again in human nature " .codXtat;h'r;'>"''^^^^^^^*'^"^^- aske^Sttr' °°^°"''^-'^--'Poss.-b.eP"she "AH things are possible to a strong will," was the hearty answer "And now I must' say 'good-bye Though ,t .s more likely to be au revoir, il, we are "min °""""' °"' """ "■■^ '*"= P-demonium that U As the train sped out into the country Antoinette s.ghed to herself, " If only I had known sooner tht such men as he existed-strong and brave and faithful!" i CHAPTER VIII THE BLOCKADE RUNNER " This is about the only spot where we may feel safe from spies and eavesdroppers, and act accordingly." This one spot was the deck . ? a vessel, and the speaker was the man whom we have met before in Paris, now Captain Arthur of the Southern blockade-runner The Night-hawk. Three years had passed since that evening at the Ti-.ileries, when it had become known that the gage of battle had been flung down. They had been years of " storm and stress " to those whose hearts and lives had been drawn into the vortex of the great struggle that raged through them. Into many strange perils by land and sea had they brought Arthur. Now, perils and adventures were far from him in the peace of the evening hour and the sheltered harbour. He leaned back in his hammock-chair with a com- fortable air of possession. The smoke of his cigar curled up into the still eve- ning air, and the hum and stir of the city came off, sub- dued by the grey spaces of water and sky that sur- rounded the Night-hawk, where she lay out in the stream in Halifax harbour. Northern cruiser.^ might be prowling outside, North- ern spies watching from the shore, but for the pres- 69 ;o THE NIGHT-HAWK miter Lxv:d'„ofr^'r'' ■■" -=•« — to us now, with her soars r^H 1. ' "^""'"^ "«"> her lower .asts witTo r; td"' „«: i'','!' ''^''' """" --HS^:l^-:---s^t..hehar. was well-known. ^ ^ '^eir existence biolrbXihfSL:nrf ""^ ''-^^^ *^^ possible, before fat. °"j , r" P"""'* ^s many times as towed a; lt^\nlZnHt7 '""r^ '""'^ ^'^°"''^ "«= to^he waLs ed,rto^rre"thTdrr'^^ '' ""^^ Jo^^rtt roiif 'w?-"'^''^ ^ -- "- each fresh venture bo hLT "^.'°"' """ ""^ ^''th pectation of a chl^^e „, S"h "'^ '''' '"^^ «" tunate gambler or to the Ln r""" '° '^' '°'- cricket. ^ '"^" ""'h a big score at a s^n° ■rt^^'Sr^ted ItTr ^"^ '"^" ^° ^"^ ^^"^ shape in his ovn mind It , T'" '° '""^^ ^^^^nite and unheeded, like many anot "" "''^^' """°''"d philosophy ev;ived by hfs 1 e of'Id'"T ""'^ "''^ °' of thetightest momen'^s o the la t th-e " ■'" ^""^ tight moments had been bv n ^'^'^^y^^^^- >" which worn the same impassTve h^ "''^"' '"'"' "^^ ^^^ inatimeofappS Lx Hr"H""'1 ''" "- become so ingrained as o h n P'-°f"^-on had THE BLOCKADE RUNNER 7, oTefthetreS '" '''^'%^""- "y long watching thTcLe^ fi^ '^^"' °' ^^^ ''^ ■• *'"^ ^^"°^'« Short thckset figure ; sonorous voice with crisp accent that st.l showed the delicacy of modulation "^^ha was 4 caste mark-all these signs and symbols reveared the zirz ;:S" ''- —' °^ -- - '•--^ °^ The woman to whom he had spoken was one who might well have brought a softness into th eyes of a man as strong as Captain Arthur, for it was An'^^o ne te ct- rht:^ ''-' °^^°=''^ •"•■» - ^ '^—ck! Perfect repose was expressed by the long slim limbs Hunt '"^f'^.-^'her point in her resembfance toThe Huntress of the Louvre. In her face, however there was a tense, almost enforced, calm which seemed 1 imply suspense. Her dress would have aroused the envy of anv femmme onlooker in its novelty of ParisiaT fLhion'^ And Pa„s.an fashions were Parisian fashions with a cTa'^rthe" ''°T'^^^- F-^^heroineofroIInc c^ad m the eccentnc.ties that marked the zenith of Euge„,e's Imperial splendour? What modernlove" hea t could retam its fervour if its beloved were sud- denly to appear in such a garb ? And yet, if all tales be true, love-making was carried on qu.te as successfully by those ladies in huge crin o hne and towering bonnets as it is now by thf '■ Z- est and most up-to-date of women If those dames of yester-year did not possess the advantages of bicycling and golfing they mde such good use of croquet and archery that it'^.as perhaps ■ ruiii 72 THE NIGHT-HAWK just as well that they were not armed with more mod- em weapons of warfare. AntoV^lf-'^r"""" "°^^"y«''g"s of such warfare in wordsT ^' "' "'- ''='"""g '° '^l^^ Arthur's words as permission to ask a question, she said : your'^LH -p';" "^ ^''^" ^°" '"^^" ^° ^'^^ - For answer he turned his face towards the western sky. where the silver boat of a young moon sailed abo"" the sunset glow, and the darkening town on its hillside. I cannot very well go before that enemy of Tvouk •'^^r."''"-"'^^'^ to -ake herself scLe As you know, .t is no joke to await the moon's rising when one . in the „,idst of a swarm of Yanke: c^' ers. It will mean a fortnight's waiting yet, I expect " Iw.shthat we had been going a iTtde ;ooner, but that w>!l have to do. I was determined to get here in yesterdays steamer on that account." she said in a matter-of-course way. " '" a " You propose going back with me ? " he said, rais- ' Don' ''' °"' "'"^ ' ''^'f-^°'"'= -^ °f -uprise. Don t you Know that I have refused a good half-dozen lady passengers ? I am persuaded that they lessen the Ihl^r °^/°'"'"^ °"' °f this business alive, which I should prefer to do if possible " JtlrtZV'^' ''' ^^^ ''"^' ^"^-^'^ ^he tried to nrgh'torNi;':'' '-^^^^---'^3'°- ^hances that " ^°"' "" you tell ? " then seeing how he harl wounded her, he added heartily : ^ THE BLOCKADE RUNNER 73 " No, I must say that you were more plucky than many men might have been. Ah I that was a nigh" one oft" -T' " ' '""^ •' °" '"^ -'-■^. 't - one of the r.sk.est passages that I have made." and he seemed heartily to enjoy the recollection. The light had come back to her face. vou wmVJ ^°" ''"°"' '•'"' ' ^^^' "°' be a nuisance you will take me now, won't you ? " ablu't u' Tt' ? '' "'"• ^'•'^'-^ '^ "° -^h hurry he ha some td'"''^"" "''^' "^^ *2^"' -''i ^^a^ ne has some orders as to your next move. At any Tle^Zrjf''"' '° '■-^ - '-'k with you wh n t gets a b.t darker. He apparently enjoys plavine the conspirator in nocturnal prowls " ^ ^ ^ There was a blankness of disappointment in her face which .mmded Arthur of a child try.ng to keep back Although he did not trouble to make an effort to unders and the source of her distress, he yet s rove to divert It by saying cheerily : ' >" ' ^^^ve to "I suppose you don't know that I have been piline up nches since we last met. This blockade-runn in! is turning out a regular bonanza to me " ^ "But I thought you were just paid by the trio to run. t for others ?" she said, readily int'lrestei in all that concerned him. Iitt'l7venr ^ T' ''"' ^ "" "'^^y^ ''^' =°"^- compact httle venture of my own. A fair compatriot of yours gave me a hint that corsets were at a premium. When was in Liverpool I invested in a thousand pa^s at Sto"" Th"" '"'' '"' ^"''^ ''''^"' '' *-'- 'hilling ditto! There IS a nice little sum for you! Coffin- 74 Tii-;-. NIGHT-HAWK nails and tooth-brushes were nearly as good a specula- tion As for quinine, I could hardly get enough of it. So If you add to that the purchase of a few private bales of cotton at threepence- .. pound, which sells in Liverpool at half.ad you hear anything of Edward Castelle ? " ner now ^"t '^!'"' T' "° ''"""""^ '" ^"''"^'^ ■"»"- ner now. I have been waiting for a chance to tell know I to r- '' " °"'^ "'''' "^^' y°^ =''-''1 know. I took a run up to the front after some hot fighfng. By a strange chance, I was there when he was earned m dying. He had a bullet through his ungs, and they could do nothing for him. He lived stavTd t'^'t. "'""■ ^""^ ''""'''"^ consciousness. I stayed by him to the last," he said simply Antoinette had turned her eyes downwards to the eCesZ'^^'^'^^^'^''-^^'^''^--''^-'-''^^'' She sat very still wh.ie ih.re was a long silence be- I p. #■' ;6 THE NIGHT-HAWK tween them broken only by the distant city noises and by the harsh cries of circh'ng sea-gulls There was an added shadow of the grey twilight over her when at last she spoke. "Thank you. I am glad that there was one friend near h.m when he died. He has passed through his purgatorial fires, and has cleansed his soul in death. Perhaps I. too, may drink of the cup that he drank 01, and, dymg for my country, may be made whole." CHAPTER IX NEW FRIENDS Mrs. LeMoine was apparentlv her „. i .fin ty th, ,™. .i»." rcL'ir«.''.'";rhi!,' tion In hi. co.n„y. .«" '"'° « ™» •" «■ told her hi "r^ enjoyment of her skill as he ment Tht " ''"' '''^ P^>' y°" ^"-^ -'""« compli- ment of h,^,„g ^^_.^ ^^^j^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^p^^ thl/v ■" '"''^'" '^'^ ^"^ered briefly; "only I trust w n "tVrf "/ "''" -'^ ^"^-e-b^ard this tim; 1 want to go back now in the Night-hawk -back to the nursing in the camp !;ospitak" 77 g,;^;28j^^^^^^2B^|jjgi^g^ T I' El MiaoCOfV RISOIUTION I6SI CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No, 2) 1^ Ks IIIIM ■ 1.8 WIM ill u ^ ^PPLIEC! l^VIGE In ^r, 1653 East Mam Stroet — S Rochester, Ne* York U609 USA 78 THE NIGHT-HAWK Her eyes spoke the entreaty that she could not bring her lips to voice. She had long since resolved to do any task that should be set her " for the South." Impervious to her wish, the little man chuckled. " It would be sheer waste to use so fine a tool for such rough work that any old mammie could do as well. No, we are not going to risk your strength like that. I am sorry to disappoint you, but there is a strongly expressed request from Richmond, that you should remain in Halif.ix until further notice. Of course they claim no power to order you," he added. "Oh, I fully acknowledge their authority. They know that they may command me." '• It is like your loyalty to say so. Do not be afraid. We shall find plenty for you to do here." He looked over his shoulder to see if the captain were near, but at the beginning of their conversation, Arthur had strolled off to the other end of the deck " I think that a Major Warwick, an artillery oificer for this garrison, was one of your fellow-passengers on the Asia," the agent suggested. Antoinette seemed to gather some significance from his word, and a great sadness came over face and voice. " Oh, that is it, is it ? " she said in a hopeless sort of fashion. " Yes, I can do pretty well what I choose with him already, I fancy, if that is what you want. Only remember, he is an honest man and a gentle- man." Then, with a sudden flash, '■ Oh, I should like some straightforward work ! " There was only the interest of the mechanic, experi- mentingon intricate clock-work, in the inscrutable face into which she looked. NEW FRIENDS ^g "As I said before, dear lady, the fine tools to the fine vvork, and surely I could not p.y you a higher con^phment than that ? Yes, I think that it is des" ab.e for you to cultivate your friendship with this Ma- h power to be troublesome about powderand such htt e contraband matters. Then you must get inti- mate .n the house of a certain Alderman Evans He has some sort of an afternoon entertainment to-morrow to which I have arranged that you shall go. He is a strontr sympathiser with the South, and is'also maki:^ verj pretty httle p.ckmgs out of the blockade-running busmess here. Of cour.se we are in thorough touch w.th h.m, but we might need a woman's hand on the rems, .f anything very special should be required from " ^^ 'I ^" fie man, and can do more for us in the powder hne than anyone else can. He has a nice qu.et place on the shore, with a little wharf that a schooner could run up to, and big store-houses at his ad^mmg^foundry. Altogether a very desirable ac " And his family ?" she asked. "Two nice-looking daughters. Some people say that he IS a widower-others that there is an invalid or lunat.c wife somewhere in the background. If the e IS, she counts for nothing " eas7e°n"n'"f '"'"' ' P'"'" '" '""'''y' '°°- That is an easy enough matter, for these English army and navy people are ready to lionise any Southerner. ^The GoT 8o THE NIGHT-HAWK ernor.who is General as well, is a bachelor and a won- derful old beau, so that he will be your humble slave, as a matter of course." " Anyone else ? " she asked with quiet bitterness, to which he responded serenely : "Those that I have mentioned are the most impor- tant. Many other social matters w ill be placed in your hands, no doubt. We have a certain number of South- ern ladies here at present ; but those with any brains are old and ugly, and the beauties are all fools. It is un- fortunately so common an occurrence," he added re- gretfully. With a shade of apprehension in her manner. An- toinette asked the names of these ladies, looking re- lieved, as the agent ran over the list. " There is no one whom I have ever known," she said ; " but what if any of my former friends should appear, and attempt to ostracise m.e ? " "You must have established your position so strongly by that time, that the women need not mat- ter. You must surely be above minding any slights of petty, feminine malice ? " " I am long past it," she answered, smiling strangely ; but she did not claim to be above it. The next day was one of the earliest and the love- liest of the brief, sweet, northern summer. Antoinette breathed with delight the soft, pine-scented air, as she stood on the wood-circled lawn at Trafalgar with her host, Mr. Lvnns. A heavily-built-, burly man, with thick, dark hair and moustache, high colour and shrewd black eyes, good-humoured, and in a certain practical way, power! NEW FRIENDS g, ful, Evans, merging now upon his fiftieth year, was not a bad type of a successful, self-made man. Numerous were the irons that he had in the fire in the working of various gold mines and the opening up of a new line of railroad. He also threw his usual energy into his duties as Alderman. As the agent had said, he was sometimes supposed to be a widower ; but there were some people who knew that his wife had been for many years in a lunatic asylum in Boston. His eldest daughter was named Mabel. Her deli- cate, Madonna type of beauty went excellently well with the ritualistic mania which had recently reached the town from England, in the advent of a sensational garrison chaplain, and which had engulfed her in its fascinating round. Her young fastidiousness of taste that made her shrink from many things in her father's surroundings, she dignified as the superiority of a poetic nature. Her idle self-absorption she regarded as the mysticism of religious feeling. It was delightful to her to dwell for hours on the interesting sins and virtues of her own nature. It was delightful to be associated in a round of church decoration and service, with cultured English clergy, in whom she caught glimpses of a society totally unknown to her. She had a sweet, weak voice, and was, in a surface fashion, musical, and this threw her more familiarly mto the clerical coterie. Fortunately, for her, the chaplain, while in one way a mystic, had another side of the trained common sense of a man of the world. She was one of a type that he commonly met, and he knew how to put a 82 THE NIGHT-HAWK wholcson-e curb on the enthusiasms of his female devotees. Hattic, the younger sister, was of a rounder, ruddier more mundane and less ethereal aspect. A kindly' frank young nature looked out from her brown eyes,' and smiled upon her richly-tinted face. Frankly devoted to the joys of frivolity as she was .t was she who knew most of her father's affairs, she to whom any of the household came when afflicted in body or mind. Though not of correct beauty like Mabel, she was yet a pretty, bright-faced girl. Both sisters had enough of their father's power of will m them, to use each one her own habits towards the end of making for herself a more assured standing amongst the garrison and other best society of the place In this element Evans had never yet succeed^-d in bemg thoroughly at home. It was like him to recog- nise this aim of his daughters, and tacitly to assist them in it, treating it with the respect which he gave to all efforts at worldly success. Evans looked upon this social standing as a neces- sary preliminary to the girls making good matches, which he fully intended that they should do. An indulgent and a generous father, he had a private dreamland tucked away in his mind in which they had no place. In it he saw his girls married and liberally portioned, and himself free to make a fresh start in life in some country where no one knew of the poor lunatic wife. There the money which the Civil War was helping him to pile up would enable him to live in luxury. And in that dreamland he saw himself with a beau. NEW FRIENDS 83 tiful, well-bred woman by his side, a woman upon whom It would be a delight to lavish his riches. What a surprise it would have been to his daugh- ters and business associates, if the carefully hidden, romantic streak in the nature of this hard-working man could have been revealed to them ! But we all walk with our inmost being inexorably veiled from those around us, even perhaps from those n( irest to us. Not only had the Civil War added largely to Evans- fortunes, but it also seemed to have brought the looked-for social chances. As the agent had said, Southerners were the fashion not only with the English garrison folk, but with the Halifax people as well. In his Southern partisanship Evans was sincere enough, but it was like the man to turn it to good account. Through many an act of real kindness he had made Trafalgar a great haunt, indeed a sort of headquarters of some of these poor Southern folk, glad to seize any distraction in their weary waiting on fate. So one of the curious side-eddies from the vortex of the great struggle had the result of bringing the Evans family into a new social prominence. On this bright June day, then, fairly numerous not- abilities were amongst the groups gathered on the Trafalgar lawn, with the ostensible object of playing or watching the new game of croquet. Mabel, in pure white, looked, as she received the company, like a St. Cecilia or Elaine, who had strayed into such a position in her visions. I *'4 THE NIGHT-HAWK ^^•S^ni'^r """'' '"■^"•''-^ *"- tH.-s dreamy artillery youth fnf^v ''°"' "'''' ^ ^^'-^^^'^od "^'y work in gcttr t ,1 ^""^ ^^'^'^'"^ Prelimi- Antoinette TS asT" k"'" ""■"^• In those days fash onldid no. " °' ""'' "°*'"- "°w. She was thus vet ,trikin''r' '^ ''"''^^'y ^ aid green "gauze do Chlmh "^ ^"^ '" ^^' ^'"^r. round turban whicrEuinTe^^' •"'''' ^'''^ ^'"^ ''ttle at Compi6gne. ^ ^ ^^'^ introduced that year dis'h'^urnldTpsldrdoJ; "tst^\'^'' ^"'^ "°' ^ P'- and take it all in at I^r' ■• ^^ "' '" down here Engh-sh woman to alther ' '"' °"^ ^owdy-Iively type interesting enough o\!u ^ ' '°""'' ''^^ "^^ tolerant of notL^lVstupUy" """■ ''' ^^ '- -ans i:i'rdit-Lrp:;i^ - 1 '-^-- wooden Jetty ran out into the wate. "''" ' ""'^ ■o'totdL-hii;; rruft''^^^-'^--"- ''— harbour broadened to meet the " """^ '° ^^''"^ '^e yacht lay n^oored nearThe ^,7 " -' ^ '-'"■"'« While Evans stood feasting hiseyes on thisfair high- NEW FRIENDS 85 bred woman who excelled his most clicn'shed ideals Antoinette studied her surroundings. She recalled H.' agent's words, and marl°-^^ anS::d:;;;:tir"'""""^°'^'^°"^'^'''-'- '■ Yes, it would be a simple thing to slip down from here to jo.n an outward bound vessel. Wasn't tha^ what you were thinking of? " back in the light-hal^^^U .i^.^ ^7: p^T ;rhrttTt;^?'"^'^"''^^^-'---^s;- While'" We''",,'; '°"'T '° "'' ^"°"^'"^ f- ^ "«le for you." °"'' ''"' '° -^ke the days pleasant One look up to meet his earnest gaze told her that th.s man might be as wax in her hands „„' V" ""■' .°' *•'=''• I have been told of your good hattreXtir; btr "" --------t ^;5prs'f:!;sS^^,.t;^:-k^2^^ 86 THE NIGHT-HAWK s J'; '"''" ^^^'^ ^^"' '° ^ P'--d chuckle at the "A fine honest fellow, Arthur " he saiH " T hardly wish for a better husband for " .i/H Mrs. LeMoine tried to thinU «f sa;"r:;s;i:;=;:^:''='>'^--^'^-"=''<=-nagedto h.l' °'''/"'" ^^a"= answered comfortably. " He has since Te h:T"t """'' '^^ °" "^ --" °" 'her since he has been here. I think hp t^M ^u . and he had known each othe!; bef e '-'hraSaT quiringly. aaaea in- Secure as she felt in Arthur's honour, a chill seemed to^comemto the -mmer sunshine, but she LswTrel NEW FRIEND'-^ 87 nLh^T t , ^'"""= "^^y- Since he ha,s had the when wTlay w h Ya^nR"'"' *° '^^ '^™ °"^' "'f^*'' .11 k . J «ankee cruisers around us It wi= your'lourLT-'r '''' ^^ ^'"'^^ ''™ ""^ '° -'""!- ' Hes"f;h.fr' """^ """ "" ■-''''"'""e glance. shf sL v..,-;ra"cT;e,e?,:;r ^'^'""'""■"^'--•■ 4!l of%a;;::3tt;r^rtsv''; ""^"--^- ht St^e^^' :'' '-' ^^^J^v^J^iz CHAPTER X KINSMEN " Adventures to the adventurous " was a rule that had held good in Captain Arthur's case. As a midshipman in the English navy, he had been wounded in the storming of the forts at Sebastopol. Barely recovered from this wound, he had arrived on the East Indian station in time to go through some of the worst fighting of the Mutiny in the heroic Peel's Naval Brigade. Peace had not suited his character as well as action. He had fallen into the hands of an aggravating cap- tain, and, in a fit of insubordination, he put himself so seriously in the wrong, that he had no choice but to give up his commission. It was then that he had taken his Christian name of Arthur when in bitterness of heart he had deemed him- self disgraced for life. But he got his chance in the Chinese navy, and, steadied by the first rebuff of fate had done Tianful sen/ice there. Through ten years of hard work, he had only taken that one holiday when we met him in Paris. After that, followed the three years of American blockade-running. Into these last years had been crammed enough perils and excitements to have filled the lives of half-a-dozen men. 88 KINSMEN 89 The adventurous voyage, that Mrs. LcMoinc had made wth h,m. had been to her filled with a new strange sweetness. So were the ensuing idle days a^ Nassau, when they were both detained nearly a fort- n.ght m that languorous, tropic land. It was such a wondrous and novel thing to her to look into . man s face, and read there high purpose and dauntless spmt. In al her twenty-five years he was the first man who recalled to her the traditions of her own race- of men who " Did their work, and held their peace And did not fear to die. " During those Nassau weei suis, fy reste,' as MacMahon said. May not I wait here until he is clever enough to find you out for himself ? " Hiding her impatience as best she might, Antoinette yielded ; but the minutes jeemed endless, before the music began and Arthur appeared. 7 98 THE NIGHT-HAWK 'I " Tike me somewhere where we can talk " sHp a^ manded, when Warwick had turned re"uSnti;awa;- Arthur felt bored by her eagerness. There i noth «ng that men d.shke so much as confidential interviews w.th women with whom they are not in love. How a^lL'w'" "^ ^^^^^^'''"- ---'--empty "Never talk in dark corners," he remarked parenthet- 'cally.as they seated themselves. "By Jove -"he sa,d as her story was told "so he was at my 'back was he ? Though I doubt his having the pluck to do one any real harm." A sudden idea seemed to come to him. ' He must be the new Northern spy whom I was warned would be here to-night ! " " A spy ! Can he have sunk to that ! " A flush of intolerable shame burned red in her cheeks that such a creature should ever have come into her life' Arthur may have understood the feeling, for he said in a kmdly way : "It is unfortunate, but you must not be too worried by It. There are dozens of others about everywhere and your recognition of him has helped to put us on our guard. It is always in the novelty of the spy chat the danger lies. As soon as they are known, they be- come comparatively harmless." "You f( ;I sure that he has only come here as one of their usual spies?" she asked, seemingly relieved at the idea. Seeing this, Arthur stifled his own doubts, and reiter- aied the assurance. Keep to the big rooms and the crowd, to-night Avoid any confidential conversations, and let me take KINSMEN you back to the hotel at half-past one. By-the-bve " looking down at the starry diamonds that followed the soft curve of the neck, " it's a pity you wore you, neck- lace to-n.ght. It lets him know that you have it with She made no protest against such a view of the man but answered absently : ' "Yes, I will have them locked up in the hotel rafo to-morrow -then with a troubled pallo. in her face- Uo you thmk that it means any danger to us?" "Danger ? " he said cheerily. " My dear lady, don't we both hve and move and have our being in danger and what does a little more or less matter ? '' ^ There was no boast in the words, only a simple state- ment of fact, and she knew it tonef" ^' '^ *° blackmail? "she went on in low "Just let him, and we'll soon settle him." Arthur spoke bravely, though knowing well what harm the man might do her. "Besides, he is probably under orders, and remem- ber.this .sa civilised counfy. He can do neither of us any harm, save through our own blunders or cowardice eh ? "T^' r'^-;^°-"""''-b"t not the second, I think,' eh^? And he bent one of his infrequent smiles upon As he had expected, she answered to the spur. Uon t be afraid for mc," she said proudly. " As you say, danger is no new thing. I carry a revolver " CHAPTER XI " OUT TO MOTHER CAREV " The time was drawing near for the Night-hawk to start on her next trip. Anyone watching carefully Captain Arthur's move- ments (and that there were several doing so, he knew) m-ght^have supposed him to be ut.erfy absorbed^n He enjoyed nothing more than to get a spy in tow, and entice him out to Trafalgar ^^ Here, after basking ia Mabel's smiles for as long as poss,ble he would start out with the girls in their ifttle bStftSelor " ''"' ''- " '- -^' ^'- '^'^ Having thus dropped the spy, he would get some important v.sit paid before he had been agal Sometimes, he would go on board of the flag-ship where he was always sure of a hearty welcome. It the end of h,s v.s,t, he would have himself landed at some with schoolboy zest. To have seen the hearty enjoy! ment which the man put into such little daily incidents no one would have suspected him of having weS and perilous matters on his mind. ^^ " OUT TO MOTHER CAREY " loi The Night-hawk, too, looked as idle and as innocent of serious preparations as her maste.. All the same, cautiously and gradually, the work o' getting her cargo on board went on. " Blankets, shoes, chloroform, quinine, hardware," Arthur conned over his lists, with a grim smile bestowed on the last word "hardware." It perhaps resembled charity in its covering powers. Meanwhile, the summer's feasting and fun and love- making went on heedless of the sorrows of nations. Arthur added his quota by issuing invitations for a big picnic, " down at Purcell's Cove." The cove was a sheltered, little hollow facing the entrance to the harbour. Its steep hillsides, clothed in a thick growth of low whortleberry bushes, gave it the look of a Scotch loch. Across its entrance lay a fan- tastically shaped island, an ideal spot on a summer evening, when the great stretch of water lay glassy calm, stirred only by the slow breathing of the sleep- ing sea outside. The company arrived in various craft. Major War- wick brought a shipload in a military tug. The flag-ship sent launches and big boats. None of the boats or men of the Night-ha,vk, however, seemed to be on hand. As the long day faded into evening, a heavy sea fog rolled in over the sunset. It happens so often in those early summer months that no one seemed to heed it. Indeed why should they when they were busy feeding, with the primitive and cheerful greed of civilised folk at a picnic. Only Arthur took, every now and then, long, keen looks at the closing-in horizon. ^M 103 THE NIGHT-HAWK I tolcl you that with this wind we were pretty wfe tvans. as he poured a soda into his whiskey. Often as Captain Arthur had manoeuvred his ship in thThh '"'."' "t*'^''"-" ^P-" -ore skill o^t han he brought to bear now on getting Mabel Evans in to a somewhat isolated cornerat .his repast. Hildut es as host were forgotten, or left to Evan's and Warwick an! as' nV, ''""='' '''="<^^"='>'-*'""^'^f-".--weet and as dehcately-tinted as the northern Mayflower and w.th something of that same sense of austere northern chill in its beauty. -ustere, But if those blue eyes werp rnl,l u„ serenity of her smile, ,t was from his desper te sense Si;K~°' ''"■■■>""'"-'•'' '•■"*« "My own society on the high seas will be rather a com.-down from the happy days that I have been :r;uTure'^^^''^''"^"^'^--'---Herinti" r^^^JZ^^^^z:;::,;:^'^ '^ -- <^""." she If It had been anyone else save Mabel, he mi^^ht have laughed aloud at the girlish inadequlcy o7 fhe As it was, he said : '• Well, there isn't much Mn^ss around when thero are cruisers to right of one ; cruisers to left of one cruisers behind one,' especially as they veiy of en ' vji ey and thunder.' One hasn't much Lelr recolLc t.on then. It will be in the days without adventu^ej i " OUT TO MOTH ER CAR E Y " ,03 lame, he added in a lower voice nhl!r..^''"'"';''""'°°'' '"'' "°' ^""^ her altogether above the mundane joys of admiration. She Lnt a responsive glance and smile towards him, which madc .tK:u;rhrvr"^"""-^^'-^---'- ;4^«,:?sc-t=s— - :;aSr::;sti^:i-rr--°'-^' weeks Arthur went on. emboldened by her smile- will yo"?""^"" """^ ''^^^ f°^^°"- ■"«= '"together, f.Hl'^Z '}' '""'^'^ '^''^' °f '•'^ S^'^y '^vilight, hi, face looked up passionately into hers "Oh. I do not forget my friends as soon as that " she responded serenely. ' th^M*!.' *"". I """' '"r."'"'^ "'°"'- ^ *^"t t° knew that I count for something in your life ! Mabel, won't you let me have that glove ? " '. »ont A dainty pearl-coloured pa.r, lay on her knee, and w.th . etermmed hand he seized on one cal'l'y *"" " '^°"' '^' P^'^-'" '^' P^°'""^J I-^cti. "Then I shall take the pair, .nd bring them back to you. lamyourkmghtnow!" he said triumphantly I hall wear them in the ' dies ir^ • of battle, and th y will bring me good fortune " ^ ••No\7ll ^P''!"^ .""le movement of distaste. No knight of mine, in that horrid money-making 104 THE NIGHT-HAWK f If it were a work of high motive blockade-running! and aim — ! " Arthur loyally tried not to show how her foolish words had pained him. " The Queen can do no wrong ! " was his motto. " It strikes me that there may be worse deeds than taking quinine and chloroform to the sick and wounded ; shoes and blankets to those who are sleeping on the bare ground," he allowed himself to protest. But he could not be angry with her, and broke out with sudden fervour. " Say a kinder word than that to me before I go ! For I am going now, and it may well be, that I never come back ! " Mabel sat staring, unable to grasp his meaning. She hated any unexpected demand upon her sym- pathies or understanding. She would have liked to have all the eh.otions of life marked off beforehand for her, like the church calendar. She knew the proper sentiment for Christmas and Easter, but she was not equal to impromptu ones. Arthur had caught and pressed her hand between his own, and with one last, lingering look into her face slipped away down the bank. In the cold, grey fog-shadows Antoinette sat apart, awaiting her last few words with him, as the famished amidst a shipwrecked crew await the last distribution of food. Her wistful eyes were fixed on the girl to whom Arthur was giving all those last precious moments, which would have been such treasures to her. Sitting on the beach, among the big, tide-worn boul- "OUT TO MOTHER CAREY" 105 ders, she was quite remote from the gay groups on the bank. At a little distance from her, Evans was super- mtendmg the erection of a bonfire of driftwood, which remamed as yet unlighted. The slow plash of the sea against the shore came in from the fog with a sense of mystery. Listening intently, she had, a few moments before, heard the steady beat of a steamer's machinery draw nearer, and then become suddenly silent. As Arthur approached, she stood up restlessly, and showed a little packet of letters in her hand. " Here are my letters, all ready for you. They are m ciphe--, so that you needn't bother about destroy, mg them, if "—her lips seemed dry and stiff—" if neces- sary. But will you pass on the message to Richmond that the ammunition and the powder will be ready for your next trip? You know where to leave t in Wil mmgton, and it's just as well not to put it on paper " Here her eiTorts at a business-like tone broke down mto the mtensity of low-voiced entreaty, "And promise me that you will get leave for me to go back with you next time." Her touch on his arm irritated Arthur's highly wrought nerves, so that he had to put a control upon himself not to shake it off. He tried to make his an- swer as friendly as possible. " That is not in my hands, remember, but I will speak of It. We all know that you will not desert your as- signed post." Then, with a second thought, he added in a brusquer tone : "By-the-bye, I have been watching Warwick with you lately. You mustn't make a fool of him, remem- ber. io6 THE NIGHT-HAWK It was a cruel blow to every instinct. The shadow llnlV.rr''7- '^'°^^"^ °^'^ ^'' f^«' ^= her hand tell nerveless from his arm. to'ih"' "l" v*'u' ^'" ''"""'"• ^^ ^' ^"=h ^"Perior clay to the rest ? she said with a jarring laugh ^ The do' branches and driftwood of the bonfire caught he match, and a flare of orange light shot ro, intensi- fying the outer darkness. of It With a perfunctory grasp of Antoinette's hand and good-bye, he had hurried over to Evans' side. Leaning her arms on a great boulder, Antoinette bent fo.-ward to watch for what was to come rh^l""""/^' ^ '''P°"'' '° '^^^ '^"' g'="-^ °f '■■ght the rhythm of heavy oars sounded out of the fog, and all at once the shadows dropped away fully to reveal a ^TL :rJ'°f7'''"'''-''""'''"^ ^"""'^ 'he island, ran into the beach close to the bonfire. It seemed like a momentary vision that Arthur had sprung ,n and taken his place in the stern, while the boat was backing out again. As she swept past the shore, the dancing light played full upon them. The gay folk on the bank above had evidently all at once awakened to the inner meaning of the festivity. U seemed to strike their fancy that they had been brought here for the purpose of masking Arthurs departure. There was a sudden babel of voices, then, as he waved his cap to them with a cheery shout of "Aure^^oirr there rang out a sudden hearty cheer. Then Warwick's deep voice started the rousing strains of " Dixie," and, with a universal im- pulse, young and old took up the song. "OUT TO MOTHER CAREY" ,07 But Arthur scarcely heard the cheering or the sone His eyes were strained in one last look ft a gW's f"!^ face, and she-she never even troubled to wf h h,m away but stood with her smile bent down oXfJX whostooda httle beneath her on the bank. Evat had^comeoverto Mr^ LeMoine. boulder and^Td t J^? *''t' ^"'"''' °"* f^"'" 'he shelter of the bank . han the others, were the only ones to notice that as irom the hillside across the cove It canie from a part of the hill that faced out to sea and could easily be seen from there ' " l"tni?A 1'° *\' ""''"' °''''"^' ■ " ^*"«d Antoinette. to bll , ?^'' '' "°"'' '^"^^ -"^^ ">«" a picnic to bamboozle those cursed spies. He mU make a je t of everythmg." broke angrily from Evans ^ i hen seemg from the droop of Mrs. LeMoine'sfim.rP agamstthe rock how overwrought she wh 'tried roughly to reassure her. ''There can be no real risk for him in this fo? " he sa.d cheerfully. "Even if there .W^ be a cruiser urkmg outside, which I very much doubt, he has only to keep w,thm the shore limits until he gets a good chance of slipping past. You need not worry toftlt fate of your letters. But it is nervous work for women You would be all the better for a cup of coffee, or a glass of hot wme. Just stay quietly here until I come To her relief he was gone, and she was free to let the sickening tide of desolation sweep over her unrestricted Tummg her back upon the bright fire and the noisy ji r io8 THE NIGHT-HAWK surrounding groups, she stared out into the blue-grey void, into which the one human being whom she cared for, had vanished. Ah, if only she might have gone with him and shared his perils ! CHAPTER XII AT BAY After the picnic Antoinette spent a troubled night Wlien s, did sle. ,, it was only to see fiery serpents darting through the fog to where Captain Arthur stood upon the deck of the Night-hawk. She had to make an effort in the morning, to rouse herself to go forth to an interview with the Confeder- ate agent. It was Sunday morning, when the city wharves were abandoned to the sunshine and a few drowsy cats and whirling pigeons. In their solitude they made a good meeting-place, and on one of them, seated on a fragrant pile of fresh lumber, the withered little man and the fashionable woman talked of the affairs they had with equal intensity at heart. "There can be no doubt that a cipher letter from Benjamin to us has gone astray," the agent said gloom- ■ly. It refers, I fear, to the ammunition for the steamer. If they have been able to decipher it, it will serve to make them doubly keen to get hold of these The spies would get any price for them. You can hardly be too careful." "These" were a small package of letters which he proceed to hand her. "You had better keep them about you always, until lOQ no THE NIGHT-HAWK you feel that you can destroy them, and then do not delay over it." " When is the attempt to be made on the steamer ? " she asked, but all the answer was : " That does not concern you or me. We need only see that our share of the work is done. You must show an interest in the scheme to Evans, and keep up his interest in getting the ammunition ready. Make him feel his own self-importance. That is what fetches him." " Very well," she acquiesced. Presently, after a few more directions, the agent shuffled away. In the days that followed Antoinette was very gay, though haunted alway? by the thought of Arthur's peril and by the memory of that last wistful gaze at Mabel. There was a great restlessness upon her which often drove her out to seek the solitude of the woods and seashore. In such places alone did she seem to find calm. It was thus that she started out one morn- ing, before the dewy freshness was gone from grass and air. Leaving the town behind hei, she took her way along the shore of the woodland park where it stretched toward the sea. That open line of harbour- mouth seemed to bring her nearer to her heart's desire, far awny from the weary, futile round of life in this alien land. She made hor way out on to some low shelving rocks, where the soft sea-breeze met her with its promise of future v.'anderings, and- where the great stretch of harbour lay unrolled before her. She recalled the grey AT BAY HI Night-hawk where she lay in the stream on that day when she paid her first visit on board, and wondered if she should ever see her there again. Lost in ;uch thought, she was quite unconscious of her surroundings, until recalled to the grimmest reality by the grasp of a hand upon her shoulder, and uy the sound of a hatefully familiar voice, and turned her head to meet the cold grey eyes of Martin. " Well met by moonlight, at least by sunlight, fair Titania ! You are not so well surrounded by your body-guard as at the ball ! And so your valiant Cap- tarn Arthur has gone off and left you, has he ? Well, he is most likely in a Northern prison by this time! However, you won't mind that, if Major Warwick re- places him. You see, I know all your little affairs. No don't move ! See this little toy ! It politely requests you to hand me out your papers, and its requests are generally complied with." The sun glinted on the steel work of a dainty revolver, that was pointed at her breast. A passion of helpless rage, at the man's touch, and at her own carelessness which had put her in his power swept over her. Reckless of consequences, she shook her shoulder free from his grasp. " Take your hand away from me. Its touch sickens me! " she panted. "I remember the time when you were not so partiu- lar," Martin sneered— then with sudden imperious- ness : " Come now, no more nonsense ! You must have known that, sooner or later, I should get the better of you. I want the letters that that little rat gave you on that quiet wharf, on Sunday m.orning. 0!i, you needn't 113 THE NIGHT-HAWK «li start ! I should have thought your nautical friend would have taught you the use of glasses " " His fluent taunts had given her time to recover her second and calmer courage. She knew that the man was a coward and despised him as such "Do you suppose that I am a fool enough to carry .mportant papers about me on a country walk?" she asked scornfully. * She was, all the time, keenly conscious of the pressure succeLS: " '"'""' '" ^""^'^- ="' •-" bluff'was :" •'You carried them on you two days ago, so it is natural to ,nfer that you do so now ! •' was his co;i °ln Hermmd strung up to keen activity, went back at once .0 a arntmg <5t which had overcome her in the close hote dmmg-room, at the end of that long, hot Sunday after the Night-hawk's departure. She re membered how, on recovering consciousness, she had found herself on the sofa in the ladies' wait ng-room alone w.th a fragile-looking, little woman whom she haa never seen before. thn,lft'",Y ''''" ""f^='^"«d, and her first conscious hought had been to feel for the letters, and find them ^ Even then, she had been relieved at learning from the Insh chambermaid that the stranger had only been alone w,th her for the brief moment, when the other had gone to fetch the brandy-too short a time apparently m which to do her work shfrn k""" "^""''^'""^ '"^'"°0', it seemed to her that about herTes?^^' '° consciousness by groping hands In spite of a sinking at heart, she still showed a brave AT BAY "3 face. Her eyes searched desperately the white slopes of road that led townwards for some signs of life Even a nurse-maid and her charges might help to drive him away. There was no sign of fear in her answer:— " It's no use trying to frighten me with that ridicu- lous thing ! I know quite as well as you do that it would be your ruin to shoot me ! You would have to clear out of the place as quickly as possible, and your value in your honoured profession would be gone even If you didn't get hanged for your pains." Her coolness was having the effect of irritating Mar- tin-a result which she trusted to make for delay, and delay was her only hope. He was quick enough though, to notice how intently she was watching the road, and sneered viciously • " You need not look for help. No one is likely to come at thi. hour. I shall have plenty of time to find \'hat I want. Turn out your pocket first." There was nothing for it but to obey, if she would postpone a struggle until the crucial moment when he was near success. She did not mean that he should have the papers without a struggle. And then came a sudden thought of the bright, calm water. She could swim, and she would rather trust to it than bear his touch. And with that thought, her fortitude had come back. Meanwhile, she emptied her pocket before his greedy eyes. She rejoiced to think that there were one or two cipher memoranda in her card-case of little real value, but which might distract his attention He had opened her purse which contained nothing "4 THE NIGHT-HAWK IN save a f=w dollar .tea. His eyes gleamed a, he found he papers m t... card-case. and turned them over "l thought we should find something," he announced |numphan,,. -.This is a cipher, and you Zt .eld bu;£;,tir^E:^'"=^^'''-^-'^^'"^-t Her hand. _^ •• Softly, if you please. You can read it while I hold She hardly heard his words, for every fear was lost ■n a „onous heart throb of relief. ShT had Ten on hecauseway by Steel's Pond. Major Warwick, in uni- form commg slowly towards her on horseback, evi- dently on his way to the forts. Quick as thought, she had struck up the revolver wh.ch go.ng off, acted as an alarm. She se.Ved the papers from Martin's grasp, calling out all the ^tae S herfullclearvmce: "Major Warwick! Help! help ! " W.th a snarl of rage, the spy turned to see War^i;k hf r' . [ u u *' °"'" '^^ e*™«^ ^^« "P. ^nd that he must look to his own safety. "I might have known that such as you don't walk m the woods without a rendezvous," he panted How eve.. other time! Meanwhile to remLbe^yofb;. h„n '^!"'-", "'f ^ '°'^'^^t ^ith a large diamond star, which hung ms.de her dress but of which his keen eyerhad marked the chain showing at her neck. She tried to catch h.s hand but he was too quick for her With a ,^:tt"'Jrt;''''^^^"^'^^'''"-'''-'''^^^p-ewol just as, with a great clatter of accoutrements, Major AT BAY "5 Warwick drew up. She had sunk limply to a rock, and with dishevelled hair and white face stared up at him. Her dry lips, through v.hich the quick breath pantedj seemed unable to utter a sound. Warwick sprang from his horse, crying, " You are hurt! I am sure you are hurt ! Do try to tell me." He took her cold hands into his, rubbing them with gentlest touch. Presently the ghost of a smile flickered on her face and a whispered " Don't be afraid ; I shall soon be all right," reassured him. That first, faint reaction, after standing at bay, had been genuine, but in its prolonging there was a re- membrance that she did not want Warwick and Mar- tin to meet. She could not bear that this man who honoured her should even .see the face that had cast sc dark a shadow on her life. But Warwick was not one easily delayed from his purpose. Once sure that she was not injured, he prepared to turn his attention to the man who had molested her. " Who was he and what did he want ? " he demanded. "He cannot have got far by this time, and I must go after him." But Antoinette in her eagerness, laid a detaining hand upon his arm. " You could never find him in those thick woods. I know who he is. He is a Northern spy in search of some papers which he thinks are in my possession. I blame myself for having been so foolish as to come to such a lonely place, when I had been warned against him." " But this is sha eful. Such an outrage cannot be tl6 THE NIGHT-HAWK allowed Imust find him," Warwick broke out im- petuously, but she answered with gentle decision: ask and let h.m go. There are many risks to run in our cause many mysteries in its service. This is one and my fr,ends will do me truest service in not tamper! Zrht" \°v.^^^'='' ""^ f™"- his ilMreatmeTu But ,t .s the .dea of danger to you that I cannot stand. He fired the revolver, didn't he ? " " No, I struck it up when I saw you coming, to make you hear. The revolver is only bluff on his part. He could have had no gain by killing me. I knew the wort he could do was to annoy me in his search t tJ^Tl\ '^''"' "'"" ^ '='"«''' ^he added. "Come, n tead of huntmg spies in the woods, you shall see me safely back to the haunts of men, before you go to your work. That is, if vou have time " "Time! As if I should not make time for that, if the General and the whole garrison were waiting •" And so they turned townwards, Warwick leading his horse beside her. '' In spite of all her wiles, she could .see that his face was troubled, and knew that he would not easily be put off the scent. As they parted, he urged • " You will at least promise me that, when the desire to ramble se.zes you again, you will call on me as escort ? I only give up my search for the man on the cond.fon that you do not go about in that lonely fashion again. ' " What a tyrant you are ! I promise then," and she AT BAY "7 smiled up into the grave eyes that looked down so tenderly into hers. As be rode away she smiled no more, but sighed for what might have been once, for what never could be now, that she could be a fitting wife for a brave and honest gentleman. CHAPTER XIII TRAFALGAR iiT. Then the man i"h '' "' "P"')" "«"1>I« .1... .he h.d StTbe ". be°iev°T,h". """""'"' ;;.. He ha. ,e,. ,he .,.,, . ..S .^r,' ^S"; 4SL:--rh'r:.r:r'-""'"- and h- .„ehlrL"l:e' *" ""' "' """ •■' ""- In hi, fcrellon "'""""■ "'"k » he,, secure TRAFALGAR "9 't, she m ae her was put aside, and after a systemati confidential report to the agent. His pained disapprobation of her carelessness struck her as almost lud.crous. But although he had given nos.gnof .t hemust have felt some concern for her E an'; He h'd''.:""r" '^°"^'"' ^ ^-' f-- Mr tvans. He had heard the tale from the agent and strenuously msisted that Mrs. LeMoine must at once remove to the shelter of Trafalgar I should not be able to sleep at night if I knew that you were alone m the hotel. Why, the villain migh get m and murder you. ^ strZ!' •I'rlf^'''""" ""■■^" "'^^"^h- ^'sked, str,v,ng wth all her woman's wit to read in his eyes i lie knew of any connecting link between her life and Martm's. But the shrewd business man was a match for her, and his face kept its own secret It was thus, with an undefined dread of his power that she yielded to his demands and had arranJemTnts made or her to move the next day to Trafalgar. Al the same, when she was settled there, the pleas- ant sights and scents of wood and sea had a cheering and reviving influence upon her cncenng She was glad to be diverted from graver thoughts by the presence of the two s.'sters. Hattie Evans' warm almost affectionate, welcome was like the friendTj greeting of some pet animal. A little tou^h o excite ment was added by Mabel's dignified airs o'f Xt This frigidity veiled what in a plainer or less saintly . .ung woman might have been more easily recognised as a prolonged fit of sulkiness. c>-ognisea lao THE NIGHT-HAWK •it For the last few weeks, Mabel had been so patiently toiling at her pretty web of observances for the undoing of Major Warwick. She received some measure of encouragement from his evident desire to be intimate at 1 rafalgar. It was some time dawning upon her that h.s desire was founded on the hope of meeting Mrs. LeMome there, but at last she knew that, when his d.vm.ty was present, he was but barely conscious of any other woman's existaence. And so, as was her wont at times when in any way her supremacy seemed threatened, Mabel absorbed her- self m a maze of ecclesiastical doings, wearing cos- tumes that were poei-s of asceticism, ostentatiously keepmg every possible fast day. The w_orst was, however, that no one seemed to .are much. hey did not even make any comments on the smal ness of her appetite. Hattie and young Adair the fa,r.ha,red artillery youth, were enjoying them! eatL'g '"""""'"'>' ^* "°1"^'' '^^'"'S, and strawberry Mrs. LeMoine when alone was absorbed in her toil over ciphers and letters. Or else, when not busy, she would sit in absolute stillness '.-stening to the soft mur- mur of the pine trees, as though their voices held some secret which she might learn. Major Warwick managed to come frequently, and generally at times when the master of the house was absent. Antoinette had noticed an extra reserve and gravity in h.m when brought in contact with Evans which betrayed that he found him uncongenial. To Warwick, when he came, her manner was always marked by the same gentle almost wistful kindliness TRAFALGAR 121 And the master of the house ? Did he too hear a different voice in the pine trees, as he sat on the veran- dah beside that fair woman, and talked for hours to her of the cause that lay so near her heart. Any man who, day by Cay, would bring her fresh tidings of the great strife, which in these summer months was slowly but surely inclining to weigh down the balance against the South, must have had the power to bring the feverish light to her eyes, the pained flush to her cheek, and this power held its own danger for the rash mortal who woke the haughty Diana into life. Not that Antoinette did not, in her calmer moments, walk warily with Evans. She had seen enough of the world to be quick to recognise the vein of unscrupulousncss that lay behind his bluff good-nature. She knew that if she should once allow his admiration for her to come to a crisis, there could be no arousing in him of the chivalrous quixotism that she felt she could count on, even to his own disadvantage, in Major Warwick. It was a golden July evening and the girls having gone out in their little boat, Antoinette sat talking with Evans in the verandah. The tidings he had brought engrossed her whole at- tention. At length the long schemed attempt was to be made at seizing an ocean steamer by means of Southerners disguised as passengers. " My share of the business is to get the schooner that is to meet them in the Bay of Fundy loaded with ammunition here, without their spies finding it out. It won't be too easy a job," Evans announced. 122 THE NIGHT-HAWK 1^1 What a true friend you have been to the South " she murmured. She did admire in the man his en hi s.asm of partisanship. Although he looked pilased kJ answered honestly: "Oh, vvell, You are' rdevt enough busmess woman to know that it has bee To my proht. I never expected to he -i= r.vi, these biockade-running ventures^have mal' ^ ^"3:^ money apart, this war has given me some ne^ beliS I had no more thought possible, as a present-day evlnt hat „en and women would give up home, fortune We .tself for their country, than that I should meet St' " You i h f^"'°'"^"^ ^ ^P'"' flashed responsive. You do believe then, that we all, good bad nr In different as we may be, have that ;nT:upreme It mark, pro patria, don't you ? " ;; I do. I have been seeing it for months." And I am sure that, apart from any business orofit you do wish to help our cause, don't you ?" ^ ' "Yes. And above all I wish to help ™«." She had made a mistake, and given him his chance to sound the personal note. At the intensity in his face Antomette strained her ears to listen for the sound o^ thegirls voices or their returning oars, even as she answered softly : ^"^ "I have good reason to know that you do Are you not helping me now in giving me a shelter here n this quiet haven by the sea. It has been such a rest o sigh ,f I shall ever see again my home in Georria and the poor, simple negroes who love mc. I grow'S homesick for it all." ^ ^ TRAFALGAR At any rate, you cannot go back there until tl, is ended ? " mere until the war " Why not ? " she asked, her some notes, she saw in his face that he was the 124 THE NIGHT-HAWK bearer of news and awaited it with that little chill o( suspense which was so ready in those days. Evans gave no sign until he was seated in a deep chair beside Antoinette. Then he began : " And who do you suppose has been within a mile oi- two of you to-day ? " he said, addressing Mrs. Le- Mome, but still in a tone that all could hear. " Indeed sitting here on the verandah, you might have seen the smoke." It was from Antoinette's lips, not Mabel's that broke the low startled cry : " The Night-hawk ! " "You are the only one who remembers absent friends, Mrs. LeMoine," Evans said approv,' igly He was vexed to see that Mabel had scarcely turned her eyes from the face of her clerical idol. " It was the Night-hawk, and fallen upon unlucky days, too." And then he went on to tell how, from the first start, the ship had been delayed by fogs and by pur- suit, until her captain had been eventually forced to put into Bermuda for coal. Overcrowded with the coming and going of the blockade-runners, and in any case badly drained the little town of St. George's was a hot-bed of yellow fever. No sooner was the Night-hawk outside the reefs than the disease broke out among the crew. As the ship would not have been allowed in any Southern port, the only resource was to turn north- wards, and that morning the Night-hawk had appeared at the quarantine station, had landed her convalescents and put to sea again. TRAFALGAR ,25 Evans paused, and Warwick's even tones were heard saying, " I wish that I had know.. " A grey, swirling mist seenied to be wrapping round one of the listeners, putting their faces andThefr vo ces at a grea distance from her, but with all her strength Antoinette clung to reality. "^iigtn She ,««./ not faint under Evans' keen gaze. There was Mabel's sweetly serious face opposite her, with is usual shell-pink tint undimmed. .S'/. was not pale Evans went on : " But before they left, I went down .n the quarantine boat, and exchanged some shouted remarks with Arthur. I saw with my own eyes t^at ^LV7Z\"' "^V"'y'^'"S ^^- y^"°-. and he said tl M \. " ' '^'"'- ""' '""' ''SrctM messages to Mrs^LeMome and you girls that he could not fee you. So I think that I deserve a vote of thanks from his admirers, and his good-natured glance went from Mabel to Mrs. LeMoine. But the latter heeded it not. All that she was con- scious of, was the fact that Arthur was speeding away to sea carrying the danger with him as he went, that he had been so near without her seeing him " Oh, you might have taken me with you ! " she mur- mured reproac; fully. Even as she spoke the words, she awoke to their folly,^as she saw all the attention of the others turned .Xffl^T ^"'' '"'"""^ '° "^^^^ '" i' =^" intoler- able touch of pity. Warwick was evidently pondering the reason for her distress, while she eouW see thaf Evan ,,„,i,^, ,^ ^^ ^.^ ^^^^j ^^_^.^.^^ 126 THE NIGHT-HAWK Thin m°k1"'' ^^""^ ''^"'"'' y°^'" he said, penitently Then Mabels soft voice broke in with i;s' caressing MrsT.M '" f,"';-"^'^'"'^ W'^nd you do make, dear aTllr^ers:.a:rr''""°^^"''- ^-''"^--- ho'm!'l''r'/"' '■'"''• "y"" ^''' '^' °ff '■•<"" your Warwick settled the victory by saying, "If I had Wn I would have taken yo'u in the' en'gineer bo^t' Mrs. LeMome. It would have been nice to have had even a shout from Arthur." !•:(! CHAPTER XIV THE NEW spy zest of inexDerienrp A„t ■ . , """«^"aKen with the her skilled fingers ^1 '''' "'''""' "'^ -"'^ °f also was toi L at uttW "T '° '° '°°' ^"'^ ^ ^^e H'.-es and passif ^ fl^^ ?„' ^f ^^ ^^ -"ventional room at TrafalMr th.1 ^ ^"""^ "doming. young and ;Sot^,''p^^3eraT'''r"' ''' ^' aspect, one morning when T '7 ''"PP^ '^"""y /or dressmaking ^J{. t^ClT '''° ''' '''''" wishL'::,thr:S:^t--=He explained her , i«rs. i^e.Aoinc watched her with 127 128 THE NIGHT-HAWK The longer she looked the more strongly ,he felt •.„ unaccountable aversion to the thin oale iffH with the tired aspect, together witT he "•'"""" that she had seen her befofe convcfon n.et'U'ar.S;Hshehr;f' ''' '°°- '''-' °' first pale said, i^l tuaUasZ ^^°^""^' ^"'^ ^' *'- I vvas sorry not to have a chance to thank you " ''• That her shot had gone home shn knew bv the hoc t"le glance that flashed furtively u„ hlr f .. rneek face, flashed and hadtlien befot thT, S' ready answer came : ^ ' or you. I happened to be waiting for an order from tvzzT) :r^hi^" °"^ °^ '' ^ ----^^ Sed r ro nclp you. I saw that you were alone " I am much obliged to you," Antoinette said with a strong effort at unconcern. Martin's words a to the And so she went on- "Yon ar» -,„ a ■ think?" " American, I This time she was even more sure of having struck the mark, although the explanation of being ! Nova SCO. an who had learnt her trade in BostonVas pe' fectly possible. She had no desire to give the woman THE NEW SPY "9 any excuse to return, and so said that she had no work to be done, and. with a glance and a sign, made Hattie lollow suit. In Mabel's present humour this was quite enough to make her engage the seamstress to come the next week to do some sewing for her. As soon as the woman who gave her name as Mary Johnson, had left the room' Hattie asked impulsively : " What was the matter, dear Mrs. LeMoine ? I could see that she worried you. Why, you are looking quite pa e st.II ! You didn't want her to come here to work did you ? •• with an indignant glance at Mabel, who was innocently stitching away at her lilies. Antoinette was more provoked than she usually allowed herself to be at the girl's tacit opposition. She was annoyed, too, at the feeling of intangible fear which the presence of this quiet little creature had aroused in lier. So she showed an unusual touch of bitterness in her answer. " It is only that I am sure that the woman is a Yankee spy, sent here for some unknown purpose. You heard her acknowledge that she is the woman who helped to revive me at the hotel one evening when I ainted. When I knew what was going on, I found her hidden. Pah! I seemed to feel the touch of her clammy fingers again, when she looked at me just now ' " We must send a note at once to tell her not to come, but-oh, only think, she never gave any address ! How stupid in us!" Here Mabel, looking up from her work, with an air of injured mildness, said • 9 "30 THE NIGHT-HAWK shall soon expect to L o.^ o]7iZ"'' T^ °" » barred as dangerous. And tl^cr,. n T^'?"'^'""^'' Li^clen letters in the butt anJe^n' T'-°' ^^'i; .;ot be ver, easy under such' c^f^.stanr '"'""^ n^"";^M::':i:::-----'^^-'-'ot..ee sai'dii'lv' '^1^';'""'^' '""'"^ "°"^^-=- Mab." she o^.^SsaJ:'tirL;^:/:iXrtr^- be sorry if he finds out " y°" " " It s a pity that you slunild be so unlidv lit. . you ,et excited." and walked off w^l^ ii" "1: t" toll tte^'t tt::?^'^ ''-1 "■■"^^^^•'^ ^^ A^: work-box to;;;: t:u:zt:f''' r ''^^^^''- --P^ofpape^^hicl^rb^ti-S- They ran thus: Rlj THE NEW SPY >3i With a start Antoinette looked around her, feeling as though Martin's hated touch were on her shoulder, his hateful voice in her ear. She had recognised his writing on the paper. The sunny morning calm was so undisturbed that O..C could hardly believe the thing had been possible, but, as soon as she could, she got away to the quiet of her own room. What was she to do ? She could not very well ask the girls to keep this visit a secret from their father. She herself, by foolishly speaking out, had made it of too great importance for that. The question was, if Evans knew part, must he not soon learn all ? Her whole nature of "grande dame " shrank from having this self-made man, towards whom she gra- ciously stooped, aware that that contemptible thing, a paid spy, had ever had any place in her life. There was no one else to whom she could turn for advice in the matter. She felt that the agent would give her no personal consideration, save where her use- fulness was concerned, as one of the pawns in the great struggle. Long she sat and pondered, while the midday heat waxed heavy and then waned towards evening. At length, as it drew near the hour when Evans might be expected home, she rose and made a caref'il toilette. She had decided on playing a bold game. She would show the note to Evans ; would tell him that this man was trying to blackmail her so as to get infor- mation out of her. She would see what he thought the best line of action to take, trusting to her power to in- 132 THE NIGHT-HAWK fluence h.m if her opinion did not agree with his. Hav. .ng thus deeded, she took good care that Evans should find her strolhng in the grounds, well within sight of the house, however, and keeping in the open, for every bush and tree now seemed a menace to her She was dressed in the full white muslin of the day and. as she stood there under her white parasol, the flick' enng sun and shade playing about her, her face soft- im \l^t ^''''^<^^ °f past excitement, Evans felt his breath taken away by her beauty .f^^'r^'TJ^ ^"J"^" '^°'y ^"'^'■^^d the note with silent at enfon, then, handing it back to her. said gravely .ucrlT° "^'■'° ''■'"'' '^'' ^"^"^ creatures should succeed m annoymg you while in my house. I thank you for having trusted me in the matter. I shall strain every nerve to crush them." He paused and drew a voTe-'"f ''"i''^^"JP°'^^ '■" ^ --^ business-lik^ vo.ce. I see that this reptile pretends to have known you before-a regular blackmailing dodge which must be put a stop to." Antoinette noticed that as he spoke thus his eyes did not meet hers. j'v.ouiu After a moment's thought, he went on: "We won t go to the agent about this. I think we might just although this creature makes a threat of publicity i would su.t him no better than it would you at pre en bluff h.m. Would you appear at the gate alone and act as a decoy to draw him inside the grounds ? " next?'-' ""'''"'"'' '"'"^'^y- "^"' ^''^t ""nes It.^ THE NEW SPY »33 " That depends upon him. At any rate I should be behind the bushes with a revolver. I am a pretty sure shot, and if I were to lame him when he was molesting you within my own grounds, it wouldn't be a very seri- ous matter, even if it came to the police court. At any rate, it would prevent his creeping and spying for a time." " You are methodical, even in assault and battery," Antoinette answered, breaking into an hysterical laugh, then pulling herself together she said firmly, " Yes, I will do whatever you tell me to." Evans inspected her critically but saw no sign of shrinking. " All right," he agreed, briefly. " But won't they keep a sharp lookout to see if I am alone ? " she asked. " That's all right. I can go around while they are watching you down the avenue." The dusk of evening was gathering under the pine trees when Antoinette's white figure passed slowly down the road to the gate. Evans had taken a path which led from the stables through the shrubbery to meet the larger road at the entrance. Her white dress showed ghost-like through the shadows, and in one hand she clutched a knot of blood-red ribbon. Feeling that worst of things~ihe presence of an un- seen enemy— she would have given much to look around for some sign of Evans' neighbourhood, but that she must not do. Every group of shadowy trees seemed to her fancy to be endowed with a possibility of ven- omous life. Something of the unreasoning terror of a child alone '34 THE NIGHT-HAWK make her take th<^ fir.^ . determination to shelter, ^t t^t nt h^h ^d the f ' '■r^'"^^ lay on the grey dust "r.h m _, ^"°' °^ "''''°" she round^frstr mutfe^i;: 'The-rr ''r: qu-cWy. As, at the sound of a ieerL . u T^^'^ voluntarily started back thl h t ^ ^"^''' '''^ '"' and Martin stepped out ^'^" °PP°"''^ P^^'-^^ Instinctively she obeyed Evanc' ^,, * i • and, as the spy crossed the rn^H T '"^^ructions, back into the avenue ' " ''°^'^ ''^^'-^^'^d been.ri„kin.toLtu:;:£;,r-'^''>-^e'>ad draw ;;u Sim:""Yo'^H ' ''°"^''* ''''' ' ^''-'d fine f.Ld to hear "the ? u '^'"'^ ^^"^ ^"y°ur Castelle-sliule'doi:',; :^;: ? 'j^Z'' ''V^ t^n. uf up toS^rs^tkToTnriS It /"^ -^■ that ElSr ^th^ V^ -^ '° ^- humourchoseo utter She " '^ ' "^"'^ '"'"'" effort to stem the tTde ' '' '^'^^ '"'^'^ -" sai7sTer:,y''^°""'^"''-'^ -'- - -d of it," she fast e^o:;"' S^f-'alM- ^''^" ''" ^'^^ ' -nt prepared 'to give me t, rT '° "^r" " ^°" '- p.otand.he^a„dwhe;^-t^^.Se:rS:::^ THE NEW SPY 135 going to read me o"e of those cipher letters we got hold of, or how are you going to earn your locket and my silence ? " His voice had risen with harsher and more threat- ening tones. Antoinette, in the fear of his making a sudden spring upon her, had never taken her eyes off him. But she felt Evans" presence near, and as the spy paused she heard his voice ring out strong and fierce, behind her. " By this ! " he said, as, putting the bushes aside, he covered the other with a revolver. A fierce oath was snarled out as a sign of defeat, preceding an angry tor- rent of words. " Sold again ! Bad luck twice, but look out for the third time ! Truly the lady has a varied and watch, ful guard ! Horse and foot ! I wonder if they would be as vigilant, if they knew as much of her many ad- ventures by land and sea as I do. Her notoriety at the Tuileries and her voyages with Captain Arthur are only recent history, and so probably known to them. But I think that they would agree that a lady shows a certain self-reliance, who at the age of twenty or so leaves her husband's home with your humble servant." Motionless under this tirade as under a storm of blows, Antoinette stood, her whole soul crying out to the armed man beside her to defend her womanhood. But Evans did not speak until the other paused breath- less. " You have done your worst, and said your say. I waited to see what you would dare to do. Now go ! and take that, to show how futile your threats are held." 136 THE NIGHT-HAWK Mill Antoinette never stirred or sooke P, , Why, I have known it all from the fir<=t H-> CHAPTER XV TRAPPED It was only a few doy, after this that Evans had to leave home on one of his many enterprises-this time as Antoinette knew, to personally superintend the s okeT of ^"""""'"°" °" 'he schooner that he had An intense longing for the freedom of solitude had been growmg upon Antoinette. She saw that it would only entail a struggle of wills if she should let Evans know h ^urpos-. But the day aftor his de parture she , .. an excuse of necessary frequent in- terviews with the agent to return to the hotel. She had learned her lesson and went abroad warily and in her own room kept her door carefully locked. She d.d not intend to fall into Martin's power if she could nelp It. Again he seemed to i.,ve completely vanished, and she could not but hope that he had left the place, though she dared not count upon it as a certainty Knowing more people, invitations came in increasing quantities The old general , had grown very fond of mcluding her in small informal dinners which usually ended up with dearth or nap. Warwick was sometimes, but not often, at these en- tertamments, for he was somewhat fretted at the lively »37 138 THE NIGHT-HAWK old Irishman's free-and-easy devotion to Mrs. LeMoine, and at her cheerful reception of the same. However, he was often tempted by the mere chance of being in her presence. This had been the case one dark night when a wild, southerly storm was coming up from the sea. He had secured the privilege of taking her to her carriage, and as he did so, he said earnestly : " I hate your driving home alone, like this. I wish that you would let me go with you." " That wouldn't be proper at all. It would shock the hotel people," she laughed back carelessly, taking her seat. No sooner had Warwick closed the carriage door than a horror of some close, unseen presence came over her. She knew that there was someone in the carriage with her. The lights were still shining on Warwick's face as she tried to call out to him, but the windows on both sides were closed and the rain beat against them noisily. Then, as the carriage had driven off quickly into the night, she felt a strong arm grasp her, while a handkerchief was pressed to her face loaded with the heavy breath of chloroform, before which her brain reeled in waves of increasing dizziness. As the void seemed to grasp her spirit she realised with exceeding bitterness that Martin's third time had come. When her surroundings once more became real to her she found herself still driving on in the darkness. Her arms were stiff from being fastened together at the wrists by what seemed like a tightly knotted hand- kerchief. TRAPPED That she was on a solitary counto^road she guessed by the complete darkness, and bv the .Inl movement of the carriage as thou'/h o^er^C' r^d:" that silent, unseen presence was still beside her like a n.ghtmare. The horror of it crushed any effort at pnde or courage, and she broke out in a hoaL sStd " For God's mercy, unless you are trvin.^ t^ i ■ me mad. speak and tell me wh'o is tLeT'"fs U tr! A voice strange to her answered. "You shall se. hm, soon. He will „o doubt be flattered b^yot afx! "Where are you taking me? What ^r. , "•'Ma^'nrnVlf ^ 'T' "-^'-^ "^ei^^enr' affai^no: mre.-- " '°' ''''' "^'^^ '^ — I' ""^ his And this was all the satisfaction that she could oh tl.mn,„ „, „ghl ,h., .„. ,,„ „ 7"" '2' showed her a few .r, i , V ' ^ S;lance around might be found! fn" ^^abby furniture such as S lound m any poverty-stricken old farmhouse. i 140 THE NIGHT-HAWK Of her captor's face she could see nothing under the shade of his soft, slouching hat save a straggling black bearJ. With even that dim light her worst panic had passed and she did not feel that horror of him which the mere thought of Martin's p -sence inspired. She fully realised in what an evil case she was, but was absorbed in keeping every sense on the alert. Seeing that he was about to shut the door on her, she made her one appeal, though with little hope in it. ' " My hands ! Oh, surely you are not going to leave me helpless like this!" and she reached out towards him the bare, white arms whose beauty might have softened any heart. The pitiful words and action were without effect. " It will be safer to leave them so until the morning! It won't do you any real harm," he answered in a matter-of-fact way. The door was closed ; she heard it bolted on the outside, and Antoinette was alone. The effects of the chloroform still weighed upon her with a dull drowsiness which certainly helped to dull her mental sufferings. However, she made a deter, mined effort not to yield to it until she had looked carefully about the room. The windows she found had been whitewashed over, and apparently nailed down from the outside. It was a comfort that there were no other doors. Against the one that she had entered by she managed to shove a heavy chair, so that the room should not at least be stealthily entered if she should sleep. There was a chimney with an open hearth but it was evidently not large enough to offer a possible means of escape or concealment. Still she was thankful for it as ventilat- TRAPPED ,^, ing the unaired room with its choking smell of damo decayng wood and mildewed feather!. The bedTad a rough, old rug thrown over a feather-bed and pits and here m utter weariness of body and soul, she sank A strangely forlorn figure she wa^ !n thn^ jj ro^om huddled therein hef costly'LTerdrelsX^a bufh wi'' 7^" '" ^^°'^ *" ^^'P ^'"^^^ ^nd on guard ,nat h "° r- ^'"^^P "'"'^ '" short, troubled It St ;iT. rf ?' :'"' ^•'^ ^*"'^^ '■" f-h a arm Atiast the early July dawn aroused her throueh the uncurtamed windows to a full wakefulness and a com plete realisation of her position ""'" cleverivtheThit'h °.' ^""^' '"' '""^ "^-'d -« h°- Caotan a'.^ "^ k"'' '''"" P'^""^'^ f"-" Evans" and Captain Arthurs absence. Indeed she had but little hope of escaping with life itself, but a Strang in dffll TS'ot '"h-^'-" '"' '-^ '•^ ^ -LTco"urf;^: he^tteiid'Shre,;"'"r "'"^°^^^"^ ^--''^ necklace and thosetSrV that^ Z;t Xr 'tt thes^nSfi^st'tlSrhr'n"^ "^'^/^-^'^ ='"- had come near hen ''^^ "'"'^°-=' ="d yet no one tha?rhe"wTs nL°T °^^"r°""'^ °' '"°^^"^"' below tha she T T '" *''" ''°"=^- 0"« she thought There was some food on the tab!e,-a jug of milk 142 THE NIGHT-HAWK and some cold meat and bread. She knew that she would be safe in eating it, for they would attempt her no harm until they had made use of her. So she res- olutely set herself to eat and drink so as to maintain her strength. As she wondered what would be their next move, she tried to keep at bay that horrible curiosity as to what means of compulsion they would attempt in order to wrest her secrets from her. Could it be possible that they would dare to torture her? It seemed incredible when she knew that she could only be an hour or two's distance from friends and from the powers of the law. Ah, but she had the means to defeat that. She had not embarked her \.jmanhood in the dark ways of warfare without having in hand the one supreme refuge. She rubbed her arm against a hidden inner pocket and felt the hard pressure of a little, silver smelling- bottle that held the means for a swift and painless en- trance into the cold " frustration of death " ! " They shan't drive me to that if I can help it. I will make a fight for life yet. It would be ridiculous for a body like mine, for brains like mine, to be destroyed by such as they." As she thus stayed herself with what strength she could, she heard the soft roll of wheels, as upon grass. With heavy choking heart-throbs she sat still upon the edge of the bed, listening, listening. Presently there came slow uneven footsteps upon the stair, and a wicked smile curved her lips as she mut- tered, " Limping still ! " Harshly the bolt creaked as TRAPPED '43 though ne«r; the door dropped open, and she saw the expected figure of Martin. "'^ With smiles like those of two lost soul, m,-f: • the nether world, jaile.- and captivtbetrayeTand h" trayed, looked upon each otherf but' the Se „f the" one^alrnost cowered before the dauntless defiance o! Antoinette had risen to her feet, and her cloak of amber brocade hung open showing the beauty of he bare shoulders. For all her dishetelled hair and hag gard ace she was a stately figure in her silent scorn^ him a""^ T.'^' '■°°'" ^'"^'■" ^''"t 'he door behind h.m. An added greyness in the pallor of his priloner ""w MM '°n "'"' ''''' ''°''<' door meant to her trium'^;'^.fv^r;:e'C^i''r'"^^°'"°'-^ ;uc.joadnum;:r?oVgrtire^rofre\:t"' he third t.me ,s mine. This, our third merry meeTinl" rran S°'' disturbed by any of yol km-ghfs errant. And you are all arrayed in your best to rfo honour to the occasion ! " '^° His eyes rested with cruel delight on fl,„ u- ■ folds of silks that trailed on th/Sfe 'duTtytor "'"' So Major Warwick did not like vou L J Um,;- ">■ " """' "" '•" '■^ 'k« «« 144 THE NIGHT-HAWK I What .s the use of all this ? " she asked in a weaty fash.on. " Wouldn't it be better to tell me what your object was in bringing me here. I don't suppose you want to kill me for mere spite and revenge. It would not do you much good." Seeing that she was not to be aroused to aneer Martm answered lightly : " It might not do us any good, though that remains an open question. But if you should be foolish enough to force us to strong measures, it could do us no harm. You can make up your mind to one thing, and that is that you certainly have no chance of leaving here until you have done what we mean you to do." Antoinette noticed how he us.d a vague "we "in- stead of a straightforward " I." "And what may that be ? "' she asked quietly. The mere fact of her asking the question seemed to raise Martm s hopes, for he answered eagerly • "You have only to decipher for me two letters which are m my possession. I fancy you have known for some time that we intercepted them. Hand over to me that package of letters which the agent gave you- yes and I really think that I must have your diamond necklace this time to make up for all the trouble you have given me. After that, take a solemn oath of secrecy as to your little picnic, and you shall be back in the midst of your adorers two hours after dark this evening. " And where do faith and honour come in, in such a large only ? came in sweet, mocking tones, while the dark eyes studied him with meditative scorn. " You may, as others have done before you, find that TRAPPED '45 m7. "', " *°° "P""^'"' '"''"''" to keep in hand ^^ A w.ld flash of triumph l,t the bcautifu' haggard " My diamond necklace and the letters upon which Taninaf? Do^TorcUt t^ 't" T '" ^^ them?" ^° ^"'' ^^^ him for Such a passion of rage convulsed the man's face that me." ^° ""y '^'P'^er letter to " I shall not," was her ready retort " T Un^ cipher, and if I did I would ./ratShan bet'r"ay ^ ^o" com;:^!""' "''""^"' '^^^'" — '^ ^- -eering to De a i.e, the second remains to be proved I h,„„ T,Li]:uJZ ''''' r-" --''■•"/-Tctrecti n soS de =5d prCV"°"' T'""'"''' ^ f^^^^^v^ °f ^^- .d pn.on fare may bring a change of opinion. I4fi THE NIGHT-HAWK You will soon realise how small the chance of rescue IS. The time of Mr. Evans' return is quite uncertain It may not be for a fortnight. Major Warwick and your precious agent are just as likelj' to think that your mysterious absence is due to your having joined him " " how dare you ! " his victim flashed. A cold dew of anguish was thick on her forehead. She saw the horrible possibility, but she could not believe that Warwick would think that of her. No, she must not die. She must live to tell the tale of these days "Why shoulda-t they ?" Martin retorted insolently. " Now, if you won't give up those letters. I must search you for them, that's all." "You shall not touch me. Bring that woman you sent to me. I know she is here. I heard her voice " She spoke bravely, but with a sick dread at her heart. " 1 shall not ! How particular you are nowadays ! " " If you touch me I shall manage to kill either you or myself, it doesn't matter which," she panted. There was a compelling force of will in her words which made him yield, saying, with a savage laugh- V " Mi /'?^ ^'" "'"'^ ''"• ^' ''°""'' ^e^"y matter. You 11 find her quite as hard to take in as you would me. You mustn't grumble if your hands are left tied until we have made certain that the letters are not where you can get at them to destroy them." He left the room and she fell forward on the bed helpless after the long strain of defiance. CHAPTER XVI THE SIGHING OF THE CAPTIVE For an hour or more after Martin's departure Antoinette was left undisturbed. She knew that the delay was for the purpose of wearing out her patience The midsummer sun burned on '■e white windows creating a close, unaired heat which stifled her. Her hands being bound together made evciy move- ment constrained, and a moan of misery broke from her hps when a spider dropped from the roof upon h'-r shoulders, and she could not raise her hand to brush it away. At length she heard an approaching footstep. It was with the sensation with which she might have watched a noiseless brown snake curving towards her that she saw the bedroom door gently opened, and the woman who had called herself Mary Johnson glide in. bhe had somehow been quite sure of her presence in the house. Yet an irrepressible shudder crept over her as she caught sight of those long, bony fingers, and re- membered their touch. It seemed to her that the woman looked still more worn and haggard, and that behind the defiance of her stare there lurked the furtiveness of fear. Unfortunately for her own peace her quick wit told her that what frightened the woman was the prospect of Antomette's dark fate. «4r 148 THE NIGHT-HAWK -iH ' Did this creature already see the shadow of death over her? Forcing such thought aside she faced her. As the cold, grey eyes travelled over her she felt more keenly conscious than ever of the wretched trav- esty of her incongruous attire. The quiet, derisive smile with which she was studied maddened her before the woman had so much as spoken, but she tried hard for the self-control to cow her as she began : — " You have come to make sure that I have not the letters or the diamonds hidden about me ? Well, let us be quick about it, and get it over." " There is no such hurry. You're not likely to be leaving," the woman answered with leisurely insolence. " Here, I suppose that I must unfasten your hands to get your finery off. Now, remember," she went on as she did so, " that Martin is close at hand and will make short work of any of your revolver tricks. You are not going to get the chance of laming him again in a hurry." As the woman seemed to be trying to work herself up into an hysterical rage, Antoinette set her teeth and endured her touch in silence. In a vindictive, feline fashion her persecutor pulled and ripped and turned inside out the beautiful Paris gown. Even her corsets came in for the same handling, with the passing jeer, " White satin, indeed ! " All in vain v. as the search, for there was nothing there to be found. With a faint sense of relief Antoinette saw that her last friend, her little silver bottle, was still undiscovered. Presently as crouched together inside her cloak An- THE SIGHING OF THE CAPTIVE ,49 toinette watched her, she saw a spasm of distress dis. tort the worn face, and as she dropped the clothes in a heap upon the ground, the woman burst into a short sob of despair. "Oh, if I cannot find either the letters or the dia- monds what will Martin do to me? " she moaned un- der her breath. A sudden, fantastic interest seized Antoinette as she watched this poor little waif of humanity, and she asked in all but a whisper : " What is Martin to you ? " She repented her rash question as the woman turned unon her savagely. •I He was my husband before you ever knew him and when you wer. placing the heroii.o nursing him in Louisiana I was half-starving in Paris, where he had left me when he followed you. More fool I I ran away from my New York boarding-school with him when I was only sixteen, little idiot that I was, but he was hand ome and plausible then. When I saw him going off after you in Paris I used to say to myself, that your turn to repent ever having known him would come, and it has done so pretty thoroughly, I guess " Her voice was rasped by hatred and a momentary hope of some softening in her died away. Sick at heart at having her youthful rashness thus recalled to her Antoinette dropped her face into her hands to Shu out the hatefulness of that face, but she could not shut out the voice that went on :— " I don't wonder you want to forget it all, when you are going about in your fine Paris clothes with generals and admirals running after yo,, Qh I've ISO THE NfGHT-HAWK been watching you many a time when you never guessed it and I had to go to you the other day to humbly ask for work, and you were so polite and grand thanking me. And was I this, and was I that and all the time you were making signals to those girls to send me away. " But I daresay that you wouldn't mind being in my p ace to-day, and puttingonmy old, black alpaca instead of your fine theatre clothes, and free to walk out of that door. There is a lovely fresh wind blowing to-day and the a.r is sweet with the flowers on ti... old syrinea bushes. You don't get much of it in here." Here she paused for breath, and stung beyond en- durance by her taunts, Antoinette raised her head _ " I would sooner die than be in your place, the will- mg slave of low villainy! All I want is to be free of your presence," A shrill laugh greeted her words. " If that's all you want, you're easily satisfied. You may want worse to see me before I come back again ! Here, take the clothes that suit your work so well " Flmgmg the dress at her enemy's feet she left the room locking the door behind her. After this, the long hot midday dragged on into evenin- without any event to mark it save the changing light. No one appeared with any food, but there was some water in a jug, which tepid as it was, Antoinette drank eagerly taking care however to save a little. It had occurred to her that they might try the power of thirst Hour after hoir oassed, and she grew more fevered and wretched fr,.„. the heavy air of the room. At length in sheer desperation she muflSed her elbow in THE SIGHING OF THE CAPTIVE 15, the heavy folds of her cloak, and drove it against one Putting her face to this she could breathe theairanH nt;fh °' ''' "'■"'"' '^'^'y °' thesumrev"e nmg. She saw a stretch of neglected meadow-land blue grey m the twilight, sloping uphill to a dark bd o woodlands against the eastern sky. Never had the dewy, scented breath of the summer night brouehl greater physical relief to her when she was te to wSk abroad ,n the soft gloom-never before had he o reahsed the calm pitilessness of nature towards her suffenng, weary children. her^"ever' tT' "" "V'"'^ ^'' «*'«°g'h and cool ?.l T"^ ""^f something to watch the evening red "tXVtS-r "^ ^" '-'''' ''-^ The last chirp of a sleepy bird and the chorus of frogs from a swamp were sounds of infinite inter" to dwell upon And so, through the gathering darkness fo e Xchl " °" ''' "°°''' "^^ ^^" P-sed to he larger "^ "°" '"" *'^^" ^^^ -"'"-^ to make some'snatrh"' ^" ''''' "'""^ '^''"''' ^ '^'^^'■'■. ^"e got staT.H . f """"'^ ''"P- Of™ in the night fhe oS pTlr hrr'rt™ ^' ^''—d of fancied ootsteps, but the daylight came without her havinS4 THE NIGHT-HAWK Always the same woman brought it and always with the same question. She had hitherto invariably returned the same an- swer, but she knew that she was growing weaker and that if she meant to save her life she must soon seem to yield to their wishes. i| 1 /3 with me ari' :er and a seem CHAPTER XVII "IS SHE WRONGED? TO THE RESCUE OF HER HONOUR?" reserve which Mrs. LeMoine haul^ithertoCbcK: Shi' Jn'f ''".I "i" ^'"2"' ^"^« "'^^ '°vers feed upon She had for the first time made one or two allusions to her own girlhood which had seemed to J ve him a more mt.mate standing. Then too she had yield ™to h s pleadmg to be allowed to drive her to a p cnHea at the musketo. range, the soldiers' summer c'a m^ ' His httle mare seemed to feel his good humour contag.ous as he drove from the barracks' down to I an?r. '"'"."' *° ^'"" ■'"""^''^'"g queer in the serv- ant sjace and manner when he asked for Mrs. Le thl'sunlLra™.'' "°' '°"'' '""'' '^=' "'•^'''•" -- '55 156 THE NIGHT-HAWK Sharp,;' "ihTa:e;::\j:ti''' ;•-'''- ^po^c r.InlZ7-' ''"• ''"'-P-'^^P^ you'd like to see the " Fetch hi„, then, and be quiet- Mr!" iMorritttt^^rJr"!^ '" '-'-- ^'^^ --— theSt^— :-:-- done before. Her lut "! • ^ T' ^'^'g^'' as she has of her va,uab,e":re"Krs: -" ''y ^"T" • '°'"' pose ." ^*'^- You don't sup. No. Warwick hastened to assure !,,•„, u ^.. , suppose anything. In fact he h? ?r ' '"' *^"'" * to suppose anything save th.tr"^ ""''■>' ^^f"^^'' If there was a sickenlnrpLdeLetr.^' '"'i^'^"' should not find her there r ?•«"■• ' ^^^"^ ^''^t he more words, he turned t^ ' -- '^°''"- '^''''°"* took her ou to Traflar'at"'" '"u ""'"^^'^^ -^ astonished both ."f S groom"^ ''^^ ""^''^^^^"^ and":h:r,fi,?:;nr^^'-'^^"--'«"'^ '- ^'>ere. alarn, for her Tl e IsuaT ''^^ ^ T" '' '^'^ ""'^'"^ over the house andVo 'ds Xe""°°" ''"'^' ^""^ agitation there, at any rate """' "° "'^"^ °^ whl^'andT^ilfhe^^a^-f the flower-beds, all i„ -ed a -hionable^^:J„"VsrEliS- "IS SHE WRONGED?" ,57 Inwardly rejoicing at the romantic pose in which her V.S. tor had found her, Mabel smiled ifi.n a wdcle " Scarcely glancmg at her. Warwick flung down the rems and jumped out of his dog Father .s away, you know, and it is nearly a week s nee we have seen her. I think that we girls bore her I that I mustn t seem to notice her mysteries. Poor dear, how tired she must get of them ' " In spite of her gentle voice and smile, the lover's true mstmct elt the want of real sympath;. When w,ll your father be back ? " he asked abruptly. He had not yet taken in the girl's innuendo, which omissron she was keen to note shi'^ifK ""T'"": ^"'^"'^ P'^'"''^'^ embarrassment, wa7a"t -L'p^Horrrr^" '''''' '''' """"'"^ -'°- sadlv '"?. H-'V^'l ^ """°' *'" y""'" '^'^ -"'-mured, sadly. H.S daughters are generally the last to know of Ins movements." Then, with an air of herokallv s^hfirke"! rt^ ''-' '" ''^ ""- °f f"-"' p' .•; f '58 THE NIGHT-HAWK to find she is not ? " ^ '°°'' '° ''"appointed It cost him an effort to first n,.f J,!, f and it was almost a Jli f ? '^ '^*" '"'0 words, startled by thl ' '" '" "''" ^^bel was not you know^h^w he'l es' jJoT" ^ ^''°^*' " ""' a'one. My father wili p b lyl awire " r^'"'" ments when he returns " °^ ''*'' """ve- point to her wtdX„!^"''''^.^^""^ '«="'- sharper done. His spirit wa"^^ :"f'""a"'°" <^°"ld have -•ght have sei. d o" TomTde '" .' '"™°" "'^'' ^^ fair, white marble goddess of old I """u'^^'^ °' ^ fore it, saw the befuttf^fo/m f'l:';^ Th'^'":" ''^- of a spirit of evil '''^ similitude puHtytft"'"' '°"'' ""=" -^ '''-e no fairness and -- t!:^^d^!:r^^:::^v^°T^^^>'-"'^ -" quarters. The stm^,r, ^^ '"'""^e of his own dark hours of li^ "^ ""'^^^"^ fo^" sympathy in such That night, at mess, men respected his evidently "IS SHE WRONGED?" ,53 ^olitao. humour, until Adair, of whom he had made somewhat of a pet. came up to him. The young fellow-a bright face was brighter than usual, for he had been receiving congratulations on hi" announced engagement to Hattie Evans. Of this engagement Warwick had known for so- days, so he rather wonacred what the boy wanto I , he drew h,m aside. The request to go down wiM. 1„ ., now to the theatre seemed an ordinary one e„ ,„,,h and was s.mply refused, but Adair persisted. " ; I utie .s gomg to be there, and wants particularly to spea. ., you. s.r. She told me to ask you to come." he went on. apparently feeling sure that no one could refuse si'ch a mandate. Jm °''\";"^.''^^^^ Hattie Evans had so far made on Major Warwick's attention had been that of a bright, pretty girl, like dozens of others. Of late, there had been the difference that she was to marry hs avounte, Adair, and that she seemed fond of Mr h'e^d°er' d. ; '■ V ""' '^ ''"'' °f -^P"- that the Idea suddenly dawned upon him that help might come to h.m through her. When once this hope came to h m he tamed not upon the order of his going, but hustled Ada,r off to the theatre in as great a hurr^ as even the young lover's heart could desire With loyal self-abnegation Adair yielded him his seat beside Hattie. The girl looked as youthfully frivolous as ever in her pretty fineries ; but there were nervous lines about her mouth, and her eyes were anxious Under the shelter of the overture's music, she began impetuously : ^ i6o THE NIGHT-HAWK you have done abo Mrs ZelSr '"T's''' -"at you you feel as I do, that there .h ^JT' ^ ^"^ *"^^ "^a' Warwick fe° htLu- "''' '"= "° ''"^ 'o^'-" frank young evetTueV'" ' "f * P'^"> -'"> ">-« could not even'^h nt'to S°r"^, '"" ^° ^^^"'>'- "- Planted in hi. by ItltXto^dr '"'''""''' '- of 'heirstate'ffairssooTten mpresseT ' ""= """>' sister too seemed to think tha^r^.^^"" "'^- "^°"' for puuin, our fing^-nT s":S;s"" ''^ '''^"'^^^ to "Id the rorSo?::r'^' ''"' ^'^^■^■■^' -^ <^--^^ danger? " ^°" '^°" ' ^"--^ly know of any pe^SSe^JS^-:;-- -espy, two des. a4,"tai:rk tr^red'" '^^ '-'• -'- ^ «- shiiuei, ;:u\L's; "a t." '" ^ ^^-^^ - --' ^ —•-■-- Sa.gafa"nV:;rS-^^^ ■'wrt'rkrsr^^^>'-^-'^---hth.ten^^^ "IS SHE WRONGED?" ig, this veiy minute, nor where she has been since last night ! I am so sure that she is in the power of those wretches. Oh, Major Warwick, you will try to do some- thing for her, won't yoa? I know Harold will help " I will do all that man can do, so help me God > " he answered in low, strenuous tones, then, " But tell me, do you know anyone to whom I can go for some Clew f I am so altogether in the dark " Hattie winked away the tears that the excitement of her appeal had brought to her eyes, and was her shrewd practical self again. "I don't think you have ever met the Confederate agent ? He keeps himself rather dark." " No, but I have heard Arthur speak of him. But I haven t an idea where to find him." ^fr^^'K-^f "'',' ^"l^ '^^ ^"^"^ "'""'^ description of^the cabinet-maker's shop where he was to be inquired " Don't ask him any questions, but tell him just what has happened and why we are uneasy. If she has aone away on any business he is sure to know it ; if not help yT""""" '°'' "° '™"' ''"'^ ^°" "*"'' '"^'^^ ^'^ With her last words she paled and shuddered "Don't fear that I will lose time. I am going now -God bless you for a true-hearted girl. Adair is a lucky fellow, and with these words Warwick had left tiis place and gone out into the night. A deep shame at the superior staunchness of Hattie's oyalty, and a fierce dread of the consequences of this lost day would have spurred him on, if any spur were 162 THE NIGHT-HAWK inlheVr; 'Y'°['^' vision of his divinity helpless " Mv r 7. T' '"' "-"^'"Pulous enemfes. "^ --^.a..enS.;r^--— -- trust. But he was >n no humour to be checked by When with dogged determination he had told his Si theT/rds^ir"''^'""'^---"'^ ^-- ''■•^'■> " They've caught her, sure enough this time and .fherfnends want to see her againf they've g^tio fly' Then Warwick lost his temper in as thorough a fash ion as he generally kept it. ^ ThMndering out an oath, he began: "Hadn't the too, or are you gomg to sit there talking and leave a woman to be hounded to death ? I don't thint u of your Southern chivalry if yo J c/n't^^: "yoTa^l It^ ZT" '•'"" '^^' of a woman who is giving her beauty and her brains to do your dirty work for you ? Cant you do like Englishmen and send ZZo danger instead of women?" The shrivelled-up little man looked at this biff irate specmen of Ang.o-Saxon manhood with a nLfeit "IS SHE WRONGED?" i6i He had weighed many men in the balance in his day and found many wanting, but here he felt was the rine of the true metal. "Oh, we'll look after her all right. Don't be afraid. Talkmg won't do much, and we can't do much to-night. Still, I think that I can find out if Martin is round still. You had better go and see what you can do to dis- cover who drove that cab. But, mind you," shaking a long, claw-like finger with sudden animation, " the police have nothing to do with this job. It stays in my hands. Mrs. LeMoine would wish that." " Things have got too far for me to respect even Mrs LeMoine's wishes. I shall use any means that come to hand. If I see that I can trust in you, I may do as you wish, but I promise nothing." The agent smiled sardonically. He apparently de- rived much enjoyment from Warwick's bullying. l|3 iii *^? CHAPTER XVIII " RUN TO EARTH " By the next morning Warwick serine mination piercing the philoxon, , ,^ "" ^""^ '^^^^'■ decided to yield^ to him o"^ L "'"' °^ '^^ -^"t, fear of his otherwise witrhoTdin. " " ''"''''°"' '°^ Adair and he. together oilf/T' "^"-^-^clew. force that the spies were iS,.'' '"""^'^ '°^ -"V Then there was the litt e aS f '' """"^"'^• -cognise a spirit that tiS "L .ehe^l'^ ''''" '° place. ^ "^eiied on m a tight abirt'orn'oTncl^'oSvlTr''"? ''' '^"" - -ho passed as his' wi ^^ S,^^^^^^ Water Street hotel the day be£l hi r'^T.^^ '" ' ostensibly for the Boston boat '^"""^'^ '^f""" wai::LTtTeyTarL^:7tfhe:--^ -moregHmlyashe realised th:!" here^taTr fS: Coachmen and cab^rivers are ft, garious-minded and goss^Iwn. ,?*■'' °:^^' ^- questions from Warwick's J. ^^ ""''^'^ few the livery stables, to id tie fl^I ""' t" ^ '"'""' "^ -b was .. one of Smith' but t h f t ""^'"'""^ -"ffled up. and keeping 'to hL;?..^ ^'""ge driver. " RUN TO EARTH 165 Acting on this information Warwick set off for Smith's stables where the mere mention of this cab brought a cloud to the proprietor's brow. "1 was sure I'd hear something queer had happened. 1 let a boy that I thought I could trust take that cab out, sir, to drive a lady, and I'm blessed if he didn't get talking with some stranger. The man gave him a dnnk and persuaded him that he had some bet about dr.vmg the cab home for a lark, and would tip him well to let him do it. " The boy waited for him an hour, and then when the cab d.dn t turn up, he got in a funk and came back and owned up. It was two o'clock when the turn-out got back to our gates, and before I had got out the driver was gone. The poor beasts were all in a lather, and the carriage covered with red mud-mud such as you don't get very near the town, sir. I hope "-and the honest man looked from one grave face to the other—" I hope gentlemen, that no real harm has come out of it." ' "I trust not," Wanvick mustered heart to say Meanwhile until we find out what has happened, you had better keep quiet about the whole affair." While the man was talking the agent's notebook had been busy, and as he snapped its clasp he summed up ' Prom midnight to two o'clock-a drive of an hour and back. Too late for the ferry, so that it must liave been on this side of the harbour. It should not take three men long to beat the countrj' for a lonely house at that distance from town. I thought when they dis- appeared before that they had probably secured some quiet country retreat. We have to deal with deep ones, remember." '^' THE NIGHT-HAWK They two an' thf //„" the„ "" ''' ^°='"^' ^--• any resuTt "warw'ckTas'l!! '"'? "Continued without At Jast the ]:,H.r I , "*'^°"s irritability. ■•n.tho.,;j:Xto7ittr/^"'^^"°-'''^''-''- ■^ay have been drive^o ol 1 ^"^Tgestion that she and put on board of an L '°"^ ^ 'P°' °" "'^'^°='^' case she is now proballv r'"" ""^^'-" I" which prison." P"-ofabIy an mmate of a nortliern "Good Heavens sir' r,„ i. -^Jacivi,isedeoun^r\^--^->;Je th^ ta^c^ rpLs^^^rj '''''''' --'^^--" was that there may be worle fates T """' ''""='"''^^' ->• Too well Warwicrr~K ^"^"°''''''"P"'°"-" haunting fear that 11™!^ "t"' ^"'^ ■'' ^^s this °f himself, and brin^Tn "t f ^^ " S^""' ^^^dow temples. ^ ^ "'^ ^''^t grey hairs to his ^ant ::rwSt"L^dr:oT^"r.^- ^''"' ^'^^i-^^ he turned his horse^s steps d' '" '^-P^ndency as track that led through SkbT", ' ^""''^^ "'°°'''^"'l the main road, that, lin^ttt "°°'^' ^"'^^^ f^°« Warwick knew that itfed' „''?'"' "" '■"'^"'^• strange remnant of an EnH;;i, -^ "^^^ =^ttlement, ohna coast during the 7 fj w/' P " ''^ ^"""^ ^ar: learned that there lay oneorTw' ^^°"' '^'='^= '^d y one or two scattered farms. He " RUN TO EARTH " ,g had no definite bourne, however bur ' ^ pursuing a course doe^edlv Z I J ^^' """""^y oi tracing out ever, rS T/t "?' '''"'' ^'"'^'^ *°' fuliy conned counTy Tap Afhe""''';" '''' "^^■ thought had turned to hifm a 1°^^^'' ^'^"6 his intensely for his rean„„ '" ^''^"'- "^ ^'^hed hawk. Nor onlvthr r^-"'' "°^ '" 'h. N.ght- the trust of one strone man""'" K^"" °' '''-'">'"' for his presence now^ '" '"°*''^'' '"^^^ ^im wish that he haf at S ^ k. '."^ °' "'^ conviction in search of ' ''"""^'^'^ °" 'he place they were frot wWciTth'e^^rSrr' '° T^^ '^^ ■^--"^'''^ a group of tun^b X; uS;f °r ^ '" °"^ — Their unpainted wonH ^ ', °"^^^ "^"'^ harn. g-y. and eveil thrdttZcrthe dr 'f ^' '° ^ ^°'* and fences and the weed Ir^ '^''^P"'^t'°n of gates desertion. ButYorrflf ?' r'""" ^"'^^" '°'d °f chimney and [he r Jj "'prpe;^ ^'^ '"" "^^ °"^ windows, the nlace ^^JiF "'^' ^' *he lower habited. "^ " "°"''' ''^^^ ^^^■"^d utterly unin- hall Te 10X1°°'*'''";^^^^'^' ^^■"'^°- should in the'iid t of 'thoi ;:: r'^r''^'^' ^"^->'"- h:^t-:~-— -^-^ i68 THE NIGHT-HAWK the chances. ' ^"'' Pondering Should he storm the fortress single-h;, led orshouM there, he retraced Wslp ''""f^V'^^k-g inquiries forms fled wildlv ^cLTL col^Z^Zfl'"''^. cents, but at length a woman peered ouard^f " answer to his call p>^crca out and came m anxiously round ' ^"'^ '''^ P^'^-'^J i>«ho°:*L™°j?'. """"'■ "— ...o«.„. —^rxrri- 2t, 7.'- '" •" «*» in . tit;: ;*;*.?/;; j'« •"•''•-*•■ .>.".« "RUN TO EARTH' 169 ened dat .t s a robbers' den, sir. Tell you what, massa. we re dat powerful scared, dat ifs hard to cet the chUdren to get de sticks and de water." and her face fully corroborated her words. With a new idea she looked up at him. "You ToSly.^'''^" *° ''^ de police, sir P" she asked Warwick gave a short chu ; le. He could scarcely style himself an amateur to this sable lady " '^^'!' "°' ^'^^^t'y that, though I hope I may help you to get rid of your robbers all the same. Do you think you could tell me how many days it is since your hus- band saw the carriage ? " He tried not to show the eagerness with which he put the question and to veil his disappointment as she answered m a bewildered fashion ■— "Might be a week, perhaps-no. dere wasn't any Sunday smce Pete went a.fishin'-guess about free or four days Massa. But you won't say anyding 'bout my tellin you of de robbers, sir ? " Wa^^ick soothed her with promises and some loose change, and then rode smartly away Those few words about the carriage had roused the dull, northern fury in him, that f.ry of the old Serser- ^ers, and nothing would have stayed his hand. Swiftly he made h.s way back to town, and finding out the agent, he told what he had seen and heard " There is no doubt left in the matter. She either is there, or has been there. I shall force a way in as soon as It begms to get darK to-night. I only wait for that so as to take them more by surprise and decrease her risks when they find themselves caugUt " I70 THE NIGHT-HAWK " InLe?, -rJH'J'" "■" """^ ^'^P°"'^«d promptly, se f W; ri "°' &°t°-night, I should do so my sell. We southern gentlemen are not cow^iMc voice .Vr °f ^^""■"e human feeling in his voice .- You must take into account Mr, T »m • own pluck and shrewdness in th s affa r Shi: m '-' tHe.ent."'cLr^^'""^-rt^^^^^^^^^ i CHAPTER XIX THE HAUNTED HOUSE " O'er all there hung the shadow of a feai; A sense of mystery ths spirit daunted, And said as plain is whisper in the ear, The place is haunted." Warwick gave Adair careful directions for joinine him that evening in the turn just past the darl ng up his hand to wipe his face ^ ^ Even as he did so, Warwick, with one long stride £7 fell ^-'^ '°T ''^ ''''''y ^''^-^ "p- th^e-"" head, felling him to the ground as a butcher would an hour7.T '"T"'"' '^' ^'"""''^'•'^d wrath of many long hours all went mto that blow, and he needed no scconf foo^d'and"' T": ^"'°'"^«^ h^d been alone without food, and what was worse without water. The day thfV.' ^^'^^"-h-d what had been in the roo,/ portions '' " °"' '"'° '^^ ^"^"-' P°-«^l'^ Neither Martin nor the woman had been near her since the eve>,:ng of two days before. As hour after hour passed sb. felt sure that the end was ncar-that THE HAUNTED HOUSE 175 they were not going to give her another chance of yielding. She was so stupefied by weakness that there was no bitterness over the life so nearly slipped from her g.asp. A 1 she hoped was that she might die without seeing their hateful faces again. As it grew dusk Martins limping step on the stair roused her. In her weakness she momentarily knew for the first time the coward's thrill of deadly fear, but her hand grasped the little silver bottle. It would soon put her beyond his reach. When, however, he stood before her, a cold, concen- trated rage supplied a brief vitality. The sight of him aroused a strangely impersonal anger that such as he should have power to put an end to the surging life within her. '' '* fJT'^^ri^""f '^'f ""^ ^^ scrutinised her drawn, white face, and shrunken figu.". "'awn, vvnice "Well, have you had abo.- enough of this?" he asked. She had on his appearance pulled herself upright on he edge of the bed, and sat pressing each hafd down to It for support, and staring blankly at him "Yes, but it will soon be over now." Her voice was weak and low, but she was pleased to hear that it sounded composed. " ^°Vu^ [' ''" °^"'" *•' ""'^"^ =''°rt'y. evidently perplexed by her bearing. ' "There are several people who will connect you with my disappearance, and when once the search was begun, it could not take men like the Confederate agent long to run you down." i;6 THE NIGHT-HAWK Even at th,s pass, her powers of observation were -shot had struck home. With the knowledge a faint spark of hope rekindled in her breast. Perhaps Mar- Z 117 1 ■■"'"' ^'^ ■^"'■'^ '■"■"'"-' than she had even dreamt. " I'm not such a fool as not to be able to cover up my tracks as I go," he retorted. •• If you let the hope o rescue make you obstinate, you may be past rescue V'.ien ,t comes. You had better believe what I say when I tell you that I don't intend to waste any more fme ,n this forsaken rat-hole. You have the choice still to-day of leaving it, or of staying here for- ever. But to-morrow there will be no more choice He was evidently working himself up into brutality, and the physical shrinking from violence was once more threatening her heart s high stronghold Dnvngit back by a tighter clasp on her silver bot- tie she asked m the same dull voice:-" Do you mean to starve me ? " ^ ^^" He seemed glad to have aroused that much appre- hension m her. ^^ " That depends upon yourself. As you know it is the simplest process and leaves no tell-tale marks It IS a veiy easy matter for us to tie you up here, and so away and leave you alone. At any rate, you must de- cide at once, for I am not going to wait on your shilly. shallying any longer. Will you read me the cipher and tell me what you know of it ? Be careful, before you refuse again." Antoinette saw that if she were to have one more THE HAUNTED HOUSE ,77 chance of life she ir.nst seem to yield, and gain time- t.me at any price. She could not for many more hours keep her brain clear under this torment of thirst Her dry lips could scarcely form the words as she said with apparent sullcnncss : " Show it to me, then " The evident relief in his face and voice told her that time was also of no small moment to him, and this strengthened her hopes of speedy help. " I thought you would soon be singing a different tune," he taunted her, as he laid a paper upon the table. Keeping a careful hand upon it, he signed to her tr take the chair which he had pulled up. " This is not the same as the ciphers that have been used with me," she said, slowly conning it, although the first quick glance had made its meaning clear to her. It was what she had expected it to be, the missing letter from Benjamin to the agent. It announced that the steamer that was to be seized by Southerners was on the point of departure from New York, and warn- ing him to have the schooner with the ammunition ready at the trysting-place off the New Brunswick coast. As she sat, passing her fingers along the lines in a puzzled fashion, Antoinette was trying to force her dulled brains into deciding whether the news were old enough for her to safely read it to him. She did not mean to give up her life for a valueless thing. There would be great risk in altering the dates and places, for he might have enough information to detect her deceit. That Evans had left town a week ago on this very business, she knew, but all dates were confused to her 12 i;8 THE NIGHT-HAWK now, and she had had no tidings of the daring deed having been carried out. ^ There may, at the last, have turned up a dozen causes for de ay, and if she were to read Martin he ete, correctly he might still have time to ruin he enterprise and put in jeopardy many lives. No, there lay no safety for her with honour, and the momintarv hope died a sudden death -"omentary th;;Sngr"'''°"^°"''°"'" ^^^"■■" ^^'^^'^ " I am too weak and dizzy. I can hardly sec the up':n%he tabir"'^^^'' '^'""^- '^>""^ '" '^^ ''o- tienc^° ^°" "^'"^ ^°°^^" ^^ ^'^^'^ '""'' ^^^'"^ ™Pa- ;; Drink. I am suffering tortures of thirst." The reward of obstinacy," but he left the room return. uh a plate of bread and meat, and a cupT/ milk. Pulling a flask from his pocket he poured a I.beral quantity of whiskey into the milk. He was ev^^ently af.aid that she might give him the sliproo She turned with sick loathing from the food but drank eagerly, and the strong spirits brought back a momentao' strength. " Try the letter now/' L sa d peremptorily, and she obeyed in silence also 'bLtV'°''''/°' '^°'"^''' ^"d 'ammunition,' also blockade and 'steamer' repeated frequenti; But I cannot put the sentences together all at on e' om memoo^. without my key. I would have to work Wi? "'f P'""' ''">^ paper, and it will take time Wi'l you leave it with me ? " '79 THE HAUNTED HOUSE " To destroy it ? " "What good would that do me, I know very well that .f your need of me is gone, my last hope is gone rT\ -f */? ?" ''*''"" "^y ='™^ =° »''»' I <^^nnot reach it I should probably decipher it by looking at it often. The other way is the quickest. ::ut it is as you please." " It certainly is, in this case." A faint stir of movement outdoors caused Antoi- nette to hold her breath, though she saw that Martin had noticed nothing unusual. Yes, a window below was softly tried, then another Martin heard and as he turned, startled, there came a great crash against the front door, which fell away wward from its rotten hinges. Antoinette was on her feet before Martin could get to tlie door, crying out with all her remaining strength : "Help, help ! I am here! Come, oh come quickly ' " " Vou fiend ! " Martin's hand on her mouth choked her cries, but as he heard a swift rush of feet on the stairs, he flung her heavily from him so that she fell in a corner of the room, and sprang to the door, just as It was flung open from outside and Warwick rushed in. rVt CHAPTER XX "THE DEED DON ,," When the man -with the lantern lay motionless at Wanvcks feet, neither he nor the age t tarried to make out if the blow had dealt death or not Both men had heard enough to drive them on over every obstacle without the waste of a word "Bring the lantern," Warwick said briefly leading the way up to the house. As usual in such places, the sill of the lower windows was hardly higher than his knee. He tried one and immediately found that it was securely fastened down. .n'i V'"' u ^ "^''' '" ""' ^"'^'•" '^' ''sent whispered, andthey both stepped back to see a faint glimme through the whitewashed window panes "We must hurry ! we must hurry ! " Warwick mut- tered uneasily. .n?^ """"t^ V^^ ^°°^ ""'^ ^"^^ P^-'"g - hand up and down the hinges murmured : "The wood is rotten. The lock and hinges can have no real hold on it. One good push wilf::nd^t m. btand ready with your revolver ' " With a mighty heave of his shoulders he had flung himself against it. The door crashed in, and he wenf flymg after it; but no foe was waiting in the passage "THE DEED DONE" ,g, or on the stairs. The agen. mc close after him holding the lantern high above ' .; head. Good God! whose voice was that breaking the awe some sdence of the house with its wild cry for help ' She was not past help then ! They had come in time! Hurhng himself up the -airs with an answering hout I am here! I am here!" Warwick made toward the ghmmer of light that came from the cracks of an ill-fitting door. As he reached it. it was flung open, and Martin, making a dash past him for the stairs, fell into the arm of the agent. The latter wound him in an octopus-like grasp, and the two rolled aown the stairs together, in the company of the lantern. Warwick did not even glance round at the melde Never mind /«■«," he called back. " Come on. We must find her, • and he peered anxiously into the dimly I.t garret room. A faint moan from one corner made his heart stand still, and then came the ghost of a whisper, " I am here." Faint as it was, he heard it and was across the room to where, half-huddled against the wall, half-lying on the floor was the dear figun n the poor pitifully gay dress in which he had last seen her so dainty and gra- Clous. ' *> She lay as Martin had thrown her, too weak to speak or move, the white arms and neck gleaming ba. without any wrap, her face upturned so that the light showed the peaked, sharpened features, with no more colour than time-softened ivory. Even as Warwick bent over her the appealing eyes Clouded and then closed, as though the effort -.o keep i8a THE NIGHT-HAWK them open were too ercit n„ ■•ng at heart, that she h d comn . T'', '""' ' «'""' ''"''■ Was she really pas.'L T"^ , '' '"'' ^°"»^'°"^n«,. untrodden realm ^ "" '"' ^^^^P ""° '''^•'•th-s -'Sr::st:'s"t^?;r;T-;--^ bottle of Hattie Evans "ooked '"'"'"' "'^" ^'"='""e- brown hands, but noTo^r? '0^^:.;; hr^^^H"'^ tenderer than was th,.,v= '■""'•" could have been Heavy .asses of Jto rl L^^r^r 'f ''' the droo, „: .•; ::,;^f 'i' '''^. *--- tha't 'stirred wick and'ba^.'ThirjL^'^ret '""' '° ^^^^^^^ ^^- bes'^rhS^adnrttl ""' ''" ^S'^"* ^^^ ^'-'""^ been speaTinJ "^ " '°°''' "^°'^" ■'" ^--^' and haf dar J' TheTaT v^u'V^t^ "^ ^"^ ^°' "'^ ■" ^"e inthestabLri"too"°toud-r'v' "''= -°-" I wish that I had L; ^°"'^'^"'H,t hard enough. But, at any rate the ^L' ^°°' "°" ^' one of them. .>oomiiy,L:i'tTrs:r: rw"'°r'"'^^^^^^" of his presence " Th! f ^^"^'ck was aware Le: 'oine alay from here""te^""'. '''' '' '° ^^' ^- glance down at h°r '''"' °" ^^'"^ ^ ^'""bled moled y:t.'°wrL'st^:^;^ '\r\''" ^ '^ ^^^^^ '° ^^ wick growled anjly"' ""'" ^'"^ —-ng." War- But the hand that had lain so still i„ his fluttered in THE DEED DONE '83 stav hi ^tV' ''"■"^ '""^ **"■' ''°"-'^- I ■•*h='" J''= if I . W „ r ,""■■ °"' ""''" "^^ t^^'-^. '"to God's air '• sip oHhi' b " ■^*'^^"r" "'■^'■- 0"'y '•••'«-■ another s.p o this brandy now." Warwick soothed her as though she had been a frightened child. Suddenly the little agent leant over her with a curious new gentleness in his face. " Try to tell me," he said softly. •• Have you been aJn^^-r'"'' ^°"' "''S^' '°^'''=d with lead?" the agent said reproachfully; but Warwick's eyes and thoughts were again fixed upon her face. "^ asler h.'.f f"^"^/'''"' ^'""'•■' ^^"to-'nette looked up ™ r 'ayp'llowed on Warwick's arm into t Te agent s face, and said clearly • wickTiipt aJT r";""°^' ^ ^"^ ''^'^^ f™- VVar. ea'ilv T he . . •"' '° P"'°" *''^ '^'^^ ''-^ more P-Hcal^dtLr" '"^"^''"^'^ ''^"- ^''-^''^'' '" haii 's'^ " Wetu:r" t'h ""°""in ^^'^^ ''^^"■"^ ''^ move her I vvfll V ,'^^'"7"'" before we attempt to bring the rugs AnTltr T "^'"'^ -^"^ ^^^ '■■- *° b "t iuj,s. And he has fond in ^h■.^ i.,.,-i, l- , . 1 84 THE NIGHT-KAWK W fortunately. Good child, that Evans girl to send it! There must be a place in the kitchen to'ligk a fire and they must have fuel of sorts. I think that IT' m rest easier on that bed if you lifted her thet '• """'^ '•^t'tuTuV'VT''''""'' Antoinette shuddered. Not that bed. I thought to lie there dead Oh please take me downstairs ! " ' Then Warwick, with infinite care and reverence Ilft.^ th^e poor light body in his .rms and cr;:^^"'^!- tn Z T A '"■^"^' ''^^^' " ^"y °"^°°^^' had been there -x^:^zsr^/^^Sd-Ser-^---- both to? u "^ '°' '"y emergency. They might close ll'll I'' ^^-'^^: •'"' i' -- Warwick who kfp close beMde her, wrapping her in rugs, arranging cush- ons persuadmg herto drink the soup in littlesipt while she leaned against him. '^ .ua"^ V '^'"' "'°"'' ^'""^"^^ '" the haggard face t'JXlTr' '''' '''-' ''-' ''^ ^ '°— ' •' I?rj.'; • "'v ^:i '^r*' '"'^'°"^'>' °" ^arwick-s arm. It ,. r.^/, isn t It ? I am safe with you ? All dav I voTe:" b:: TV-'-' T ^"^ ^ ' ^-^'^^^ --y voices. But now it is real, isn't it ' " wLwilf"'' '"Vr ""■" '"^" ^'"^ ">^' 'hank God," Warwick answered from a full heart, and the other men w^hisre.'"^^^"*''^'^^^^"''^^'— - THE DEED DONE 185 In the meantime Hattie Evans at Trafalgar, in a fever of anxiety was awaiting news of their%xpedit on When Adair had left her that afternoon, she had rushed upstairs to Mabel's room, where that young woman was puttmg the last touches to hat and veH before the glass " Oh. Mab, you're not going out ? " Why not?" Mabel answered with a critical glance at her sister's flushed excited face. " What a stafe vou do get into! What is the fuss about now?'' "^ Hattie hurriedly poured forth the tale that Adair had brought her, but its only effect was to bring the danger signal of a bright red spot to Mabel's cheeks. Pulling rather impatiently at the folds of her veil she answered in her chilliest fashion- R '1 If "■% ^'^f'"^ ^Sain! I might have guessed it ' Really, I wonder you haven't more common sense. I Z ir T / '^°"''^ ■'^'^'^ "" '■"P°rt^"' engagement, and stay at home, just because Major Warwick take that i L ' ?"'"''• """^ '''"' '° ^-^' f-g°"en that I am to read my paper on the Good Samaritan before the Sunday-school teachers' meeting, and had arranged to stay all night at Mrs. Simpson's^ I cannot possibly disappoint them all." Hattie stared at her incredulously illtreatld''hv.t°"'* ""^^^^"^ ' ^^e may have been Ill-treated by these people, and be ill, or hurt ! Why U^ey^are afraid that those wretches may have tried to forme5t"'"''''Vi.°""'^ from the glass, her face trans- Well. If they /.ave, what difference can we make 1 86 THE NIGHT-HAWK and what have we to do with the secret quarrels of those k.nd of people ? I don't believe that she i hu up .n a„yonely farmhouse. She is much too cleve for that. am sure that she is gallivanting round the country w.th our dear papa, and laughing in her sleeve at them. If ^.„ are fool enough to be^taken ■" by an adventuress like that, /•„. not. You'll be sor ^ when ,t .s too late, and that will be when she has taken possession as our step-mamma, that is, if she can't get Major Warwick If she could, our dear papa wouldn' have a chance! If I have to go on liWng among people hke that, I'll maro^ the first decent man thaf asks me, just to get away from the place." .^•^Major^Warwick doesn't seem likely to ask you mIpI ^"^V^']''} ^''^ "°* ^'^t -^ oil upon the waters. Mabel gasped w.,h rage, but Hattie had the floor, and th'Lt "'''..^'"'' °^ ' ^^"'''^" y°"' -^^^^ chaplain will thmk you he next time you go to confession ! Oh you needn t jump. I know well enough that you go and nice rigmaroles you must tell him ! Perhaps hh version of the Good Samaritan maybe a litt-e dffferen from yours. I hope so, for his sake " but here Hatties eloquence was interrupted by a most un tTe" oVr rf* """^" flying to the' other sSeo the door, which was promptly locked in her face After g anng vengefully at the wooden panels for a moment, Hattie went oil for consolation,-wh re she hadfrcn childhood been wont to seek it,_to the 1 Scotch cook, who had served her mothe; before T "THE DEED DONE" 187 Here she was condoled with and comforted as though she had really been the child that she still seemed to old Janet to be. " Never you mind her church capers. Let her go ' We'll do fine just by our two selves," asserted the old woman, with whom Mabel was no favourite. _ And " fine " they did, making all possible prepara- tions, and then sitting one on each side of the kitchen fire, after the maids had been despatched to bed. Hattie could not have stood those hours of suspense in the solitude of the drawing-room. Many a false alarm startled them, but at last the sound of slow wheels in the avenue sent them hurryinsr to the door. *" " She's there ! " Hattie cried sharply. The carriage was at the steps, and as Hattie saw Warwick and Adair lift a helpless form from the car- riage, she clasped the old woman's hand like a little child again. "Oh, Harold, is she alive?" she whispered in an awed voice. How cheery sounded the answer. " Indeed she is ! All that she needs is yours and old Janet's good nursing. We will leave her in you- hands." All the same, Warwick did not leave her until he had carried her upstairs and laid her upon the sofa in her bedroom. Even then, he lingered for one last, anxious gaze. The flickering shadow of a smile and the touch of chill fingers rewarded him before he turned away. Then the twr women tenderly ministered to the poor exhausted wanderer, down whose cheeks the slow tears rolled as they bent over her. CHAPTER XXI A BREATHING SPACE For some days Antoinette lay very still anri wl,;f» sm,I.ng her thanks at Hattie an/thelrs" XZi' ood that they pressed on her. answering 'thei Let tions, but volunteering nothing. ^ "She must have time to recover from the shock- absolute qu.et >s necessary," said the Southern doctor' whom the agent had brought. ' Then all at once, a new restlessness showed in her and she began to ask questions. Had Evans returned and had he any news for her, and when could she s- h.m, and were there tidings of the Night-hawk And then the doctor, seeing that she was growing nerfous and fever.sh, allowed .n interview with Evans on v urging qu.et on the latter, whose first wrath ^tth^ news of the abduction was still sp.utterLgTerce J. ''' Hatt,e loyally drove her sister's insinuations out of her mmd, and made a cheerful little event out of hU fi.st y,s,t, taking pains to arrange the invalid's white dressmg-gownas prettily as possible, and to enthrone her with a background of shell-pink silk cushions Evans was unusually quiet when he entered the room and saw Antoinette propped upon the si t the window that looked out through the pine branches down the blue waters of the bay towards the sea Her c estnut hair was dressed more carelessly than A BREATHING SPACE ,89 usual, and instead of being twisted into shining plaits and curls, it hung loosely in the net of the day on her shoulders. Though still much paler and thinner than when he had last seen her, her beauty was merely given the crowning appeal of wistfulness, and in her weakness was the supremacy of her rule. To Evans's surprise, he found himself stumblingly at a loss for words in which to give utterance to his pity for what she had undergone, and wrath with its cause. " And so none of them had the sense to look after you when I was away ! A-, if I hadn't been away that double-dyed villain, that "-here he choked back a string of too emphatic epithets-" would never have dared to molest you. When you are well, I shall scold you for running away from Trafalgar. But you are safely here again, now." "Yes and very humbled and ashamed of myself " she smiled back ; " so that you must forgive m7 But please let us leave all that horrid time alone. There IS so much that I want to know. Hattie and the doc or were perfect dragons and wouldn't tell me a thing for fear of exciting me. Do tell me all about your journey and if^the steamer attempt was successful I thing had been heard of the Night-hawk yet. Surely she ought to be due about now. And the war-— '' .in to t fj 'f ''■ °"' '^'"^ ""' * '"'^^' °^ I =hall be. gmto talk about over-excitement, as well as the doc to._^ answered Evans, who was more his usual self And then he went on to tell her of the mlsadven- igo THE NIGHT-HAWK .11 gers on board. They had sur" !, i °''''"^'^ P^'^^^"" selves masters of the vessel 7 '" '"^'^'"g "-m- and gettinfT the ere w . ' ™P"^°"'"& the officers in he'adin/fir the Nef B " ^-'^ '"""^ *'^^''- -'^hes were to have be „ JTned bTTh ""' "^" '"^^^ schooner, then Turk/n ^ ammunition-laden Once fitt'ed out by^t ^th'; word^h'^'l"^ "^^^ ''>'• start out as a ConLeratetrure: '"^ ''^^" ^"'^ *° But they had failed to reckon ^„ New England spirits am ng tL crel" Th *"°k';'' their time to influence the more nS' ^'^^'^ element, and watching heir .h P''"'''« ^^'"opolitan the steamer, released the oL' \°' P°""^'°" °f the frontier and deserted her f"" ashore near schooner, hoverinrnelr ,,^7"; ^^"\°" ^°"'^ '^^ " And so the amm'uSn a d Hamet T'^'-"^'''- ended with a rueful smile Ant.^^. ^^^'"' ^^^ the eager Plans which hfd en^SriC ^ ^^^'^ " ofmf btr^'mlfh' ''r "->'^°^ -'h-Sout had caused tL fa lu"f It «"' ''''^™'*^'^^ '^atl the first one about tw/ ""' Benjamin's lost letter, Jelt that strange inability to speak. A BREATHING SPACE ,9, " Better lose fifty steamers and their crews than tliat any harm should come to you." he burst out hotly She raised her head with its eld accustomed pride as she answered : ^ " That is not the way that we Southern women work for our country." Then Evans went on to tell her of the search which Wany,cW and the other two men had made about the deserted farm, and with what useless results. 1 hey have probably reached Boston by this time " he went_ on, " and perhaps, so long as they are really gone. It IS just as well that they weren't caught "But Major Warwick .'s hot for vengeance and for gettmg detectives on their tracks. I have kept him quiet up to now by saying that he must not move in the matter without your leave. Perhaps you had bet- ter see him as soon as you feel able, and make him understand that you do not wish any more fuss made^ at least, I should think it would be better not" It was a very unusual thing for any change to show ■n Antoinette's clear creamy skin, but she flushed noj vividly, painfully, under the man's significant glance. ' Oh, yes, far better! I will tell him so," she agreed hastily, and then as if changing the subject, "But hawk et""* ^°^^ ""' " '^"'^ '' ^"^ "^""^ °^ ^^^ ^'g""- There was no questioning glance from Evans now He was bitterly jealous of Major Warwick, jealous with he unreasoning antipathy of a man who felt hunself ower-born, older and less attractive, jealous above all that it should have come into his hands to save her from such parlous straits. 192 THE NIGHT-HAWK 'f'l. On the other hand, Arthur's evident devotion to fact thri'^h H™'^ "'^"'^'"'^ '" ""'' -'"'1 - a M T I '^ "^^" connected him mentally with Mrs. LcMome. "No, but he must be due any day now. trust he has had better luck since he caltd 'n here, he answered, never guessing how feverisWv hor pulses throbbed at his words. '^venshly She lay for hours gazing at that blue line of sea that down there to the south met the sky Soon she and Arthur would pass away beyond it awav fromth,s summer-tide dallying in a stLge landS the suffermg fatherland that called her children ! watch the slow draining of her life-bLd E^ans had g.ven her evil news of more lost battles, and armfes slowly but surely pressed back by sheer f;rce of n"m! Yes, there was her place, ,ith the defeated, the starv .ng, the bounded and dying. There, she, th^ divo rcT rj f:\' 'r^' "'"* ">'= ^""'^ ^°"-" who, as she Here what could she be to anyone, even to those two men who she knew cared for her. Perhaps i wis only her physical weakness that made her realise how sheshrankrom Evans's eager eyes. Perhaps it waT he same thmg that made her breath come quicke at the t'^ought of meeting Warwick and of trying to think him for all that he had done for her Through the feverish visions that had shrouded her memory of the rescue she could hear so plainly the ten der urgence of his voice, could recall the genL touch of h.s hands. Could? She had been tryfng to forget them, as she tried now to put them aTide from he A BREATHING SPACE 193 mind and think of nothing but her return to the South and of what she could do there. What did anything else really matter? she said to herself. And then .she was feverish, and the doctor put it Cown to Evans's visit, so that it was a day or two more before she saw Major Warwick. She had been promoted to an armchair on the veran- dah, where she sat among her cushions bareheaded under the soft shade of a whit- lace para^^ol. A vague feminine hint of " nervousness " had made Hattie remain with Adair within sight, and to a raised voice, within hearing, so that she felt to some extent under protection from any emotional outbreak. Two men, however, playing into each other's hands can do much, and they were practically alone when Warwick stood beside her looking down at the thin, white hand that lay in his big palm and from that into the lovely fragile face. The wistful pity in the grave face that she looked up into brought a sudden veil of unaccountable tears into her eyes. Perhaps these tears proved her best weapon of de- fence, for revealing her weakness to War^vick, they caused him to draw on his armour of self-control'. Though the passion in his heart was surging high he would not breathe a hint that would disturb her until she was strong again. And so it was very nearly in his ordinary voice that he said : "Ah, I shall scold Miss Hattie for not having made you less ethereal yet. I believe that I could pick you up and carry you as easily as I did the last time I saw you " Again the rare blush, and Antoinette laughed '94 THE NIGHT-HAWK " I'm sure you couldn't, but please don't try I thini, not to do or .a/anyt,:::;..;,"; z'::::^z'' -' Qu'tc- nght. I shall humour you as mu^; , want Only, as you arc stron, brmerclfr'" " ^°" As he answered ghtlv he oulli-rl „„ i pu led restiesslyat the fringe of her sht: ass" JT tne sea and the sun, I have said to myself thaf T T .t to you that I can still look on them B,t J, I m.ght be lying there in that room dead.""' '" '°'' ;a.kin.about that, 'to-da"; [^^^'Z^U^^IZ do^ Promise me to try to forget it." "piird^o^T^isrLuLrfoTr^"'--^ -;ea.y°-'-og:irs;t^';:r-j: =^"::^?r::t;-S"'S:---No. ::-:^"^:;r^^'xh::'-^^-r----" she could not h pa shudder "'■?' T" ""^^"^ "- w..emaU,dro^nto:2^-^:--- She could see that this demand went sorely against A BREATHING SPACE ,55 the grain with him, b..t she knew that she had only to ask and have. And so it was, and Warwick yielded. .ne stipu- lation he made, however. That was that, as the old General had always professed himself a warm friend of hers and of the South, as she had almost been his guest when the affair happened, and as he was civil Governor as well as General, he might go to him and give a confidential account of the whole adventure. Antoinette acquiesced in his wish, without, however, seeing any advantage to be gained by it. " It is at any rate some official knowledge of what has happened," he said. However things did not turn out exactly as he had anticipated. The Governor might be an admirer of the charming Mrs. LeMoine. He might even dabble in the enthusiasm for the Southl ern cause which was with his type of Englishmen a fashionable fad of the day. Yet apart from such pass- ing diver^ons there lay the permanent fact that as an old friend and comrade of Warwick's father he was growing uneasy at the son's infatuation for this brilliant but mysterious lady. Therefore, after listening with many protestations of horror and sympathy lo War wick's tale of Mrs. LeMoine's adventures, he hummed and hawed a bit and then said his say with all diplo- matic caution. "My dear fellow, I cannot express my admiration of the coolness and skill with which you conducted the whole matter. Really though, as one man of the world to another, perhaps you would not mind my suggesting that It IS hardly advisable for a military man to get too mixed up in these American war matters. Ii .night '96 THE NIGHT-HAWK happen to tell against him, you know. Of course I'm not.ay.„g it officially as General, but merely givLg 7l Xe" "' °" '^""^ '"'-•"''• "'^' '-" "--'-- for th° TT 7k ''' ';°r"''^ '^'"""''" = greater admiration for the lady than I do; but her apparition amongst us was rather comet-lik-, brilliant and sudden and h van.shmg may be in the same manner "y? Well, to my mmd, Captain Arthur must have known some pretty queer folk in his day, and he's not one to tell tales on a woman. " You see, ifs rather significant that she doesn't care secrets ? Oh, yes, they are like charity sometime., and cover a multitude of sins. ,n!i ^T '"^'''°'^ ^°" were to apply for six weeks' leave Mon^ !k- '"" "'' '^' ^"'^- ^''l ^'^-^ ^^^l- °f the k wo U ''T'es and get you some salmon fishing. It wo.ld make such a good break for you. You're juft back from long leave? Oh, I'll make th.t all riiht You won t ? Well, wilful man must have his way.fnd I ve done my best. You're ango' with me now, but some day you 11 see that the old man knew what he was talkmg about. Go off and get into mischief." Warwick had fumed in silence through this exhorta- t.on He could not speak out his angry protest but the keen old man had guessed his feelingl'rem iber mg the days when he, too, had been ready to do batt'e w.th the world for a woman's sake. Warwick's ire was head bv^hT'" 'ff ''',' '"' ""f '"■°"^'^* "''^ "P°" h- °-n Head by his proffered confidence. CHAPTER XXII "A WAIF OF STORMV SEAS" to?r/^°i''' l""""" ''">'' "'"' ''■'«' been so eventful to h,sfnends ashore, Captain Arthur had been "dreo .ng h.s we,d. at sea. There almost seemed to be -meth,ng,n his idea that Mrs. LeMoine hTd broken hsrun of good luck, for on the second start fate had •still been against the Night-hawk h J'"'; '^',*"^ ""^'^^ " '"" °f unexampled speed anc- had got safely mto Wilmington and ou" again Then she had run across to Nassau to get rid of 'some oThe" burden of cotton, and was hardly outside tha. harbour Itself, and this tmie m even more deadly fo-m There were fresh grey hairs on Arthur's temples and somemorefinelinesaround hiseyes. These 3d 'tlcir ongm to a certam ni,-ht when, with two of the crew I>Mngdead, no glimmer of light could be sho vn bv w .chtoread the burial service. A watchful fo. as lymg to nght, another to left of them, and must be Z":^Lr " '''' '-'-' '- ^^- -— h^7,)Z^? '"*'" Englishmen and shan't go over- boa d , ke dogs," Arthur vowed witl, that spirft whkh maoe h,s men ready to go through anything wih him And so, through the hours of dark, the ligS^ha"' •98 THE NIGHT-HAWK alternately dodged and sprang forward with contagion n her breast At dawn, .hen, the foe lost sight of they buried the.r dead, one of those who carriel them on deck fell lifeless as he walked. Then sharks gathered in numbers around the vessel wh.ch, speed as she might, never seemed able to shake off her ommous escort. All attempts to keep the crew occupied seemed useless,-there was always someoni w,th leisure to lean on the bulwarks and' watch th black fins, and each n.an as he watched them shud- dered and grew grim and silent. Brave hearts were chilled and cowed, and courage was conquered by superstition. The captain and hi offi ers d.d the,r best in the struggle with their impal- pable foe Arthur's voice rang with a resolute cheer th"N ..T^^"'""'°''^'^' °f eloom, for had not he N.ght-hawk turned her prow northward toward th. haven where he would be ? Doggedly he struggled on in the face of bad weather and fogs. He lost more men from the fever. He was turned out of his course often by wandering northern crmsers, but always back on .t again at L earffest possible moment. "I shall live to see her yet," he muttered to h.mself, as he looked up at the north star that seemed to beckon him on. Each day, as it came, found him more gaunt and wolf- l.ke; each day the leaden weight upon his brain seemed heavier. He knew that the hand of illness was upon him, and ran his race with fate At last on the day when the Night-hawk rode safely at anchor at the quarantine in Halifax harbour, Ar "A WAIF OF STORMY SEAS" 199 thur lay in his cabin, unconscious of having reached his bourne. The long strain had utterly broken him down and he was in the grasp of malarial fever. But the pure, life-giving northern breezes wafted fresh strength to him, and the calm of attainment soothed his spirit. Those who know how to rule know how to trust, and he let fall every care of the ship into the hands of his first officer, the silent, solemn Mr. Parke. The second officer, a slim, fair young English- man, nursed him as men sometimes can nurse with a single-hearted devotion which ri"ils any woman's. And so the strong body and soul soon conquered the foe and began to gather fresh force. The yellow-fever patients were mostly dead or quite convalescent. There were no fresh cases, so that quar- antine was not a very lengthy busin s. At the earliest possible moment Evans and Warwick were on board with many schemes for the carrying off and nursing of Arthur. These schemes were ruthlessly tabooed by the doc- tor, who insisted that nothing could be so beneficial as the sea air where the Night-hawk layout in the stream. "The best hospital in the world," he announced. Arthur looked wistful but acquiesced, feeling a shrinking from being seen by Mabel in his present broken-down condition. Evans returned with these tidings to Trafalgar. Then Antoinette, who had been very white and restless for the last few days, announced her intention of returning to her hotel quarters from whence she might go da.ly on board the Night-hawk to look after Arthur. To this scheme Evans made every possible objection. 2CXD THE NIGHT-HAWK Mabel sneered, and Hattie entreated her not to run any risks, but, regardless of all, she held to her deter mination. "v.ici- However, at sight of the sullen frown wh . had gathered on Evans's face shepaused in herpurpose long enough to seem to ask his advice. She dwelt pathetically on her indebtedness to Arthur and on h.s preset forlorn condition , so that to his own surpnse Evans found himself applauding her intention, and amiably driving her into town. Whatever her private views, she must not just now risk offending the owner of Trafalgar and its many advantages. But oh, what a glad sense of familiar comradeship came ove; r/ r': f^"'""^ °" "'^ '^"'^^ °f '•«= Night-hawk she looked down at Arthur's gaunt, wasted form, that stretched m a hammock-chair, seemed the mere shado^ of his old energetic self. Arthur was unfeignedly glad he and his officers were, he was near enough to re- co .,^ry to desire a change from their society, Then if Antoinette were not the rose, she at least came from the roses neighbourhood, and could give him news : news for which his soul hungered. And so his welcome was warm enough to stir in her heart a .trangc tremulous resurrection of what she had once hoped. Was it possible that that vista was still open to her ? But the memory of Mabel's fresh young beauty rose before her and answered no Mabel she knew would have no further encourage- ness before her smiles. But then War^vick with his usual directness of purpose promptly abandoned Tra- " A WAIF OF STORMY SEAS " 201 falgar and almost daily made a third in the group on the Night-hawk's deck. So far, the doctorhadonly allowed these two visiters But as Antoinette watched Arthur's perfect physique as- serting Itself against weakness, she day by day counted the restful hours of familiar intercourse that were left to her, befor'" the world absorbed them again. Hitherto iic had mostly listened while she told him recent public events or read to him from the papers One day, though, that they were alone, Arthur had roused himself to tell of some of his recent perils From that he went on to dwell on the increasing risks that had to be met in the work. The Northern ers, he said, had larger and swifter craft and were get ting more up to all the tricks of flight and pursuit "I have pretty well made up my mind that this trip shall be my last," he said reflectively. " I have go* together a comfortable little sum out of the business- enough to give one a fair living at home, and a cosy nook for ones old age. What's the use of tempting fate too far? If I were not pledged to take in this cargo of ammunition, and don't want to fail them I doubt if I should go back this time." Antoinette's heart sank with a chill dread of dis- appointment : but she suppressed the question that rose to her lips, " And what of your pledge to me ? " She remained silent while he went on to ask, " Where ts the ammunition?" " In the Trafalgar lofts." "And the powder?" " Evans answers for that." " I hope that there has been no attempt at mixing 202 THE NIGHT-HAWK ZTJ'\7 '" the business of getting it." And Arthur spoke with something of his old incisivencss. Seldom had Mrs. LeMoine's voice implied such an mdiilerence, only a shade too languid to be haughty t speech w.th Arthur as it did now. when she ansfered Keally, I have never asked. It is Mr. Evans's busi ness, not mine, you know." Arthur was watching her closely: but in apparent Xor:rherty-^^ '-"^ '°"°--"^ ^ --i toils?"" ''^^ ^'''' ^°" ^°' '"'■" '° '"'^"^^'y into your he^somtt ^1^ ^"'^°'P°^^''"°'"-'-">'"-Shtened "Because he chose to put himself there, I suppose " But Arthur did not smile as he retorted • your"at."''°"" """"" '"" '"^ "^"^^ " ^"""'d I^^ f°' swered He would not be the first who has risked somethmg for my sake." Arthur raised himself excitedly in his chair I warn you, once and for all, that I will not have h.s name tampered with ! Heavens, can't you guess what tha name means to me when I put it Tsidel om all the wild work that I have been through " blazed the only hfe, as leaning forward she said with slow, almost cruel emphasis : " What does /Aai matter to me ? More things than h.s name or yours go to the making of a :rreat nation ! " "A WAIF OF STORMY SEAS" 203 Arthur checked himself with what was almost pitv as he answered gravely: «""iosc pity "There is no great nation amaking. The writing IS on the wall even now. My last trln to WM ^ showed me that. Eve-^thing^^^^^^J.^-.f^- credit, food, and clothing. The resour^ s Tre faTne baTkt.oThe5-"°"" I' """'"^ '°">'^- y-^ SO " What, would you trust me here with your precious ach' o her r T''"- '"'"=" "^^ ^'''^^ L^s'c ^ ' W M """' °" '" ^ '°^^ ^'"'■"'^d voice • "No, I shall go down with the ship," and in her voice was a great renunciation. He made a movement of helpless impatience •• I would have saved you from it all, for our oW frirdship'! " TheVt' me ' k''" '° '^'"'" ""' ' " *^ "-"ed out. men let me ask you one favour : Promise me thif you will not warn Major Warwick against m" " '''^' Again Arthur's hawklike eyes studied her f.. apparently what he read there'satS him '''' ^"' me t?'Bt:; ' ; ■' '"^ "■'• " ""'^^= >'- ^"o^ld drive me to. Hut why do you ask mc that ' " Her voice was a bit shaken now. He IS different from you and Mr. Evans and the 204 THE NIGHT-HAWK others. He thinks me all that I once might have been and-well, somehow, I'd rather it should be so I in my turn," she went on-and now her voice was harder — ' promise you to leave his life untouched by mine I on y ask that he should be allowed to remember me kmdly. Arthur was well on his guard. H.1'I°? ^''"^ "°l!^' ^'"^ '^""^ °f y°"^ husband's death, I suppose ? he asked. A deep stain marked Antoinette's cheek as from a y.i7,' A'^°'" "^^^ "^"y '''"^' f°' ^^'^ woman who had loved him so well. She laughed harshly. _ "Don't be afraid of my marrying him. I shan't pour my .oison in your Venice glass.' Though remem- ber, I could marry him any day I chose." "I dare say," he assented gravely. "But in that case I should feel bound toexpress m^^ opinion tohim Oherw,se,aud if you will kindly choke him off from we a!' sl^ri f:.3. '" ^''^ "»' '^'P o^'he Night-hawk With a strange smile she answered • footsteps of the stray lambs of many nations? He is No 11 VT "'='' f-"-hes'The Lost Legion - tin h Mr.'' after this very interesting conversa- tion, 1 should like to go acho;e " And smiling still, though veryr pale, she waved her f.and to him from the boat. "Idonbt if I understand that woman yet," Arthur said^to himself before he dismissed the suWeci from his CHAPTER XXIII A MADONNA FACE lis a face to whose oval the gold hair in framing Lends a halo celestial : the flesh but a veil For the spirit's perfection-all your carven saints shaming. In the,rcanop.ed niche-shows as ivory pale.-F. bZ^Lm^^,. This transference of the centre of interest from Tra fa gar to the decks of the Night-hawk, furnished ut of w^r : "T"^^' '""^ °"'^"^ manifestation of which was her favourite trick of meek sulkiness This sulkiness always took the form of wounded ft ZLTtfTu r-'- °' "J""^^' ^"d°'her such subte forms of the feminine complaint T "^'■.^""^^"'^^^ 7"^ many :_the supremacy of Mrs LeMome, whom she hated as only those chill self^en" tred natures can hate; the knowledge finalylo'ced home upon her that Major Warwick hardly reaHsed her existence save as an accessory to Antoinette; the em phat.c disapproval shown by her father, when on hTs return he had learnt something and gues ed the rest o Hattie, as well as the new importance which her ao- proved of engagement had given her at home ^ Mfbel iTi'f '/°'™''^' ^^"' '■" ^'^ "^"t^' language Mabel styled " the crosses laid upon her " After h? ■ng passed through the transfo4ini";:;edi^':ft; 205 206 THE NIGHT-HAWK imagination, they were presented to the notice of her spiritual adviser, the chaplain, with a plea for advice and sympathy. But that shrewd shepherd of sheep knew his women folk. He was not unfamiliar with this feminine process of mental embroidery, and loved to tear it to rags Oh, crowning indignity! when he too snubbed the fair devotee, advising her to try to see things from a less self-absorbed point of view, and to strive to be more helpful to others, more considerate of their prob- able troubles. After this downfall, only one person remained to whom to turn for reinstatement in her own self-impor- tance, and this was Arthur. She had been inclined to think rather more respect- fully of him since she had heard that he was Major Warwick's cousin, and so belonged to a family that had a baronet for head. She had also absorbed several hints, dropped of late by her father, as to the large sums made b}' Arthur in this blockade-running. Her intuition told her that no amount of Mrs. LeMoine's society could weaken his devotion, and in the knowledge she now found her con- solation. Then, with the practical decision which she could dis- play when she chose, she set to work to get her father's aid in bringing Arthur to Trafalgar, which she knew would speedily settle matters. Nothing was openly said, but Evans was only too pleased to follow her lead. So that on the very day after Antoinette's just narrated interview with Arthur, Mr. Evans brought Mabel on a visit to the invalid! A MADONNA FACE 207 One of his life's inefTaceablc mental pictures was stamped upon Arthur's vision when she stepped on deck, the shm girl figure in its summer draperies of naiad-hke green and white, swayed around it by the soft breeze as she stood there witli a background of sea and sky, one hand holding a basket of glowing roses, her lips parted in a smile gentler and tenderer than he had yet seen there. Was it possible, he wondered, in a mad tumult of feehng, as the soft hand seemed to tremble in his, and her eyes spoke a shy welcome ? Had she then learned at last to value his devotion ? "I have brought you some roses from home," she said softly, and the passionate breath of the flowers seemed to speak her welcome Meanwhile, Mabel was saying to herself even as her eye fell before his : " Yes, anyone can see that he is a gentleman, but it is a pity that he is not as tall as Major Warwick. I'm afraid he's not much taller than I am, and that won't look nearly so well. But anyway those others shall see that there is someone who counfs me nrst. "Those others," were Mrs. LeMoine and Major Warwick, who seated there in deck chairs were now loinlTll V^'' '"•^'''"^' "'''^'^ •'^°"Sht back to An. tomette the dreary certainty that Arthur was held by no t.e o he past. Youth and the future, ever a woman's worst foes faced her now and marked her defeat. Ihe cold blue eyes that swept her in passing triumph t:n"fdtow'''''r'°r''^^^"''°"- Womanlike s'he ern^k WH™"^^."'"^ " -stful smile and a low-toned remark. While she talked with him she still heard 208 THE NIGHT-HAWK E ...s s voice as he insistently urged Arthur to come out to Trafalgar for change of scene and society Even more distinctly she marked the few gentle words which Mabel put in to strengthen her father's invita- tion. " I think that Mrs. LeMoine will give us a good char- acter as nurses," the girl cooed, smiling over at the other woman. Remembering the many slights and barbed words endured in those days of weakness, the pure audacity of the remark struck Antoinette's sense of humour Something in the smile with which she answered brought a deeper colour to Mabel's face. " It would be base ingratitude if I did not," was the sweet-toned answer. Arthur was longing so keenly to accept the invita- tion that he felt bound to offer a few objections. These being overruled he half shyly agreed to come the lollowing day. is heart was throbbing with the knowledge, that the next week held one of the great events of his life and he was almost awed before this prospect of happiness. Mabel s grasp on her parasol handle tightened vi- ciously as she heard her father urging Mrs. LeMoine to join the Trafalgar party. Lively faCers will consider their daughters' interests to a certain point, but no fur- ther. But she need not have been afraid-Antoinette had no intention of forming a Greek chorus to Arthur's love-making, if she could help it. She was not yet quite sure in her own mind as to whether Mabel intended to ma. ry him or not, but at any rate she wished to see as little of the affair as no«Jble A MADONNA FACE 109 She intended, too, to keep as much out of Evans's way in the future, as she could without offending him. And so with adroit evasions she slipped through Evans's attempts, and Mabel returned home well con- tent with her day's work. She would show Ilattie that she had something else to do but watch her love- making. Warwick had the instinctive knowledge that his liege lady was in need of comfort, and refusing Arthur's proffers of dinner, he accompanied her when she left the ship. His dog-cart was in waiting, and he persuaded her to let him drive her in the cool of the late afternoon, through the shadowy pine woods of the Park and by shining stretches of sea. At first he seemed to devote most of his attention to his little mare, leaving her to her own thoughts. Presently, looking down at her, he spoke with his usual deliberation : " I am very glad that you did not consent to go out to Trafalgar." " Why .' " she asked, startled by this new idea. " Oh, well, you know, I have a great admiration for Hattie Evans, and I can see that her father is a reliable and useful man to you. Yet somehow they don't seem to be exactly the kind of people for you to be living among— not what you have been used to, I am sure." Antoinette laughed out in frank amusement. "What i. grand seignnn yoM are, and how well you hide it ! " " Yes, I'n old-fashi; .led, I suppose, but one doesn't talk about . ,at kind of things save to one's equals." 14 210 THE NIGHT-HAWK The pride of ruce swelled in Antoinette's heart as she felt his tacit recognition. " Then you'll be sorry if your cousin marries Mabel?' she asked. She was in the mood to force her sorrows into definite form. " Yes, Ml be sorry. She doesn't ring true," he said reflectively, " but he is only my cousin and must go his own way. It seems to come nearer when I see them claiming intimacy with you." His words were as balm to her wounded pride and by the time that he had left her at the hotel her jarring nerves were soothed into calm. When Arthur drove out to Trafalgar the next after- noon, he saw Mabel standing awaiting him on the ve- randah. From the moment when he met her welcom- ing smile he was encompassed in sweet observances enough to turn the head of any man. Given a shady verandah with deep chairs and cush- ions, through the hot hours of the August day, and the fairyoung face beside him that had been the vision of many an hour of " storm and stress " what could mortal man want more ? In such times the most self-contained of men is con- fidcntial, and now Arthur talked of himself with the fixed purpose of drawing Mabel nearer to him. He told her of his early life and adventures, of the boyish scrape that had driven him out of the British navy, of the hard times and the good that he had since faced. "And now I think that I'm making landward at last, he went on. "A grim old aunt, who always stood up for me, bless h-r, has left me her littlo place A MADONNA FACE 2,, on the south coast, and in a modest way I've made my pile at this blockade-running. " So, one more toss-up with the fates, and then, if the grim sisters only prove propitious, Captain Arthur will retire into the background, and Arthur Warwick will make his reappearance in society." The significance of his words was plain to her but Mabel was not of the type that from shyness blunders away from the point, and so misses the right moment She now leant forward with a pretty show of grave interest. " Why risk the ' once more,' and perhaps lose all ? " One hand hung temptingly down from the arm of her high-backed chair near where Arthur was sitting on the steps beneath her. He yielded 10 the c" sire to take it in his as he asked, looking up into her eyes as though to read her inmost soul : " Would you care if I were to lose all ? " Heavens, he thought, how pure was the spirit that looked out from those eyes, how candid the tender gravity that lurked in their virginal depths ! The man's whole passionate heart humbled itself in worship before what he felt to be a perfect type of pure girlhood. He watched a lovely colour flicker in her face, the faint- est dimpling curve the lines of her mouth, and he lis- tened breathlessly to the low whisper : " Ah, you know well that I would ! " The hand that he had grasped in his was now pressed with kisses until it was drawn away in pretty distress. Bereft of that, Arthur then found words to tell her how from their first meeting that spring, he had idol- ised her as his pearl amongst women. 212 THE NIGHT-HAWK i _is " And you did think of me sometimes when I was away, and ^/^rt' care a little what became of me?" he urged. " I seemed to read the first certainty in your dear eyes that blessed day when you came on board loll me, do tell me that you did ?" And Mabel, to whom this adoration came as a justly due mcense, smiled, and with modestly drooped eye- lids murmured a sweet reply. Straightway Arthur stepped over the magic thresh- old of thatparadise which most of us enter in our day If only for a few weeks or months. ' His only care was how should a rough careless sailor hke h.m be worthy of such a perfect gem of woman- hood? How guard such grace and purity with suffi- cient care through the mazes of life? It was Mabel who recalled him to some sense of real life by saying gently: " Now you will have to give up this one more voyage." There was no question in her tone, only a calm cer- tamty, and Arthur looked disturbed. " I cannot, dearest. Don't you see that I am pledged to get that ammunition in at any risk ? Mrs. LeMoine has done her share of the work, you would not have me fail in mine ? Then, too, she is counting on me to take her back myself." " And you consider her fancies more than the anxiety that I shall suffer ? " Mabel's calm was ominous. " Her fancies as a woman are nothing to me But I must go, and I have told her that she can go with me Heaven knows that I don't want to be burdened with her, but I must let her come if she insists," Arthuf protested A MADONNA ?ACE 213 ^ke now," "You should value your li. j .^r tr,y Mabel went on with quiet persistence " I am ashamed to think how much I do value it, how unw.llmg I am now to run any fresh risks. It almost seems cowardly to think so much of oneself even for your sake, dearest. But my word is my word, and that ammumt.on ,s a matter of not only life and death, but he last hopes of the South. I have benefited by them ■ I w,ll not desert them now. I am sure that /ou wTll anxiety "' ""^'" """ '''^''^' '"' ^°'''' '^^^'" ^y _ But Mabel had no intention of understanding another v.ew than her own. She chose to fancy that Mrs. Le- Mome had something to do with this determination of Arthur s, and resented it bitterly. " Very well," she said drawing her hand away from h,m w.th sad decision. " I cannot have any engag™ announced until afteryou have madeyour last Wockade runnmg trip. I will not be placed in a position of such uncertainty. Say that you were detained months in a Northern prison ! " This was her ultimatum, and neither then nor later could Arthur succeed in moving her from it Mabel had been sure that Arthur could never hold out against her wishes, but she did not know him yet He could not entertain the possibilitv of not keeping his word, and so stood firm, and affairs were at a stand h, J^.Mur"Jf °' ^'' '°^y ^'^'°"= ''^' '^"^M enough • but still the delay could hardly be for more chan a month or so, and he felt secure of Mabel's affections, and of her fathers good- win. THE NIGHT-HAWK 2[4 thf mauc "and ''' '' r " J°"^ '" ^^"'"^ '' ^^e root of the matter and was mchned to be indignant with Mabel It was Arthur himself who made excuses for her anj admuted the reasonableness of her conduct. For all her pretty face and the money that I shall ft "^h:^thr"''•^^'^'""• "^^-^'^ '^•^ ^---^ ^'^ ", tne father said to himself. and ?off :p::2:' ^ ^^-^^ ^"^^ °^ ^"•- '- •^--"^ root of Mabel, er, and I shall : know smiles CHAPTER XXIV " FIRE AT THE HEART, 'TWIXT HELL AND HEAVEN " _ EACH bright day of that passing summer was brine- mg nearer the end of the great struggle The stream of Southern men and women who rest- lessly came and went seemed rather to increase than dimmish. They were ever meeting and parting, watch- ing and praying for those who might never come again but had gone down ' " In the swirl of the fierce battle flames." But even now, when the wise were counting the months that lay between their country and the bitter days of defeat, there were "careless daughters who were at ease, who laughed and gossiped and decked themselves m Pans fashion, and ga>Iy wore the new diamonds investments of the men against an evil day. A group of this kind had but lately landed from Eng- land, and since their arrival there had been significant little hmts and whispers floating about in society, which clustered round Mrs. LeMoine's name. Warwick had as yet heard nothing of these rumours nor had the Evanses or Captain Arthur. But the wily, old General had, on the first hint quietly followed up the subject. Chuckling sardonl ically to himself, he reflected : its 3l6 THE NIGHT-HAWK foolish fellow WanWclo . /, ' ."' ^ ™"'' ^'^ '"^at sake of that 1; at he T/ '\ '''"'^' " °'"y '°' '^e me out of fire I h' .'. ' "'''" '^'^ ^""'^'^^ ^^"-"^d folly of meddling vit.f '"'' ' ''"' •'""^ -"» the nofLreanofdtol"''"^'^"^'^^^''^^^^^^ any mo.T,ent meet her face to flc^ "^ '°"' "'^''' ^' Her acute power of touch ,..;ti, i, been dulled of ,ate by ^^s tdtre""'''"^^ ''^'' A'rutt\a73hl^^tt;^ -'^^'^.-'''^ Captain MaiorW?,, • I . ^ *" companionship. lovers at Trafal^r Q^^"^" P^'" °f ''•''PPy from Evan^f S'erf^l'^irj^' *° ''""'^- ^''-"^ tasks that had beln • P°^^°ss'on. As the success, she was whhoT:!! '"•° '" '^"'''^ — d that sh seemed to are f '"""'"'^ °' "■°*- ^H tude. She did not I "T '° f '^'■°°'^'"^' ■'" ^°"-- had turned ouf- "deed The ^f "" '°^"^-'^^'- knowing. • ^' ^^^ '"-"^d "'her to avoid evenin/andSuJ'sTeL^d IT"'"^"'^' •^^" '"^^^ go. she hurriedly dressed Lr!u ^ ,° "°^' ''"^"^"^ '" "tire. Itwasa'ciro„,roftratb\"°-'"T°"^ the day stvled '■ ^. ... , ^^^^rbanc colour of t."'g near the ball-room d-jor as she 'FIRE AT THE HEART" 217 entered and the listlessness of his bearing changed all at once to glad alacrity, as he came forward "o meet f hT u^ ^. '■''^ ^°" "°' '^' "i'^ know this afternoon that you had changed your mind > " a^o th?"' I'" "°' "^""^ '■' '^>'^'-''f- About an hour Be ides iTe n"7' "'' ^"' ' ''^^^^^'^ ^"' — altho \ T ^ ''°"^ ^'^"y^ ^='1"'^'= --^ body-guard, although I am grateful for it. An accident nevef hap pens tw.ce at the same bridge, and no one is likely t'o to^ to elope w.th me in a cab again. I didn't prove a very paymg mvestment, you know " She had taken Warwick's proffered arm, and looked zSt^^r^'^''^^^^""-'— --p'-s She did not notice that War^vick, seeing the General approachmg as though to greet her, had'turned hS steps towards him. At the same time, as she caught sight of the thin ard rag.le, but still soldierly-.ooking, old man, resple,?de^ m h,s scariet tumc of full-dress, with its shining row o medals, she was aware that the wondrously attired woman on h.s arm was her cousin, Molly Seton Many a French ^r<^«^^ ri'^w whose past had been far less samtly than that of Madame Elizabeth or the Pnncesse de Lamballe, may have faced the supreme hour of martyrdom with as serene a grace as they did. So now there came over Antoinette the mental and physical beanng with which a French Huguenot an- cestress had stood before the dread torturersof Nismes. " A martyr by the pang, without the palm." 2l8 THE NIGHT-HAWK cal:n,, on the wo^arSo.t f ^.^The r/"'1 a smile curved the renn^P ^f i, i shadow of .'oved hand that^^s^eTorwLT f^.Tf " ?^ mofonless in its relaxed repose '^"^^^ '^^ ere?heSh::!i i:S:'^;rr"'"'°"' °" ••— r.ess. He would have k '" I"" ' '°"^'' "' "'^'^°"- LeMoine Lad Le™ ^;'",''^^^"'>' ^^''"'^ved if Mrs. as though awaitr^'L-: 71T '"^ °"' '"' ^''^ ^'-'^ the''si;I:a;fof " ''"""'' '° ^^'"^■" *° h™ but to force in, MrtZlim '117.''''°''' '''" >'-^ of meet, isn't it?" ^' ^'^°'"^ -^ th^ /-"^«^ naxne, turt;'ara;;r:si:f%°^ ^'^^ ^^-'^^- '^-•^ -- neither curioX no/f ^ '^"" "" ^"'°""="'^' ^ut see her flinch '"''''^'P "^^-^ ^ave looked to -SvVatK;^.^ '^^ ^°"" -- ^ -- ^''ade more " ' ''" "'^^ ^ '■■'- -'>- Molly Seton had less diffi. "FIRE AT THE HEART" 2,9 Moine.'" '"■"^'"''^""S '^^ "ame of Antoinette L. prete"d""li r' "T" "°"'' ^^^" ""''"-"d to tween fear o a "^^ '° '"'"■'"^"' '^'^'-^^'^ be- Here's couie ""' '"' =^'""'^^''°" "^ ^^ L- a ?uli'irf rT°"'u ""'^^'•^'^'"'^ why the taunt brought of th "u^ h " "°"'"' ^''^'^'^ ^'"> ''= --° y the wiJow'l c sir t::?'":^ openhandedness to -used a .eenrrnloS;, tTelel:; STth^arof a consciousness of " benefits forgot " ;• That name was then an honoured one " And now?" Quiclc as two rapiers flash were speech anri ,»f ^ but now it was a ■■ Warwick to the rescue ' r ] or^ no general. Mrs. LeMoine shoul^rnd tiSt bending to her ^ith grfve ^ttence ' '"' '^ ^^''^• ihen with a smile of acquiescence to him ^ sweeping bow which included both the c'^' ' ' smitten Id General and her sta L .H ""'="='"^'^- passed on at his side ^ adversary, she freS^LTr'^''^'^''-- --■•-he empty re- yo:?sr^^?^h/i.T°r:'^^'^-^-' beauty with tragic ey;s "^ ''°^" °" ''^^ 220 'Dea THE NIGHT-HAWK not faint"' ""vn " '''' ""'"^ '"'"' ''="'"'y ^u^prise. " I'n, not laint. You seem to think that „„ me a second time." ^°" ^'^ ''"'^"'"g ;; I would to God that I were ! May I not attempt it ? " a r.1 ""' """"^ *'""S^ P-' <^-" your pov?er L a man sows so shall he ronn I u "^ Po»er. As ask me what it al I'meTnsV' "' "'^" ' ^°" ^°''^^" '° It seemed to VVarwiVt ft,,* • the lightness of her vSs the-" '^°"'^^''^''"^"°" '° eyes as she raised thlm tn h r '" "P?"' '" ^''' he answered *° ^''- '' ^^^^ "^'^ =>PPeal that You are a /w,^ f/;re«/,<-r indeed ' Sur^K, have guessed how these people talk about m"'' ^°" guesfnTtht; l-sTe: tTnoT '° ^^^•■' '° ""^- ^ ""''^ An ;nfi„-r . "°th.ng against you." uptto hif '"^'"^ ^°"^"^'' •*'- f- - ^^^ looked ch;^:^S5:;t£is.:^n-,f--such pa:t:L;:r"^----X£:r^rmted p.et\-"'the:ith\°„°';,t^Lptr' '-''"'■ "^'^ -■ nary manner "b,7, ^, to return to her ordi- "FIRE ATTHE /-EART" „, to pull myself together, and go back prcsentlv f f Shan danc:;H"e-:eTtr:!;:t,;-i- ^° '^^^■^' ^-^ >■- "Are you sure that you are able to'" I„. . i a bS"?es""''"^ '" '-"-^^'^y fl-she'chekn:^. ^XLVn':'''' ''-' '-^ '"-^<" >a".H that toll zf\ s'tUt r" ""1°°^ ''"'"'' p-^- wild answer. ' ^ ""^ '" "''■■'" "°-." -^s her Even while wrestling with herself (r.r . return and face her humiliation si hid I f\ '° :?th:^r^^r'^-- ----"": .o.s^ss:^r^i^ft-'--hining complete the picture ' "'*' ""'""'^^^ '° .eantTvefhi-ntrerS '"'"''''''' '''-''' ^ "^ on hers as Mr, f m ^ "earer-and his hand was wick-rarm, s^y^g':^''""^' "^''"^ ^-^-P"^' t°°>< War- nel'd\°o°dat?°%^'"'°-- °"^ "-- ^^O'don't cu CO aance. They can sit still and be hanrn- R,.f * bridge „ L..„rss „°°p£::r*; ;;: blue-green river foams under it m X ' ""^ women = nrr;„a.:., ^u- j , "■^'^' ^"o tlic - - ■■^■■■^ .,1 ...= tavern : ' Eh bien ! Dansons ! ' " CHAPTER XXV CAPTAIN ARTHURS PARTY maculate fold and th f "^ ^^"^ °"' "'^'^ ™- Setonon tS '^e ^ ft, r.^^r "'- f^. that old General has alway ^^ i^'^rchT; """' her," they said. " ^ ^"^^ °ver duSloii'^lXJit^'d^r^r^'-^^ -' °f'-^ Of their -rs:;:oti:° n^dSat'drr"^"^' ters with the united forces of Mr P "'°""- agent, who were out on til f"'"' '"'' '^e offered to Mrs. LeMoine "'''" '' *'""^ ■"'^"" anjtrs?rf:ir:- ''^ "'■""■"^' ^onyofaHowing one who h d been o LT'h K ^H'"'^'^ '''^"'^'^'^ government, and who had so ''^■''^' Confederate self worthy of the trusi "'' "'"" P''"^^'' ^er- w;;'i":r;^;::::^---">eTuiieriesi -nt to the buildin, of^ToTett,? t H^r^She'r H him pledged, too to thf r»^„ •.• "Z^*^^- ishe had if the tide'had no; urned T^fh": e " '''^ '°"*'^ ^"'^ he would have done S And LrT^ '" ""'''' 222 '" ""^. this summer, CAPTAIN ARTHUR'S PARTY -:'..r .EF-v•^-"- the point. During tZ\ ? "" emphatic and to he had a ed asTso t T" u' '''' P^°'^^"'^'^ ^'^SE'-^ on the sea of wa,ot helot; th ''' ■'°'"'' ^^ ^'^ delicate generosi v hTrHl ^.^^ '' '" "'"^ ^'"'h a man. Thus Tt 'le H "1 ..^' '""^'"'"^ '" ^"'^h ^ amendswe:::adr.^ria t;'S;^2eM'"-^ ^■^'^'^ irate men blaldth ^"""^ '° "''"^ ^'"''- ^hc cause ;f vSue b ffoLd'-r.4" ""P°Pularity i„ the ant fact r^ZlZLlt^^tr'Tr'''^ demanded a pubhc back.^ down a„] :," t ''^ '"^"^ regarded it as inevitable ' "'° '"'=" Captain Arthur took a more philosophical view of I r. 324 THE NIGHT-HAWK His weakness for the saintlv fvr,„ „f He was also not altogether soriy for the chance tl,.f 2;Ht open Warwick's eyes a b.t.Tithout^hls "^^ • "°"'^^r',^ ^^'^ ''°"' °'d comradeship a 'dndly feel |"g towards Mrs. LeMoi,,e. First soundfng Mabel who had vcdcd her secret delight at Mrs. LeMolne'sdi 'com fiture m a magnanimously expressed pity, he made J proposal in the interests of peace. He su^gestrdlLf he should give an afternoon dance on boarf'h Nieht To this all the local and garrison society should be bidden as well as the southern dames, whose attendance would be a consumption of humble pie ^"^"''^"="= This proposal was agreed upon, and many and dire were he ensuing domestic combats. One or two men were forced to confess that they had failed to coerce the.r women folk, but on the whole masculinisuprem acy asserted itself successfully. ^-uprem- Mrs. Seton finding no other protection from the hS;:;; iif ''"'''''• '-' - '" '^'^' --"-[;; And so, on a still grey August afternoon, when the harbour water lay oily and motionless, groups of CAPTAIN ARTHURS I'ARTY 225 NThl'^^'T'l .P^P'^' ^^'^"'"^ ^'^ ""•• deck of the tha'n Usui • ^"'' ''""' ^^^^ •"°- '"■- -^ ^P°"«--- cnfcS::::;'"' " '"^-^ '°"^"' "-'^ ^^^^-^ "^'^ " Don't you see. that under the guise of an atone- ordeal ? she had broken out wildly to the agent Bow.ng with a more chivalrous courtesy than he had yet shown her, he had answered • " I thought it advisable for both public and private Tnirn t '" ""'' "•"" ' '"^y '" '^ ' f- ^hc'cause i need not urge you twice to any ordeal ■' " I-or the cause ! For the cause ! '• rhymed itself in her mmd hke a spell, as, pale to the very Hps An tomette stood beside Captain Arthur to TeceL VhJ mockery '"^ companionship seemed such a cruel Her black lace dress and hat, relieved by no touch 0I ;° 'Z^tT ^' " ^"^^ '" '- ''^'-'■y — - Her faithful body-guard, Mr. Evans and the agent stood near her as the men and women who had once been her friends and family connections bowed to her w.th a ceremonious courtesy that seemed to strike her like a blow. Only once she showed any signs of wavering and ttu;rh::r"vS;::dt^"^'"^^'-^'"--^'-™ ■' Dear Mrs. LeMoine ! You look more like a queen than ever to-day! Why wouldn't you let me 'come and sit with you yesterday ? " IS 226 THE NIGHT-HAWK and vofce. AntolneUeTas on tt flert fo"? '^ '""^'^ ance of Warwkk, whom she ITa ""^ ^PP"'" night of the ball ''"^ ""' ^^«" «'"« the . When Present.;i"rodtStL'":r i ^"'■^"^• -nto his face told her through what de.; . ^ T ' "^ been passing. He had found he the " H ? ''' ''^^ recepfon over, resting with Hatti ' F "' °' ''^'^ retreat behind the wLelhofse xhaTe '" '"'^ ''"'=' woman was not lons^ in =i;„„ ' ^""P^rt yo"ng and then the, wt^^acll^'l^rnT " ^^^^'^ ^--- ^e^t;^-Sl^-::^-highforan.pru. bro^IVr ''''''"' ^--^-^'face sadly before she '^^vr^«;rir:s:^;^-^'^--°''-^>'ou " You are worth all the worM f ^ strenuous answer --then J '"^' "™^ ^^e low a fresh purpose ' ^°'"^ °" ^'"^ '^e sound of Warwick drew a deeo brf-atK k / crucial test. ^ ^*'' ^^^°"' P""'ng that " ^ave you a husband alive or are „„ f , „ CAPTAIN ARTHUR'S PARTY ,,7 far fro. the t':!: ":':at:s\°or/"^"'^'' '^°-' past, safe in such love as she had H T T" ■'''°™>' ish days but had never ;^'Ltn"''"' °^ '" ''^ ^'^'- own tarnished one * "^^""S '° '>" try whose men and woL if ^ '"■'' *° "^^ ^°"n- "tUethey vaiurhtXa-rin^lLt::- ^^^ •'°- haS, .•:>;: r;i.i^rs s °"7 --^ '- ^ -^^ seas! Tiie imnulseTf mi '''■^' ''''^'""'^t °f stormy had sweptove^re'^rs, ;'relfw^"'\^"^ '-' Tin:,rrj:f t^--- - ^^^ Hercieareda^aTal^d^i^^^^^^^^^^ outSr:::;:j:£f^:t?fr^^^-- told her that she must not '^;''/'"°"' ''^^ ^^-''^ honest gentleman Z'trus eaTr'bv'io'"""."^ '''" to his. Wliv shouM h- 7 ' ^ J°'"'"ff ''er life The .e. j.t:i' .t' s',:rsr.,';;;i7" ' tion of her womanhn^^ 1 j "'^ oevo- 228 THE NIGHT-HAWK No Arthur need not fear her coming into contact w.th h.s immaculate bride. And so she tu.ned her face away I ,he land of promise, and looked str Jh ahead on her solitao' path once more. She drew a deep breath, and her hands in their dainty, peTrl! sTowi; ^ " ''°"' °'" ""^^ °'^" - ^he a'ilswercd " He is alive ; he is in the South now ! " There was no echo of hope left in Warwick's voice, whiL la sharp with jealous pain, as he asked : " And you are going to rejoin him ? " "Yes, I am going to rejoin him!" and if possible she waxed paler than before, and shivered in the'Cst' Warwick rose abruptly. " That is all, then. I need not trouble you any more. Would you like me to take you back to the others ? " fashtT'"'"' "' '''""^ "P ""^™ '" a bewildered Then with a sudden childlike sense of desolation at thought of losing the one friend she trusted "he stretched out both hands in appeal, saying • "Oh no! I was telling you a foolish lie to make you forget me ! He and I are parted forever." The restrained eagerness was awake again in War ay death ? he asked. noIS/v'".r' '''.' ^"'^"- ^^^" "°^ she would not tell him the truth. .. '' ""' '°"''' y°" "»' get your freedom ? " he urged i>urely you must have grounds for a divorce " " None that would be legal in England " CAPTAIN ARTHURS PARTY 229 The excuse sounded weak .0 her but it did not seem to strike him s... " What would that matter ? The world is wide " he was beginning passionately; but she stopped him by a gesture. " Ah, hush ! I like you too well to bring such harm to ycur life, your career." "What can really harm me save losing you?" Warwick persisted. The woman who had wiled De Morny and his Master flashed momentarily into sight, as smiling syrenhke into his face, she murmured : " But you have not lost me yet." With that smile Warwick was as wax in her hands. "I am yours," he murmured with a closer clasp of her hands, "yours, to do what you will with, to use or flmg aside as you choose. Only remember, I do not give up hope of having my own way yet," he added, more in his usual voice. " None of us do, I suppose. But then how seldom we do get it," she said lightly. "See, there is Mr. Evans looking for us." If* m CHAPTER XXVI LAST DAYS His days !i iotuittg'S"e„td 'h T''' '="^^^>'- were ceaselessly coir "n^ TnH ^'^^^'^'^"'^ ^^ ^nd Evans ness of which VrZC'r sTjZZT T '"'°"^ ''"=''- AlittlewhilepreviousIyEv'nshaH ""'''• for partln. With his coac'h'r„ 1^^. l^ ^^ ^^^^^ he was lookine out fnr =,„«*i, ^'° '"^t hawk slept infh^tSe r rrcrrth':^''^*^'- The rumblin, of carts was fre.ue l^Ve/rd ^tH avenue at nights, as well as the creak ^ of J doors of the barns on their hinges ^ ' ^''^' Arthur was still in possession of a room at Tr.f,! although he did not always pass the ^ t' eT^^"' The maids wondered when in dorn., tl,- , Handsome, lazyJooking Jack Hewitt, the second officer,^«.uld dance at some festivity hi./ the "j:,'; LAST DAYS 33, and give the other half to keeping his men in that hunriour when work seems play, a humour wh^ch hi could always evolve from them. Then at brelkfast "HraTpetf t: ;: sLThe": aT^rtilTf "^V h.^tCr-.^..'-'^ -P-"- MabTpalZs 'd h.m as gentlema.V" and "nice," unwitting that his kngu.dsn.les covered the most reckless spfri t the atott a r^k' T'' '"°"^=' ^^■'°'" -cklessness wa almost a taken-for-granted quality. Hatt.e Evans and the old nurse spent many a nieht to ke"sTd' i"n' r ".' '^'""^ ^°'"^^ -''•'- -d workers, and m afterwards clearing away its traces without the servants' knowledge ' .gnormg nyster.ous doings around her. When Arthur, trying to overcome her passive re. ancetoh.s work attempted a joke on the rofi "o, he tnp givmg them a start in housekeeping she wouUl :re'cut:7:ir^"-^^--"™"-°-'^'^^^^ stiveness altogether charming, and, although it made £r=r^— ^-.dtohh^. " "■« town's sordid sinning," Where he strove and battled for her sake. 232 THE NIGHT-HAWK about the dlrgsor plans^fts? '"""^ T "^^ """= two found themselv« • t . """• ^"'^ *° 'hese peaceful ana'S^TS^ "^^""^ '" ^ ^-^^'^ ca.;w:^:£:ii::r,;''^;':^'^^^^ horizon with dreamy yes "l:?"^ out towards the herself to smile oTh^^ ' ' '"'^'^""'^ '""^"^^ words. ^™ '" ^"^^^■- to his wistful aiw tt":tir, wrL^s^^ir^ '^'^? ■■"'^-- Warwick watched patfeVtlv forth' ^^ ''"^ ^^ ^'y- leading her to refer to her "'" °' ^'^'^ "^^^ hung on every wtd whfch h.T" f""""^' "''=" •"= day. ^°"'''' ^ '^'"k. he suggested one he:ol^''m'rntaT;-rri'^^^fS^:h '>' '°"°--"^ ^ "■ ™y schooldays were in a LAST DAYS 333 theTth'e''",f f "''""'>'P^'-^"*= "^"^t'y lived. But when^ woman witrallherhn 7 "''""' ^^^"^^ back there Th? i ^^ shattered, I went had played with m.!soT,Ll :'/ bre:^H:art""'Tr° when I ,et to^ R.h" onT T "hTj T^k 2^^^ z^i£z:r- ' "" ^^ ^ -- ~ -:: " Your plantation. Amity Hall, you call It ;= „ ^ .1, only p^ace where you can b'e hon;urd " y^^ ' 4° o^ be. Ah, can t you see," and Warwick bent ( ! towards her, "can't you see, how ^ifosS ^Tst you to live without the natural human tie. ? r ■ see that while you are to^in, to a^rb y Lse'?" ^h^ fate of nations your heart is crying out for In ! for the womanly care for otherT th . ' ^"'' so graciously ? "^Ah bd^eve me I am iT "°"", ^"^ you better than you know you ^elf" "'"^ '° '""^^ bufsl^sh^rktrlr '"''''-' ""'^^ '^'•=1^'-'^'"^- ;; I wish that I were what you think me." dowf LX tltrdeTyotir Sh2 ^ "t ''' beautvtryt.^in^rr ^^ " ^"' "^^ ^'^ ''^ ^ . y ur inner =e.f kept lor one, for the husband 234 THE NIGHT-HAWK to whom you are the great strength in public Hfe, the one joy of home life. I will not give up such a vision as that. Antoinette had bowed her face in her hands before the ardent stream of his word.. As he paused, she raised it, stramed and weary. " Ah, please, you must not ! " she said softly " If you do I must give up coming out with you, and-you know I like it. ' ' He was alarmed in a moment. "I will promise anything rather than have you do that, he said hastily. It never rains but it pours, and Mrs. LeMoine was destined to another emotional scene the following day She had been obliged by business to go to Mr. Evans's office, which she did somewhat unwillingly She knew that, in spite of the cleverness of her evasions, he had once or twice detected them of late I was sorry not to see you yesterday when I called. r.^ "Jfr""** y°" ^''^ e^°"« °"' mailing for the day with Major Warwick," he began somewhat grimly. Yes, those sails are such a relief from the dose town streets, she answered propitiatingly. " I thought that you were fond of the town streets. Vou seem to prefer them to Trafalgar." Antoinette stared in innocent surprise. " But you know the agent said that I had better not be too much at Trafalgar at present. It lessens the significance of everything, he thought," she urged "The agent is a fool with his ridiculous mysteries that deceive nobody," Evans grunted. Then in a mild- er tone: <• I suppose I must be thankful for the small LAST DAYS 235 favour that brought you here to-day— oh, yes, you wanted those papers, I know. But still, it is pleasant to see you looking even better than ever," and his eyes devoured her. beauty, set off by her dainty muslins. " Yes, I am feeling quite my old self again, thanks to Trafalgar," she smiled. Then, hastily changing the subject : " But now that I have come to bother you, I might as well talk a little business. I suppose that I had better take all the gold with me that I can put about me?" Evans's face had hardened as though he felt her evasion, but still he asked in his ordinary tone : " How would you carry it? " " In a belt. My diamond necklace I must wear on my neck under my dress." "The weight of gold in a belt adds to the chance of drowning," Evans said anxiously. For the first time in his life he knew what it was to be nervous for another's safety. Antoinette laughed carelessly. " Oh, if it comes to the water, I should much rather go down quietly, and end it all quickly. There is noth- ing that I dislike more than the idea of floating about, half dead and alive." It was a simple matter-of-fact remark, but it proved too much for Evans's equanimity. His big burly frame seemed shaken by unwonted agitation as he began hoarsely : " How can you speak in that way of such an end. How could it be possible for such as you to die, the life 43* THE NIGHT-HAWK ir, 11 choked out of you by the cruel water, with poor brok- en-down idiots living on ! " " That is Kismet ! " she said calmly. "We can be stronger than fate if we choose! At east, before you go, promise me to return to me, or to let me jom you out there ! My girls will soon be mar- ned; lama far richer man than anyone fancies- I navo been pihny up money out of this blockade-run- nmg. You and I could make a fresh start in a new country. You should have everything you fancied that money could buy ! Swear to me that you will come back ! " ■ The terrible earnestness of the man increased her habitual shrinking from him. She did her best to veil Jt, trymg to make her answer light :— " As a ghost ? " "No!^ As your living beautiful self I Swear J" " Don't you trust me without that ? " Her wrist was firm in his grasp, and his keen eyes under their shaggy brows searched her face. Her first feeling was one of exquisite relief when the office-door was suddenly opened, and Arthur walked in. Then, the good-natured, if slightly contemptuous, amusement m his eyes at sight of the interrupted situl ation came like a stab to her. Must she have to bear even this ? But-what docs it matter-a little more or a 1. tie less scorn ?-was her mental solace, if solace it could be called. After a momentary awkwardness, Evans was his usual self again. "The start maybe any day now, I suppose?" he LAST DAYS jj^ Svedt7„o" ^''"' f°-onfi™ation. which he re- better. Set would be as well not to show any s.Vns corto';:;r" '°\'^^t''- ^e .m neaJT.: HaTtie for ' """^ .V"' ''""' '^ "'^^^^ ' ^'"11 send from Tr 7l • '"I"''" ^'^ ^l^^" e«' y°" °" board Artlr?" ^"- ""''' ^''^' "^ ^^"•'^d, isn't :t. I.'m?'*'' ■f;"'''" '"""^^ ^S''"^- "That is, if Mrs tt^rrr '^r'^'^ '"^°''"^- ^here is plenty of f me to take my advice and stay behind." Antomette looked down, twirling a heavy rine on cti "tfr7 ;":r"r^ ^'■""^•^ '■^'-'^ been'a':^- -Tiev al r . '"'"■■'• '^''^'"''- Evans, Arthur. UD and si •'"1 ""' °' *"" P""'^- Then she looked sa'^d her V'"'"^ = " ' ^'" ^° P'--'" -^ "o man CHAPTER XXVII " HANDS THAT MUST PART " It was two days later, on a riorious <^cut.,r,u morning that Hattic Evans came t7Anti„Se "tt her " JT u"" '^" --shadowed into g av"y by her errand, but that did not obscure the blithe warm heartedness of her presence. " I do so hate to be the one to tell you that the time has come to go, when I should so deV^kc to ^ uade you to stay." she said wistfullyf holdino h'; nend s hand in hers. " But father sent me to teU vou that U .s to-day that you are to come out to Trafalgar fttchfd" y: '° "" ^°"^ '"^Sage so that it can be fetched. You are not to return here at all" Antoinette drew a deep breath, as does one that turns from the snore to the open sea ;;Thetim has come then," she repeated dreamily. HattTe ; ?.^ l'^ ''■"' y°" SO to-morrow:" and Hattie sought ,n the other's face for any sign of emo tion, but found it not. "How long will it take you to pack?" she asked agam her practical self. '^'^"' "I could hardly be all ready before late this after noon-say s.x o'clock. Would that do P " wo'l'tjr;'-^^" ^°"'""^^- -ay and help you, 338 "HANDS THAT MUST PART" 239 Antoinette Ir.ked at the girl with kindly eyes but shook her head with a smile. ^ th^f^"' '''i'^'j .''"' ^°°'^ '" y"" '° ^^^"' '°.but I think that I must do it alone. There is work of destroy n! some papers and leaving others, thinking work, you know, and that has to be done alone. iL it w II do me good all day to know that I shall have a a eve Hattie s cheek with one of her rare caresses There was plenty of work ahead of her to fill several hours, and Antoinette lost no time about buck^g to u;h;? K^r ZZ" "'"' '"""''^ *° '^'^''^ '"^^ being undisturbed, and the day passed busily. Soon aftef lunch she was restmg, lying back wearily i„ a big and tds. *'"' "''"'^ ''" '''''"'" ^^'"^ °^''^ She had all day been keeping at bay the thought of Warwck. and what he would suffer at her departure loo^rn'trhT""'"' °' '"''''"•'"• '^' '^^P'-tion to 00k into h.s face once more, to say good-bye and thank h.m for all that he had been to her' pressed upon her with irresistible force. ^ At that very moment the door opened, and Warwick walked in unannounced. '-irwicK wenfr'l r rZ r^' ^" f"'"''"'"= consciousness heipSiLS:'::^'^:::;^^^-^"-"^''-^"'^ -''»'- But Warwick stood his ground in unabashed gravity "I persuaded the maid to let me come up." he said Then, too full of his subject to hesitate. • Is it true 240 THE NIGHT-HAWK with ominous quietness ^^'■' ''" '^'^ gomg wthout saying good-bye to me? " ^ '^"^ hold to heTpu^pTe '' ^'""= "°" ^^^ -"'d not o- °h:; ;v^ Tii'^i'r r °^ ^■"'"^ *° ^'^'^^^^^^ " A .0 . "^^'='' have such bad manners " ii you call It alone, ves Thaf ^ „ Captain Arthur will be the'ryolklw." "" '''"^- " HANDS THAT MUST PART " 241 vou^" 'I r?l'^ ^'^^"' """^^ '°'"'' '■'"hip before you . shall get leave, and go and take care of you " There was no request in this announcement. Anto!. nette seemg that it was not a time to mince matters, sat up^ m ;,er chair and, leaning forward, said : " Vcu are not going to do any such thing. To be gm with your paternal General would lock you up in th^^cupboard rather than give you leave on such an She laughed lightly, almost maliciously, dangling the ^.h.k a feather fan from h finger. Warwick looked " If he were to refuse me leave I should send in mv papers. My father is always urging me to give up the serv.ce and settle down. I have often thought that I ought personally to do as lots of other soldiers have done, and go and see something of this war, and "- he paused before adding slowly-" I have even thought o takmg a turn in for the South. Would not L( please you ? It was as though he were laying his life down mto the chances of battle for her sake. A sudden fire ofpnde leaped into Antoinette's eyes, then, clear as a spoken word there flashed through her brain : " Oh souti " ^°' ^^^ '*^'" °^ ""'' '"''"'" ^^°°'^ "p°" ""y The pause was hardly perceptible before she spoke resolutely. '^ " That would be madness. The cause is lost " The bitterness of her rebuff was in his face as he asked ; "Then why should you return there?" 16 14a THE NIGHT-HAWK anlTl" 'I T""^ ^'^"'"'- " '^ ""y °vvn country for it Tnd?'"' "' ''''■ "'''^ g°°d days are o^e^ She spoke with a calm certainty that chilled War 7o :. '\^r\ "'"''"^ '° acknowledge defeat he fought on With grim, set face he spoke ' You shall not go alone to any fate. Whatever h may be, I shall share it." Whatever it A wild smile flashed over her wan, white face What W.11 you share ? The scorn that he men and InTthTt r°""Pr ='^"'^'■"5 S'- -? The ^ and the treatment of the spy that they call me ? Oh would you add the last drop to the bitterne" of my e s cup by making me know that I have harmed yo^r life, left you with a burden of pain ' " h.fl"T''t,^'' "''"'"'° ^'"euish, and, as she wrung her hands, Warwick, for the first time, saw her break mto bitter weeping. ^^^ Utterly unmanned by the sight, he knelt beside her murmuring incoherently tender words, while h hands and^mii:?u^;::sr::^r;.'' ^^ '--•'-^'-"erhead " See how weak and foolish you make me. See how .ve only pam each other when we talk like this How much better .o let me go my < wanderway,' leav ingyol cn^L ? r^ ''.''"^- ^^"■^^'^ ">=' =^"ything more could only bring harm to your future " Her voice was sweet and sad as dying music but Warwick scarcely seemed to heed it as he answered " HANDS THAT MUST PART " 243 " That is my affair, if I choose to risk it. All the same, I warn you that I intend to go with you in the Night-hawk." Then Antoinette, gathering all her forces to play her last card, said with an air of wounded reserve : " I think not. I am sure that you are too true a gen- tleman to force your undesired presence on any woman." He gave a short baffled laugh. " It's rather too late to try and tie my hands in that fashion. But, even so, I shall hope soon to make you yield. When do you really go ? You are not packing now, are you ? " And he looked anxiously at the dis- ordered odds and ends that covered the table. Then Antoinette told a heroic lie. Captain i^rthur makes a myscery of his date, but he has always promised me a week's notice. Now, I am not going to answer any more questions. You must really run away and leave me to finish putting these things in order." St;il he knelt before her, looking with anxious tender- ness into her eyes. "Kiss me once and I will go," he said, under his breath. Without a protest her lips met his, but in that kiss there was none of love's first gladness, only the pre- science of separation. As the door closed behind him Antomette bowed her head upon the table and wept the bitter tears of unresisting regret. That evening tiie pines at Trafalgar sang their old slumberous song, and the wavelets murmured repose- fully on the beach, but all else was well-ordered energy and work. " 244 THE NIGHT-HAWK Instead of the usual elaborate meal, a cold suooerat wh.ch they waited on themselves in a picknicky Tsh on had been got through with a certain amoLrof" suppressed excitement. she fafle't airs I '^"^"i'-^'^'' housekeeper that sne nas let all the household go to a picnic You'll have to see to it that she doesn't put you off with co,d a wink at his future son-in-law. If the supper were cold, champag., was not want ."g. m which Evans proposed the toast of ■ "o r Text" nieeting," with a glance at Mrs. LeMoine that Ive a senous meaning to the Jesting words. The tw %ht a tn.n little schooner stole in and lay up at Trafalgar oui^;5rH::i-^!rs^-™-5:^ work began, Arthur and Evans Joining in with a :'n The darkness ceepened, and the south wind wa' led .n he pine trees, and the women sat on the verandah watching the flickering lights and the moving ^t' loi:'^/:::;' '''"'' ''- --- •'- -ppe^are^:;:; " I'tl^ll ZTH ''"'' '''"'*■ ^'' '° ''^^•" E-«"^ said, r Jh a I ^°'"' °' '° """'^ before the schooner is ready for Arthur to take round " ="^"Ooner is Antoinette's quick eyes saw that Arthur looked pale pa^s^r£tr:;:^s°"""^^^^°-^- "HANDS THAT MUST PART " 245 "You are to join the Night-hawk at the harbour's mouth, to-morrow evening," Arthur said presently with an encouraging smile to Mrs. LeMoine, " Evans undertakes to hand you over safely." A sudden impulse seized Antoinette. For Warwick's sake she would put aside her sorely wounded pride. "Let me speak to you a moment," she said, leading the way mto the empty drawing-room. Arthur looked impatient as he followed. He could think of nothing save the imminent parting with Mabel. Recognising the fact with an inward scoff at herself she told him in as brief words as possible how settled was Warwick's determination of joining the Nieht. hawk. ^ " This is your doing," he said bitterly. " But I shall see that he does not get the chance of committing any such folly. I won't say good-bye to him, or let him know when we start. You are sure you haven't told him ? " She met his keen gaze steadily. " What reason could I have for doing so ? I have no wish for him to come." He .seemed convinced of her sincerity. "Very well. It will be all right. ^« mw then, till to-morrow," he answered. Turning quickly he hurried out to Mabel, whom he drew away into the shadow of the shrubbery. With a strange smile Antoinette watched him go " He doesn't know that I have but to give a sign to take his cousin off to Southern battle-fields, or else let him know that I am free to marry him. Which " '(. ... -ir« Lit •. , • If •1 ■ THE NIGHT-HAWK 246 Only for a time, perhaps " ^^^^^ ^°' ^ ''""=• at her open window W^ "''''' ^"'o'nette still sat But as UrSd ^Uh'h^'f'T""''^^ Trafalgar. Mabel's Sdow wi'ltV'"*^"'"^ '°°'^ ^' was sleepingpeacefully? ^ curtained. SAt CHAPTER XXVIII " THE OUT TRAIL " THE hours of the next day passed for Antoinette in a strangely dreamlike fashion. There was about Trafalgar that blank quiet that waited for' """"^ ''°"'' '"'' °"'^ '''' result to be In the morning Evans was in the town, and while Mabel kept apart on the excuse of household duties Antomette and Hattie sat together under the trees as Zv^A fi'"^"^ "^°™ings of the past summer. They talked firs of Hattie's future. She was to be married thef w "m" ''t l°r' °' '''' "^''^ -■- "-""'hs. and they would probably go at once to India. The elder woman dwelt on the roseate hues of that future w,th a tender interest that would have amazed haTLmedto"'"""'^"'^"- "^^'^ warm-hLrted gS for year" """" '"'"'' '° """ 'h^" had any woman beLreT^o ^''h''" ,'"'' ''''^^'"^ P'^^""* ^"^ y°" n°^. a ruby studded r f "''"''" " on." and she clasped ruby-studded bracelet on the round white arm. thanked he/r'' 7 1° ''''"''''' ^"'^ '' ^^^ "^'^^^dand thanked her fr.end, Hattie's tears fell fast. A girl of olderToml" ^'^^ ' ^^"^ -'^^ '~'''P ^ ^ 247 ; ^-,.-*J 248 ■■ 1 .r;:i.f.^ ^■,*. :^ ■ THE NIGHT-HAWK Hattie hung herhead I ' "'!'; "^" ''^ht. ^ she said softly ^ "'^"'^'^ ^° t° help him." nes^LTaUr Sr, ""^ ?' ^°'-- ^^ -"''- girls. Antoinette was oolcwl ''^ !!^'^'" -" 'he apprehension to that afternn.™"'^ ^'"^ "^^°"s Evans. ' afternoon s tete-i-tete sail with tHe';:fs;ettSe°L!;Totr- f ^^^^^ -'- him. and rejoiced cor^; Jond "lit h"" \'' "^^"^ *° reduced to commonplace ^^ ^"' ''^^'"g ^'^e" •ette lookri back ., tLT ""?■"£" "''n AnM- W l„„<,ke„h,., .. ,hJSS?r 'hi',"':'" """^ "THE OUT TRAIL" ,^ for' !f l^T" """' ^°" ''"'"''' ^^''•^ 'hem than Arthur for, .f anythmg goes wrong, a woman may be saved where a captain goes down with his ship " ^ '^ wa"'us7d Ir hi "''" " K " -W-hearted. but Antoinette zr.Ti:,r"::j,:r '^"°^- ^--. however, mut. w:z:^'sS;";;:r;id^^'::rt^;?-^"r for one s own funeral I T^ u^ -. starting suDDose th,i -f ■ ^^"^ "' °"^ "'ou'd hardly mg down his own uneasiness. p JsfoLt"izrti::r%at^htr ^'t "^ doubt that the risks are dailyl^Jasing'^ Th^Yal:: have faster sh.ps, and more of them, fnd have got up to the various dodges. The percentage of losses ins Evans grunted in silent disgust, while Antoinette "When"' '"r^-'^'-'^ ~-ent at the two m or not, I 11 take my cloak, please," she said with the high spirits of knowing action begun Where the bay joined the sweep of the outer har hour, thev landed =.t -^ wh-rf fH-» • ■ . — ■- Aii=rt that icu to a ucsolate slate 250 THE NIGHT-HAWK E[7e;s.S';'eThey'co''jir" '''°''' ='"'°"e 'he grey sat and waited thr^gh th^Z "'?"^°"^' ^'cy set. «" '"^ golden hours of sun- -f^S;S7:;f,ilr'''^'- close, and. '■ghtedasmall fire of drift vooH '7""' '''=^' ^vans "pt'^er;^rrre:r;t;er^^"'^''-"''-^ alone, and Evans spoke abr^tly ° """^ ^^^ ''^^^ ^''ei^a^?£;r;:Sr-.'^■•-o.ni^ How you hav! fooifd the p^orfhap - "'^ ^■■^'■'■''-^'^• ;|'-.-keyouha/efooIe':i„e?-"'"^'"'''^'--" lie soreness of comino- i^ ■■ougher nature of the "ron^' ""' ^""^'"& °"t the -ioiced that she wis soo To's^th ,"°" ^"'°"'"'' heedless of the storm V , ^^ '^^' °f '"'m- answered his taunt "^"'' '" '"'^ ^ace, her pride JJes," she said, shoving the logs together with her "Areyou in earnest?" "THE OUT TRAIL" ,„ •I'cdy f.ll„ back into ,h. p„, ' ""•'"'.-k^ ".d daylight^ ""'"" ^°" '"'^ 'he shore before " There is always a Yankee cruiser reoorterl t T 252 THE NIGHT-HAWK n :■* The darkness closed down around her, but Antoi- nettc made no move to go to her cabin and get settled down. Wrapped in her big cloak she crouched down in a deck chair while a horror of great desolation swept over her. What had she done in so resolutely cutting herself adrift from the only one who cared unselfishly for her welfare ? If Arthur had given her one word of consideration beiore hurrying back for one more glimpse of Mabel, she might not Jiave felt so forsaken as she did now! Never in any moment of her stormy life had she reali ised with a keener pang her isolation from all human ties. The last bitter waves of jealousy, the after-swell of past tempests, rose around her, bringing back a vision of Mabel's fresh young face, with its cold smile. How long she had crouched there Antoinette hardly knew, when she v/as aroused by a footstep beside her and the quiet English voice of the first officer. " I am sure that you must be tired and cold here. Mayn't I take you below ? The captain would not like it if he thought you were not comfortable." Antoinette laughed. " I doubt if he gives much thought to f/mt to-night, Mr. Parke. But it is kind in you, all the same. I should really rather stay here, for I have a wretched headache, and the dark and the p'ght air soothes it." " Of course, if you like it best. 1 am the officer of the watch, so if you want anything you have just to call me. I shall be quite near." "Thank you," and in her loneliness she was grateful for the human neighbourhood. •THE OUT TRAIL" 11,1- 253 She had nestled her head back- against the chair urn.ng instinctively towards the north' intldL:* All at once she was startled by the fiery r. , , exploMon upon the heights to the east war I . •, ear With a sick pang of fear she knew wiua , , , The powder magazine I Could that have ', en A, ■ , .r' fimsh.ng touch then! Good God! VVa- he . • VVas Warwick safe ? Had ./. had any hand br , .. ■ng hsth.ngabout? What if either of them . ■" dead, slam for what she had helped to work ,"""'- Mr. Parke stood beside her, reassuring her. •' I fear it start led you, but it can be nothing to make us anx .ous I cannot think what it is." he'said uneLlJ I am not startled, but I know what it is. It must be the powder magazine ! " "Perhaps so." he acknowledged, and moved away to talk m low tones with Mr. Hewitt Antoinette paid no heed to them, only crouched there, possessed by fear. "umca ..h'^u" ''°^'""'^ ^^"hout her hearing it. but pres- ently the sound of his voice roused her ^ "You are safe then?" she asked in a dulled voice ookmgupat him. "I foolishly thought that ittaJ the powder magazine and that—" " It was," he interrupted briefly. " Was that necessary ? " F^J7J°' ^\^ '""^ °' *''"=^ ^i^" ^^'"^■•n behind teuttles^r'^" -^^"'"^^ -^"^^ ^"'^ -n and "But no lives are lost." 2S4 THE NIGHT-HAWK " How couidthere be ? " he said impatiently. " You must know how small a quantity of powder could be still there." " But Major Warwick ? " Again there was the suppressed impatience in Arthur's voice. " Warwick is all right. It is the mess guest-night, and he is there, doing the civil, with- out an idea that we are on the tramp. He is best en evidence to-night, and he is best without any more last scenes." "You reserve those for yourself! How you mis- trust me to the last," she flashed out. "I have not given you any cause to say that," Arthur said gravely. Then with an effort at cheerful- ness which his worn face belied : — " Come now. We are both tired and rather on the jump to-night, but we must not begin our voyage by quarrelling. To-morrow we shall both feel different people. You had better go down to your cabin and get things ship-shape for the night at once. I shall have the anchor up in half an hour, and I don't want any light shining after we are past Sambro. Remember that bogey Yankee cruiser outside. It might be real, you know." With a quiet " good-night " Antoinette turned and left liim, determined to be at least no burden. I CHAPTER XXIX THE EXPLOSION It was guest-night at the Artillery Mess, and one of a httle more importance than the usual weekly function in the entertaining of the Admiral and his staff. Dinner was over, and the smoking time had come Major Warwick formed one of the most silent of a talkative group. A cheerful sub having been bewail- ing the poverty of the younger son, a navy youth struck in : " Well, we navy fellows are fools who haven't gone m for making our little haul out of blockade-running We're not likely to see such another chance in a hurry' I met fellows this winter, down in Nassau and Ber! muda, who in two years or so have got enough to- gether to give them a comfortable old age. That's more than Her Majesty's navy is likely to do ! Look at Arthur now ! In a few months he'll be married and settled down at home in all the odour of sanc- tity." "Arthur settled down at home! Not until he is tucked comfortably away in his coffin ! " came deri- sively from another navy man nearer Arthur's age. "By-the-bye,"hewent oa casually, "the Night-hawk has just sailed." Major Warwick started from his semi-listening atti- 2S5 256 THE NIGHT-HAWK ■% The other man held firm though. know, and .:aw her moving dcwn the harbour as I came ashore this evening. I cou.dr't be misUken They always like to get oiT on the sly if possXyou orl!!' w '""'■!! ''"^^- "" f^'* P°^^^^!«s to speak or move before this horrible certainty ^ At that moment a diversion was created by the an- week s leave, had not been at dinner He stood waiting until the navy man had finished ^peakmg.^and then with a glance and sign drew 'wt' "What he says is quite true," he said quietly look mg anywhere but into his senior's face. '' She was to go downthe harbour at twilight, and Mr. Evan took M.S. LeMome down in his sail-boat to join her of^ the Pomt. I got back from shooting this afternoon ^ stonnpH 3fT„f„i ° ""s aiternoon, and stopped at Trafalgar on our way into town. Thev had ttrnoTL^tl"^ --'>- H-egS'm1 si.n'!f' l'"^"^ '^" '"^''°P'= '° Warwick he gave no Moine' finT'r" *''•' "" ''"'''' ^^ -"Mrs. Le. ivioine s hneltahan writing. th^f -•.;'"''"^'^ ^^^^y hi' heart was hot with wrath at learn Jr IT"'"' ''^ '''''''''' "=f' ''- '^St to learn of her departure from any stranger. THE EXPLOSION 2^7 " I wish that we had not taken .0 much trouble to save her from stamng," he tnought to himself vengefully Meanfme Warwick had made for the shelter of his own quarters before opening the envelope. His fir i^^z' ''"' ''' ^^^''"^ ''^' •'^'^-" - S- '• I am wriUng these few farewell words, during my last hours at Trafalgar, where I am waiting to go ^ , board the N,ght-hawk this evening, to ask your fo g.veness for the method of my departure. BeLve me .f what I have done seems to you treacherous and del ce tful, ,t was not meant to be so. I only hoped to =pae you some pain. Indeed, indeed, I would not wWhngly hurt you; but I feel so sure that it is bes that I should goon my way without any more farewells between us,-that I should leave you to stand quite clear from the shadow of my life. " If in those first days I had fully realised the man you are, sa»sp.ur,ei san.reproche, I would never have allowed our fates to become interwoven ! I can hardly be blamed for not believing that such men as you ex isted. I had never known them. God grant that I tTaLT.°" ^"'i "° harm, given you'no wouL that a short space of time may not heal " Ycu can guess what my life has been ; you know what the world thinks of me. It should b; easy for I man of your strength to learn to forget me ! I try to comfort myself with the thought that, in the past weeks wro7 ^"7f '''" T" '°'"" ''^PP'"^^^ *° ^tone foranJ wrong that I may have done you. "If only your hoiiour stands undimmcd by mv touch, I am content ! ^ '7 2SS THE NIGHT-HAWK Try if ,n a happier future you should sometimes think of me, not to judge me too harshly, rea .mberinp that all that I have done, that perhaps seemed cruel and unwomanly, was with the one motive-that of serving my unhappy country in her hour of need. You who belong to a great prosperous nation, can hardly realise the passion of pity that moves us less happy ones If you should ever hear that I have been found worthy of giving my life for her sake, then rejoice that death has washed away the stains of life. Farewell ah ' farewell. Would that I were worthy to bless you as I go on my solitary way. You saved me from insult ■ you saved my life. You saw and believed in the good that was in me still. You laid your life, your name, at my feet, and I— I can give you nothing. " But in my own sorrowful heart I do give you what you can never know, and 1 go forth alone, the richer tor what I give, for what is yours till death " Warwick read and reread these words before he laid the paper down on the table. It was his dark hour, and he lived through it, as other men before him have done. How she had smiled at him and hed to him to the last! Evans, Arthur, had been m her confidence, and most likely had scoffed at he fool she had made of him Would it be possible that Arthur-but no. His own common sense told him that Arthur had no thought for any woman save Mabel tvans. Outraged in every feeling as he was, he knew that it was not in his power to be really angry with her If he could have been, it might have come easier to him. But with the vision of her splendid womanhood ris- THE EXPLOSION 35^ !oul?hit7 '"'"'• "'*'' '^' --ecognifon of the great thoe hazel eyes his whole heart cried out "The pify of It, lago, the pity of it ! " *^ ^ It was the very hour when Antoinette was longing n her lonelmess for his presence, when she would havf urned to h.m as a child runs to its mother. Warwick too was roused from the bitterness that held his spirit. by the flare and sound of the explosion. He sprang to his feet with a groan. " My God ' The N,ght.hawlc!" he cried, with a hurried remem: d'y":: i:7l'°'''' "''^'^ ^^ ^^^ overheard thTt cZll'lTj^r " ''' ''-^^'^--er cariying Without any definite plan he caught up his hat and hurried to the door. There was a'soun'd of hurried foots eps and voices from the officers' mess, and lights Sut "r ""''"^ "" '" '""^ --'^ quarter t without word to anyone, he hurried past out the bar rack gates, and downhill towards the wharves neonTe'^"'*''?. ^"'"^" '"'"' 'PP^"""^ ^' ^'"^ows, and people were thronging from the doors into the st^ets Everyone was asking bewildered, " What is it ? What has happened ? ' w w nat But Warwick strode on unheeding, like a man in a hypnotic trance. He had left the town behind him and was making his way towards the Point. The only reason that guided his footsteps was the fact that she whomh oved had passed in that direction and h woulc so too. How many thousands has that blind impulse dnve-i to the seashore to stand gazing " whi her went their lost delight "across the water' 26o THE NIGHT-HAWK ^ ing forT^al 1°;^°"'= ""'"'^^'^ """"^ -Sooner wait- mea:;r:r^ora:t:r"r-°' "'■^''* "- ^"^ gradua, -sce„;o^Tsta"fer„thLr^'Th'eT I":^ swept out from the banlc :,nA ^^'V- The lights lights told him the truth ^°"'^">'"S -—ds and cJIs^he'^SfiTth?"'^ ^^""^ ''™ ■■" ^ •>-- leTter, he^hadtd amp.'e t.^e 7Tr\ ^"J°-"^'^ swift use of ,. to havr^eXd Her'^, : "^o'n "^'^ headland, and in the passing had taken „h T with them. "' °"' ^o much For all his steadfastness of nature as W.r • u turned away from the shore, he found his min!^ m a cunously mechanical fashion to a er"a"n ,oT? drawer where he kept his revolver ^^^'^ His hand went to find the kev of fl,-,^ a his pocket, and he quickened L^Lewa.d ste^r-S an instinctive sense that tA.re mieht hT n ? "'"'' this intolerably keen sense of h^ alleviation for y Keen sense of bereavement. Once he THE EXPLOSION ^g, started to find himself repeating aloud her words " If only your honour stands undimmed by my touch I " a! though he were trying to discover thc^ nfc n" ' " ^^^^sth.e.fidgeting^i----- no'oneldtTiJra??; ^^^t ? Tl '"' "^-' ^^ What place ? Where wpc if > t but ™id L ..thing ■ "■ "' ' '■'•" '»""> <•<•«« Ji'ZT "" "'•" • ""■■*• '""«""5 .!■»» .t As they went out together he asWpH • " tu no lives lost?" " • There are " No ; the sentry was stunned at firsf K„f u round atraJr. Ti. '■"imea at hrst, but has come .fVr„™,"rz;rrr'h;'tt""f-"'' """ "-" '■•««' "« bL ..rp.-d.H.t?e'is~- 363 TITE NIGHT-HAWK This time the stiffness of the younger man's manner was unmistakable. It did not, however, require that to bring a sudden overwhelming sense of his own posi- tion upon Warwick. " If only your honour si r 's undimmed by my touch ! " He knew the meai .,. ■ m the words now. He could scarcely be blar. n forthe official careless- ness which had existed before his three months' reign but he knew that he was responsible for it. He knew' too, that if his thoughts had not been so centred on Mrs. LeMoine he might have been able to show a more vigorous new-broom record during that time. His whole heart had never been in his work. Mr. Evans's reasons for the stead,!;/ increasing quantity of powder he obtained had :ii >v'ays been plausible. The new railroad then in course of construction ; the gold mines that he was displaying so much energy in opening up,— was it possible that a certain amount of those supplies had been diverted into another direc- tion ? He recalled his cousin's vague hints as to mixing himself up in these Southerners' affairs, and the dis- favour with which Arthur had looked upon his growing intimacy with Mrs. LeMoine. He recalled that eve- ning's after-dinner talk of blockade-running, and the money that Artliur had made by it, knowing that men might even now be saying that he had joined in his cousin's good things. And she, thit one peerless woman in the world for him, in spite of all b'ots on her name,— should they be able to say that she had schemed ind flattered to use him as her dupe? The first stirring of fighting en- THE EXPLOSION 2«3 I ergy came back to him, and he set his face grimly and thanked God that he had had no time to take the re- volver from the drawer, and so once and for all blight his good name. No, he lived still in the light of day to defend his own honour, and still to cherish the hope of leading into serener paths that intrepid spirit of which his own had recognised the innate nobility. The haggard anxiety that underlay the official gravity in the old General's face, shook his composure, but he hardened his heart against the thought that he had hardly deserved so good a friend. In the private interview that followed he answered questions and related facts with perfect frankness, but absolutely declined to see any connection between his private friendships and the carelessness which he regretted and acknowledged. The worldly-wise old General had no wish for any embarrassing confidences. He intended to shield Major Warwick to the full ex- tent of his powers, and he did not want to know too much. More of a diplomat than most men of his class, he had been given his present appointment so that he might help tide the colony through a political crisis, and, as he said, " dine them all into agreement." His diplomatic powers had to be fully exercised in this task he had set himself of getting Warwick off without any official blame or censure. He did it though, and after a week's anxiety was able to assure him that the affair wa- settled. Warwick thanked him with full earnestness and sincerity, but the General now felt himself entitled to indulge in a little crustiness. „■» 364 THE NIGHT-HAWK h^r *,f=""y°"^^='f. '"' that I would have trou- bled myself about you if it hadn't been foryour father's sake your father's sake, sir! A man of your age who gets h.s head turned by the first pretty adventuress who comes along " ci'iurcss "I am sorry to interrupt you, sir, but I hope some day to mtroduce that lady to you as my wife.'' Not to me, sir, not to me ! I shall be out of har- nesB .n a month now, then you can make any kind ojjool of yourself that you like ! I shan't be here to old^'eTeral ' .""'.^ ="^-" ^^^ « bow. but still when the hi;? V L '' "P°" ^^' ^'"'""'^ d'^^k saying good, bye to h,s officers, his farewell was warmer to none than to Warw.ck who felt a lump in his throat as he grasped h hand of the rail-looking, plucky old soldfer. ' „ e Pectedr^h"^"-'T= "^' ''''' ^^"g"'-d -^ respected the other's mdomitable spirit. CHAPTER XXX " THEY THAT CO DOWN TO THE SEA IN SHIPS " The next morning, when Antoinette came on deck, it was to find the Night-hawlc the centre of a blue globe of sea and sky, radiant in the glow of sunshine. A soft breeze met her from the south, and seemed to waft her a greeting from the land whose sorrows she was hast-ining to share. Merrily the ship pped on, without " rock or tempest, fire, or foe," to check her on her way. Captain Arthur was on the bridge and did not seem to notice her ap- pearance, but Mr. Parke had a chair and rugs placed for her in a sheltered corner and loitered beside her with kindly, if abrupt, questions as to her comfort. It was the same old story ; wherever she went there was always some man to be found ready to wait on her. All faces looked cheerful with fresh energy, save the captain's, which was more set and impassive than usual. For the first day or two Arthur talked but little to Mrs. LeMoine, keeping himself constantly occupied about the ship with his officers, or else going through endless accounts and papers in his own cabin. With her long knowledge of the man Antoinette could see that he was seeking any occupation that would keep his thoughts from going back to follow the 26$ /"■ * r ■-; , ^ . J" MlCOCOPy .ISOIUTKJN TBT CHAKT (ANSI ond ISO TEST CHART No. 2) 1.0 [^te 1^ ^ r^PPUEDIM^GE In (716) 482 -0300 -Phone (716) 288- 5989 -Fox 266 THE NIGHT-HAWK quiet routine of Mabel's life, and to dull his sense of loss. Gradually, though, this restlessness wore off, and the calm of the sea came over his spirit. Then he tarried for longer intervals at her side, either smoking in con- tented silence or casually chatting. The old spirit of comradeship seemed at such times to revive between them. Still the same summer seas and skies were with them, and life was easy and pleasan"; for all on board. " Wc are south of Bermuda now," Arthur said on the third day, " and getting into more dangerous waters." "Truly he came of the Blood," the Norsemen's breed, whose fullest life is breathed in the air of strife. " When I was last in these waters, the Yankee cruis- ers were as thick as leaves in Vallombrosa," he went on. " You must be prepared to hear an alarm at any time now." "It will remind me of old times," she answered languidly. Arthur was not the only one glad to have his thoughts diverted from a haunting sense of loss. If only I had let lum come ! was a weary refrain to the hours, from which any excitement would be a wel- come change. " Yes, you are not the kind of woman to scream at a mouse," he said, turning a more kindly glance upon her. It had occurred to him of late that he might not have been over-considerate. " You are like the Night- hawk, and its namesake, strong and fearless. One long graceful sweep, and your work is done, and you are off." " A bird of prey ! " she commented bitterly, stung by a comparison of which she felt the keen shaft. ■THEY THAT GO DOWN TO THE SEA ' ' In a good cause. War justifies all," he said He never saw how he 267 with had careless compunction wounded her. He then went on to ask if she had formed any defi- nite plans of action after her interview with the author, ities Antoinette leaned forward, watching the black shadow of the steamer's smoke upon the water as she answered thoughtfully. "What I should Lke best to do would be to go back to my first ambulance work, but that I fear is impos- sibie. There is an objection to allowing well-known persons against whom some outside charges could be made an excuse for severity to take any share in field- work, with the chance of falling into the enemy's hands They have plenty of things stored up against T' 1 A""^', ^ ''^^^ sometimes heard threats that I should be shot if I fell into their hands again," she said quietly. ** ''You take it coolly," Arthur said with an unwilling sort of admiration. ^ "How else would you have me take it? There might be worse kinds of death ahead. But in the meantime, I suppose that I may go on much as I have been doing. If they should have no work for me I thought of going to my plantation home in Georgia to see If I were needed there. From all accounts, our people are in sore straits. The agent had an idea that X might be asked to go to New York. It seems that It IS a centre for my kind of underhand work, schem- >r wd flattering and lying," and she ended with a w jry little sigh. 268 THE NIGHT-HAWK " But surely that would be the most dangerous place of all ? " " I suppose oo," she agreed casually. " But no one knows better than you that there is a certain joy in doing a risky thing. Danger is certainly a stimulant to one's nerves." " Then I rather think that you have got your stimu- lant now," Arthur said calmly, as he rose from his seat beside her. His keen eyes had spied a signal from the man on the lookout in the crow's nest, on the fore- mast, to the officer on the bridge. He knew that it meant a sail in sight. Before Antoinette had time to make any answer, he had reached the bridge, and was sweeping the horizon with his glass. Before long Antoinette could see from the deck, with her glass, the significant trail of grey smoke on the sea-line astern. Clearer and higher it rose into sight, telling that the pursuer was gaining, until the decisive words " The stars and stripes ! " were called down from the lookout. Then the Night-hawk sprang forward gallantly like a thing of life, under her pres- sure of steam. All through the late hours of that cloudless day, Antoinette sat and watched with concentrated tension, while Arthur paced the bridge above her in grim si- lence, broken only by an occasional short word of command. The opalescent lights of evening were creeping over sea and sky when Arthur came down and spoke to her. " It's all right now, I think. We are leaving her behind, and ought to be out of sight of her by dark. "THEY THAT GO DOWN TO THE SEA" 269 We shall have to expect others though, and you rnost be careful about hghts to-night. I know that I can trust you for that. By this time to-morrow we shall be all but m sight of the fleet off Wilmington. There is not likely to be any lack of excitement then." But Arthur's present relief was premature. The masts of the steamer astern were still visible to the naked eye, when again came the word of fate from the mast-head : " Cruiser crossing our bows, sir." A responsive stir ran over the crew, answering the words Mr. Hewitt's languid handsome face was aglow with Mrs. LeMome received the news, then pulled his cap down over his brows, prepared for wha< ever might come bettmg his face as a flint the captain of the Night- hawk prepared to do his utmost. He ran off at an angle that might, by good luck, take him away from h,s two foes, before, discovering each other's neighbour- hood, they should attempt to pinch him between them. AH his skill must be concentrated on flight. To make any show of resistance or to return the fire of the as- sailant meant piracy, and, in case of capture, would be dealt with as such. Once or twice, during those moments of tension, Arthur turned his watchful eyes to a great bank of heavy clouds, that were swiftly rising against the wind, and shrouding the sunset. " There should be help there. It's the hurricane season, he muttered to Hewitt, the second officer f^"^ ^"^^''"'"'° """ •'^"'^^"f ^""^ ^"d not into the hands of man," scoffed that young sinner 270 THE NIGHT-HAWK The sea, wh.ch had been rolling in tht great oily curves of aground-swell, was beginning to break into more sharply outhned waves, as though the whispered voice of a coming storm were troubling its heart No wind had as yet reached the deck where' every sound seemed intensified. The Night-hawk had twisted and wheeled like her own aerial namesake, and evTry nch of her frame panted under the pressure of he^ labouring heart But the angle into which she had been forced had brought her more into view of the first foe astern, who responsively quickened speed. Arhur could not doubt that not only both cruisers aw the Night-hawk, but that they saw Jach other to t^ee'th^i^"' --rselessly were closing her in be: Every moment things looked darker for the blocl ade runner's chance of safety. It was the last-seen fotht fii-t nearedher sufficiently to send a shot ploughing the water across her bows as a polite invitation tLt if would be better to stop. "The captain says .hat you must go below," came the message from the bridge. Antoinette ompro! nused her obedience by going into the companion-way where she huddled down between two doors ^ Her most definite thought was the hope that she migh know the right moment in which to'destroy the agent s letters, now in her pocket ery. and then stood looking round on his men with a of"t"hreT ffl "'■'! "^^-S---.the crew consisted nLl T P r";! '"^ *^"^"'y-ght men. They were all picked Englishmen, on high wages, who would have "THEY THAT GO DOWN TO THE SEA" 2;, followed their captain "through hell and out aeain " The,r perfect discipline prevented a word or siS of remonstrance at this token of surrender, but the fierce glow of excitement in th.ir faces darkened into gloom and each man drew a deep breath. In the strange new stillness that had fallen uoon th. b "he' d It °' r T^^ ^^^'"^' her sidrro M^ De heard. Although not loudly raised their caotain', vo>ce^ d,stinct and resolute, rang out sharp'; ''"" ^ the vll '" ''°''""''- ""=" •' Even it we ^o let take :"'' Ti^r J° '^^ "' ' ^'^'■'' ''"'y ''-^ y^t to s:e;:heSstk^-L:^-i:::srr quarter-boat ' «;f=n^ k comes their Suarier Doat . i,tand by, every man to his post ' " boIt^s dirgtrr" ''' ''"' '--'• ^"^ -->'•« .ov;"brTdg:.^"""^^''"^ ''°°' lookingdown from the Every officer and man, each in his place seemed in ammate figures save for the glowing, star ng eyeTfix d A vivid picture that photographed itself on Antoi nette s mmd was that of the boy.facc of the Amerkan i;2 THE NIGHT-HAWK ill III -'■ r.Ui Moving as stealthily as he did quickly he benf V " Full speed ahead ' " »:'.™,us -" -= -- - ™^» encouragement to Antoinette ^ his't!;iut;:f L' harro"'":, ?^"' ■■- "^^ ™"^^^ °^ steward to bring her hot "f '° ^"'"'"°" ^'^^ ^^^ nng her hot soup, and wraps to shelter bc"rpted";rs:.eT "vi' ^^^-^^ ^'-^^^ -- "THEY THAT GO DOWN TO THE SEA" 273 Though scarcely heeding Mr. Parkes kindness she had thanked h.m graciously enough to send him away with a glow of pleasure in his honest heart Presently, stepping under shelter to light a comfort- .ngpipe.h.s oil-skins dripping with wet, the captain almost stumbled over Antoinette, curled up in her ru^ in a corner. ° Trut^If ; m"^-' ^Z "P ^"' ''"' • " ^' ^■-"■'J brusquely. Truth to tell, since the firing of that first shot, he had forgotten the fact of Mrs. LeM -ine's existence. Yau^^'Tu '""'' r ^''°^" ''""' set warmed and fed. Vou must be nearly starved. There is no more danger at hand just now, and you need a good night'! rest to steady you for to-morrow's little games. ■ Suffi cient unto the day ' in our trade, you know." And you ? " she questioned. To have his movements inquired into by a womar ;::^i?£iS^^^^^^''-^'°^^^-^---- shorSv' '" r'. f '" ""^ ^'y'' '"°'^'" he answered shortly. But I assure you that there is nothing for you to be nervous about. You had better go below " sw"ed:'°" '*°"''°'P"''='■""-^■><^- hJ^ '^'t ,",°*/'*^ ^"^ '"^""^'^ I '^^^ "ervous, but because I hked it better. Roberts brought me soup when yours came up. Let me stay ! I won't be n anyone's way ! It was worth ten years of life to se you doing that ! Somehow, I knew all along that you never meant them to come on board! If Lmorrow were to be the last day of my life, I should be glad to have known to-dav " s u lu 18 ^ »74 THE NIGHT-HAWK " Oh, it won't be the last by a lot, I hope. You mustnt talk like that. It might bring us ill-luck.- Arthur said turning away. rlriJ'i "'^T"°y"^ =' ">; return of the superstitious I' (, . You l-luck," ititious jsed to CHAPTER XXXI "FROM THE HANDS OF THE EXEMV" Thf next day was one of manv alar:r,s on board the Night-haT """''''"^'"^^ -^^ however were quite such touch Ird . « °' """= those of the previous day '""'''""'^^'^■g" ^^^irs as were An'rur^'oTtwo'^L'trtr T '"-"«•' -'-■ steah-ng along Z a thief J he '''°f <^— " -s coaa a. ,He jnouth of ttVa^^ ea?^ ^ -^ ^"^ '^w --riL^:S:—°^-u.dJ the Shore, scene the added dangers of light "^ ""^ ^'^'^ in trcXisjar "'°'' "''''"'^'^ '-^^^ p°- .estXt'stio^rre-Lt^'h-er ''I ''' '^^ ^ -- a-e of suspense as th7::;;::^'--tptf-J Jn^odX^^'hrJ,::,t'T''■" -'^'>"'^™"^h the dred strong, n a cr«c" t. r ""'■' '^^' "^''^'>' ^ I^- But thaf therrwer^ Z^?' ?^ "^"'^ --'". move around them wL • '^ '^ °' *''" '"' ^" '^^ cameclearly tJroueh L •'". ''""" ''' '°""'^ *''='' occasion. LhoTanu^LVSerSr ^" ^>' '^^ 276 THE NIGHT-HAWK It was thi, inactivity in the midst of encircling dan- ger which the captain had always found to tcll upon even the hardened nerves of his crew. The training of his discipline had been far too thorough for thereto be any outward sign of the strain Mrs. LeMome's face and beiring were as impassive as those of the oldest man on board Behind the hills the east had gradually shimmered mto a golden glow, which the men watched gloomily as the forerunner of their enemy, the moon Although the Night-hawk was still in deep shadow the opposite coast and a hostile cruiser, anchored not very .ar from them, were every moment becoming more distmct in outline. There could be no possibility of doubt as to the peril of the blockade-runncr's situation. Captain Arthur had glanced up once or twice at his masts. He was lookmg for the fatal moment when the moonlight striking on them would reveal him to the foe Just then one of his officers touched his' arm and pointed seawards. "Jove I The luck is with us still ! " he muttered. He had seen the veil of white fog that was creeping mland, low on the face of the water. It was a race now between light and darkness, the moonbeams and the fog, and the Night-hawk was the stake in the game. Each man stood and held his breath as he watched the contest upon which his for tunes and liberty, perhaps his very life depended " The fog has it ! " whispered Mr. Hewitt, and a grin on many faces answered him. A few brief, low-toned orders from the captain "^ROMTHEHA^I^SOrTHEENEMV,;, the chain on deck, nd tt aUc" < "" '''''''''' °' In spite, though o7ev.rv n '"''^ ""'° "■'•' ^^•-'"■ carried the sound of thdri P^cxaufon the f„g ,„j ous neighbour. Aul:!' XeTr h" f ' f ^'"«- Fisher, when at the cru tit ,"'' ^""'^ «f ^ort fog. played her .aire .o ' "'"'.'r °'" ''''"'' »"<= ^ail before the land uind hat hr^;. .\' g«hcred.i„ In the cold grey hVht of^ '^ '^' '"°^ning. of the waning 11. f'bttrdr"' ''?'"" ^^^^ clearly visible to the pursuer "'"""r^ P°^'"°" -=>« gathered at the sight to share in 'T"^-""? cruisers on board knew as well as d'd th ' ." T' ^^^'' '"='" tactics would be to orco h "''u """''"'"= '^"cmys as the Night.hIwk„ounH? 'u """^ ''^"'- '' «oon helpless prey. ^°'""^''^' '^' ^°"'^ become their re^"n::^^:?^trth::rr^''^-^-°^e means. ^ ^ '^" ""= ^^.p by every possible Their nearest danger evidentlv I • lurked ahead close t! the ho"e '' '" ' ""'^'^^ '"=" -ughr:::,:r^-;r:r:^^^Tr- ^'- fvery inch of the vicinity as wel as . ' ""' ''"'^ ■nevitably crowded by the nearet'' ' '" ''^' y tne nearest cruiser into the shal- 2;8 THE NIGHT-HAWK ^i low water, and in a few minutes was ashore firm and fast. At a word each man was working like ten to lighten the ship, but all to no avail. Arthur had many a time won through to safety by refusing to acknowledge de- feat. Now it must be faced as sturdily as it had hith- erto been escaped from. The boats had already left the cruiser to come and take possession. Arthur gave a sweeping glance from them to the shore, where the tide was down, leaving long stretches of brown mud to catch the eastern light. " We cannot use the big boats. They would only stick in the mud where they might be fired on," he said decisively. " Mr. Parke, keep two men to help you in the dinghy, and get Mrs. LeMoine ashore as quickly as possible. You'll land all right at that ridge of rocks. Let the rest go overboard with their life-belts on and swim for it. Tlie distance isn't much. Mr. Hewitt, come with me." He turned to go below, followed closely by the second officer. No man dared to ask him of himself, though everyone guessed that he was about to set fire to the ship, thereby adding to the risk for all. The Northerners seldom fired on a vanquished crew, unless they had destroyed the prize in the moment of attainment. As the captain disappeared there was a moment's pause and silence, broken by a woman's wail of " Ar- thur ! Arthur ! " to which he paid no heed. At Mr. Parke's order the men had promptly provided themselves with life-belts and jumped overboard to "FROM THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY" 279 Rvan tin' ''""■'; ■^•'^ '^"'' '"^^"''he Irish boy Ryan st.II hngered to see the others off in the dinghy In h.s simple code of duty an officer might not leave the ship before a woman. Antoinette, her long cloak and hat flung aside, her slim figure in its grey dress outhned agamst the dark shore, stood watcling the preparations w.th a white intensity of face The dmghy had been swung overboard, and Mr Parke approached her, with exactly his usual grave d e I erence of manner. "We are ready now. Will you come?" he said quietly. *vui you his^'words.' "' "°' """''' "°^ -^""^ '° '^^^ -y heed of Mr. Parke looked at her curiously are'l!ltK'""''J"''"'^ '° '"''"' ^°' ''• "^ ^"^ Hewitt are both crack swimmers. Please come." " I mean to wait for him " worna"" ' '"' °' """' "°^ ''''"^^" '•'^ '"^" «"d the "You cannot do that. His orders were to get you off as quickly us possible. Mr. Ryan will not ifave U,e sh.p while you are still on it. You are imperilling hi! if h"AT '°° "l'*^' '° ^''^ "^"'^ -"'"^ =»= ^<="." even If he had ever thought of it With quick hands Mrs. LeMoine tore open the neck of her dress revealing the flash of diamonds on the whiteness of her skin. " This necklace shall make you both rich if only you will wait for him " For once Mr. Parke's impassive face showed a deep 28o THE NIGHT-HAWK flush through his tan. " I thought you had understood that we were gentlemen," he said gravely. "We would both go down without a thought at his word but even m doing it we would obey his orders. I sup! pose a woman cannot understand that. Captain Arthur told me that when he consented to bring you he had made you swear to obey orders, and this is how you keep your oath. If you will not come, I shall caro^ you down, that is all." ^ And he made a step forward, as though about to put his threat into practice. A strained laugh broke from Mrs. LeMoine. shes^afdSir;"^^'^"'*"^'^"- 'y-^^^^^oior..,-' With one despairing giance back at the companion, way door she let them lower her into the dinghy where the two men awaited her. "Give way, men!" Mr. Parke cried triumphantly, but they were htt e more than a boat's length from the ship when Captain Arthur and Hewitt appeared on When he saw how near the dinghy still was to the Ship a fierce exclamation broke from Arthur " What has made you so slow in getting off? The ship will b ow up in a few moments and then they will hre on us, he shouted to Mr. Parke As the dinghy sped over the water, the two last men leaped from the Night-hawk. When as Arthur dived from the deck the water closed over him an over- powering impulse, such as might have seized on the merest schoolgirl, caused Antoinette to spring to her feet with outstretched arms. The boat had just risen "FROM THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY " ^Sr on the long curve of a wave that was about to break in LeMoinT °""' ^"""'"'"^ ^°""'' '" --"' of M^ as'hfresifLl"';^'' ^"'"Arthur asked anxiously hli./ !. .,^" ^'Samst the boat. "God' Her Wh' . ^ '.' ""'' "'■'•' ^^^''^ remenTbrance Where d,d she go down?" he asked of Mr Parke There TO a bre.thJe., pause of ,u,pe„,e Mr Ki.n Arthur was in the bo,-t by now, and gave his sharn orders. " Get her in. .,d then you men^in th wateT hurry ashore, and make for the bushes. Is she al^e '" .tnreb:rd\r-^^--^°----"rh.-3 f'rllTLf ""V^'. ""^""'■' ■'"' Arthur looked 282 THE NIGHT-HAWK Mr. Parke, spent and breathless, was pulled in too, and immediately bent over the still form that lay with lovely white face and closed eyes in the bottom of the boat, and, oblivious to all else, worked at reviving her. At that moment there shot up from the deserted Night-hawk first a column of thick smoke, and then the fierce burst of explos jn. As they watched it, no man thought of personal loss or danger, for grief for the ship that had been their pride, their fortress, their home. Each face was set and sombre, and none spoke a word. But a wrathful shout came over the water from the approaching Yankee boat, and Arthur gave the quick Ti;"' '^3T "'^y- '"'"• They are certain to fire now." 21"^, ?'^ ^"S^^"' 'P'""" °f musketry, and, as the balls fell thick around the dinghy, Arthur, who was standmg, reeled and sunk back against the man crouchmg m the bow. ■; f ' CHAPTER XXXII " FACING DEATH " untrodden realm,' ;tvi to the .'; 1° " '"'''"^'^ i"g sharply on the shSe ''' ^°""' °^ '''' ""^ ^r.t- one nad cared to bring her back I iv "T' 'Y ^°'"^- no one watching for ^U^^^^ ^^ ^'^£,tZ T first movement of her hands ^ ' '''^ Cinging masse S'wethirf'rom h'^'^'u'^^'^ "'^ tried to raise herself She haia^.'^-iT'"'' '"'^ " Not . M, o( 1,,- Mr. PaAe ,...„.<, ^a, ,„ , 384 THE NIGHT-HAWK forced tone, w.thout looking round. " But they have got wo shot^ ,nto hin,, one in the hip and one'n the ches We ,««. . at any cost, get him ashore and out The e thet °' '-^ ""^^^ ''°''"' ^f"' LeMoine. mere they go again. And, following the report, the balls could be heard r-pp.ng along the water. Arlht'f""""""'' "y'^'"''^ i" « "measure to arouse Arthur from a stupor. A faint frown had shadowed atSe'w:rds"°^''^''^^'"='* ^°'°™ ^''^ — 3^ "Anyone else hurt?" " ^^ ,°"^' J^^y '''°"'' ^'^ '■* ^g^!"'" Hewitt an- swered. lying bravely, for he did not think so. Then the famt whisper came again : " Lay me down in the bottom of the boat, and eet ■nto the bushes, till they are tired of us. You can come back then, though I think I'll be gone. I've as good a chance here as anywhere." Exhausted with he effort, all life seemed again to pass from his lace. " We-re not going to leave you, captain. Don't bother, for I'm in command now," Parke said with rentle decision. Then he looked up at the little circle of men that stood with tragic bearing around the bow ot the grounded boat. " Two men go ahead, and look for the best shelter " he said. "Four form a litter with your arms. Gently Hewitt! Lift at the same time! You can bear it sir, can t you ? " ' A faint smile that seemed to say " I must," was the only answer, and silently they lifted their captain, and "FACING DEATH" 335 laid him on the coats, which had been fluncr ovrr n, brawny crossed arms of the sailors ^ '" Behind the rest followed Mr Parke h^tr . «lth hl.„„ M„. LeMoihe '""■"PPortinE ihXr •" "" ~" '- ■■'—.It;':.?:: .effi'dinSietie'Tr::^ rtif c •r.s:i,rd-,hr;::str'xf' SeX'tr- '^" --"=.- ».™r ,",„ 7,'o° S „"" ""» '"»"■ They „o'oU There rA, .« u^ "', °" °' "«'" °"'" ''">«• h.™.:dt^L^t;e;'s'h-tri,r."*'''» ..^rrh~i"d°."ir™-r",f .„?:]:',! •he ,..,d ^„d,y h.„ ,i.„ s; K'o :; 1™"°' 286 THE NIGHT-HAWK They were winding up an overgrown cart-track when word was passed back that a hut of some sort had been found. Never were the lights of a comfortable inn more welcome to belated travellers than was the sight of the broken outline of that deserted log cabin to that sorrow, ful little band. The building was of that common southern pattern which may be described as two small square cabins united by a roofed-over passage. On the floor of this latter they laid Arthur, on every spare garment that the men could shed. As they carefully lowered him, Antoinette pressed forward, dropping on her knees beside him, and hers were the hands that placed the poor pillow of a rolled coat under his head. Every thought of self, even of her own grief seemed to be driven out by her inten-.e desire to relieve his suffering, and the concentration of her face might have been that of a great surgeon. It was enough to make a strong man shudder to see that ominous black hole in the front of his coat, with the dark wet stain around it. Worse than this was the trickling red line that ran from the set mouth down- wards. The jolting of the road had done its work. And a hemorrhage had come. Someone had iound an old bucket near a spring and now proffered the water to Antoinette. With quick fingers she tore a lace-trimmed flounce from the petticoat she wore and made bandages. There was brandy too handed to her in a small flask with which she wetted his lips and temples. After this he opened his eyes, which met hers with " FACING DEATH " IT. ^87 the strange compelling force of tho« 1, border-land ^"^'^ hovering on the -n,ed to sa, ho. fair iS'lo^oSa T:,;' '"^ '''' from his slackening grasp Thrn fh ^^^^ '''''''>' again, though Antoine«; tLugh tTatT"'^ ^'""^ again lost consciousness ^ ^^' ^' ''^^ "°' wafmt '?fon Ver ^n' 'r'^ ^° '?.*° »"'■- ^^em some w^vingaway tL^yelX n^e'v^ry' hI Jf^ ^^'■"' r"' to save him one added dZo?^ ""^"'y ^« toiled on. P ^ °' weanness, Antoinette She had heard without heedinir P-,ri, • j- young Ryan to take some men ,vmf ^''i'°"' '" search of Confederate troops H.t ""'^ ^° ''" must be some such patr:Zg the^ott^"^^ *'" ^'■^- .7 Poirbt^herdrd"'"""^'^^'--"- ■■'-'doctor. 4 ng f oma1it":Tr' °" ''"^ tumbldo.vn step, he.p^Ll7.v;:lder:h^::ol^':;rm'''f that'thTrm^^ts^oTirr' """"'^^^^^ p--p^'- frequent witT A tt thj 1""^^"'^ ^™^- '"^ ""^^^ for a longer time- and'tWh T '""'"""'^ °P^" intermittent desi'; to ptl "^^^'>°"'"S some faint '. k"' 288 THE NIGHT-HAWK M S'Mmi u Knowing that any such attempt would only add to the danger of hemorrhage, she shrank back, and re- mamed motionless, for fear of arousing his attention. But when slie saw his eyes wandering in a restless search she bent over him again. "Do you want me to do anything for you?" she asked, her voice a caress in itself. " Nothing to be done," he whispered. " Shan't live over another tide ; then you will be free to go Parke will take you to Wilmington all right." E.vhausted with bodily weariness and the long tension of excitement, it would have been strange if she had been able to maintain that over^vrought self-control As she crouched beside him, a deep sob broke from her. "Arthur! Arthur!" she breathed in a passion of pitying tenderness. " You ,««./ live ! You »,«./ not die I It seemed as though even this were too much for his weakness. A frown of weariness came upon Arthurs face, and he turned his eyes away from the weeping woman beside him, as though in search of someone else. His eyes wandered, until their wistful- ness rested upon Hewitt, who, as if in answer to a spoken summons, rose, and coming forward, knelt by him. The languid calm that was all but supercili- ousness in Hewitt's usual bearing was changed into an almost womanly tenderness, as he bent over his captain The sailors had sometimes talked of there being some old tie between the two, and of having sometimes, when they had thought themselves alone, heard them call each other "Arthur" and " Jack." ' FACING DEATH " 289 T„ this supreme hour there was an unmistakable IiM,t of welcome m Arthur's face, and with a pitifully fcelJe fa^lr^i! wlfm'taT'' "' ''"' '" ''' °'^^^ sa^IhS-C^^^el:^- ------ - head ITh""'.'''' ""'' ■^='"'e"egativc movement of the head as though to put that question aside. came '^mZ"" '"V'^'C '''^^ *-"'-' °f > voice se;^dst:ssrx^::r;r;;r^^'^'»^^ that had not ..nown them for ma:;^ !> H "IS not breathe a word while he saw t. at Arthur" message them '°T'''- '■''^ ="'^"" °f ^- woods around them seemed to weigh upon the little group as thev he d the,r breath to hear that faint voice ^ It came again: "Write or tell her how I died Not to gneve too long-so young-tell her "-and the vo.ce seemed to gather a strange strength-- teller last, only thought of her-tried all day to live fo 1,/; -must give up now-meet agum " With some remembrance or habit picked up in foreign lands, he managed feebly to raise one hand, and lowly pamfully, to cross himself on his breast ^' Either that or the effort of speaking brought back that dreaded stream of red, and as they^trove to staunch the hemorrhage they were all three sure that h life had gone out with it. But a feeble pulse still fluttered in the wrist tt it Antomette grasped. She pointed to it, and sho^k he head when the two men would have lowered his head and drawn her away. ' 290 THE NIGHT-HAWK U:J She had seen Arthur, in, apparently the very mo- to tt .'h riT"'": '°° '"'^ "^'"^^ f°' her toufh to tarmsh. That signed cross had seemed to put her away from h.m in the outer spaces of both ti^ and woriJ t, '"'"'' '^""'^' '■" °"'' P^°Eress through the world, before we are laid to rest in its bosom. I„ those moments much that had made part of An tomette's self died, while the maimed resri.! on fro .h° I'V"'^ "*=" =^^="" "'<='- else ;Sri:h from the shock of mutilation. ^ The hours ,f the long day wore on, and the wounded man lay qu.te sti 1, without any further effort at speech Mr Parke brought some rough food and put h 12 Antomette's hand, but the effort to swallow'^it cLked However, she eagerly drank something called bv courtesy cofTee. .nd even that gave her^ome fresh strength. At last, as the vivid southern sky was mcT lowmg mto sunset, the trampling of horses' feet was heard, and a httle group of unkempt soldiu. in gTev rode up. guided by Rynn. ^ ' ^Jhe first word spoken was. Ryan's quick. "Is he th^T^:;;:^''^'^"-^^*^— '^--i^tosay Then a lean weather-worn man slipped from his " FACING DEATH •• ,g, Each haggard face was turned to him with a n.w become a part of life's routine The silence was breathless while his deft hnn,l u ered about the wounrI» Tk u ^""^ ''°V" pI^a^l^'lTo'^tSi^^s": '7 "k '''^"'>' °' --• rm going to do mT We best tr Y ""■' T "^' ^"^ sudden sharp tone of .^In, •"• ^'"=" ''" ^ She's p,a,ed''o;rat:i,/r" ''"""''' "^°°'' °--' For the tall figure h^d swayed dizzilv and th. were reaching out in a helnless hi VnH """" suppo.t, before Antoinette s k unl • ^"'P'"^ f""- Parke's ln«ni„ . i unconscious mto Mr of the cabin ofa roufh bed'o'f d ""= """:!:'' ^"''^ seemed exquisite rest to h ^. ^'■'''' '''"'^'^ ^^^ limbs. ""^ exhausted stiffened 292 THE NIGHT-HAWK He paused, seeming to have some difficulty in bring- ing out his next words. " The doctor says that his vitality is wonderful, and that he shouldn't wonder if he were to pull through all right. Of course, just now it's still a bit of a toss-up. Now you must rest. Good-night." He had scarcely left her before Antoinette's eyes were closed in sleep, from which she never woke until the sun was high the next morning. CHAPTER XXXIII DIVERSE PATHS The golden sunshine was glorifying even that dis- mal little hovel and a mocking-bird was pouring out his soul in his morning libation as Antoinette awoke to a puzzled sense of her surroundings. Someone had already thought of her comfort, for a fire of pine faggots, that perfection of fires, was crack- ling on the old hearth-stone. Near it stood a tin pan- nikin of water. It was not much to have done for her, but the sight brought a few hot tears to her eyes. She had come to a pass wb-T the commonest kindness struck her with a pathetic sense of wonder. A dull, painful red burned in her cheeks, with the dawning remembrance of how Arthur had turned from her even while she was using her last strength in his service. Lying there in the morning stillness her mind went back for the first time over those eventful hours since she had stood and watched them making ready the dinghy to take her ashore. She realised with ah the acuteness of her keen intellect that Arthur's prognosti- cation had been right. She, if only by her mere pres- ence, had added to his perils. But it was not only her presence. She had delayed 293 294 THE NIGHT-HAWK mm the starting of the boat, and then by that uncontrolled impetuous movement had upset it. She guessed that but for the delay in saving her they would all have been safely ashore before the Yankee boat \ns re; ' ' within range. Those cruel wou s that she had staunched were really her doing. How Arthur must have loathed her as he felt a life of so much promise ebbing away. No wonder he had turned his head away from the sight of her. Why, why had they not left her to lie in peace under the water? It was at least the shore of her own country, that country that she had never wronged. She would have rested there well. Warwick would have grieved when he heard of it, but even for War- wick it would have been better so. He would have thus sooner forgotten her, and at the thought of Warwick a sob of new loneliness broke from her. Held in the bondage of such thoughts, she stood staring out of the little square window, innocent of glass, into the sombre green shade of the pine woods. She was roused by Mr. Parke's voice outside. " 1 heard you move and came to tell you that I am keeping a hoe-cake and some coffee for you at the fire. You must be famished. The captain is no worse, peri haps even a shade stronger. Everyone is getting dried and rested." Antoinette looked down at her torn and limp gar- ments, with, even in that hour of intensest self-abase- ment, a feminine distaste for being so unpleasant an object. She tried with her hands to smooth into some kind of order the dishevelled masses of her hair. DIVERSE PATHS 295 It says much for the perfection of her beauty that even in such a plight the doctor's tjlance was one of admiration as she came out to join him and Parke at their camp-fire. Mr. Parke's favourite author was Carlyle, and now a vision came to him of the stately uncrowned Marie An- toinette as she came forth in her poor rags to go from her prison to her death. He felt some intangible change in her from the impetuous highly-wrought woman of the day before. There was a calm as of one aloof from her surround- ings in the pale face and the big mournful eyes. The doctor scrutinised her with professional keen- ness. " Ah, you look a little less corpse like than you did last night," he said. " I was sorry that I could not do more for you, but the captain's case took all my time." " He is no worse ? " she asked. " Better, decidedly bette- Pulse stronger, and very httle fever. I am going to try to take him up to Wilmington in a pilot-boat to-night. There will be very little exertion for him, and he would do so much better in the hospital there." A look of terror had come into her eyes. "But the cruisers— the danger of any excitement for him." " Oh, that will be all right," was the cheerful answer. " Perhaps you don't know that you were all but at the point of safety under Fort Fisher guns, when they drove you ashore. I saw the wreck yesterday as we came along." " The poor Night-hawk ! " she said with a sigh. 296 THE NIGHT-HAWK Antoinette made a kind of breakfast on the corn-cake and coffee wliich Mr. Parke had produced with apolo- gies for the quality. " I tried hard to get you an egg. but it seemed an unattainable thing. A gourmet would have a bad time in the South just now," he said. All the same, she looked better for the food, as she rose from her seat on a log. " I am ready now to look after Captain Arthur, if you need me," she said gently to the doctor. " Oh, Mr. Hewitt and I are doing ver; -^11, takiii<; turns about. There's not much to distracf ouratt<.'i- tion about here. And as he is quite conscious now, the sight of a fresh face might excite him. Besides, you yourself need all the rest that you can get, after what you have gone through. I was amazed when they told me about it. Been undressed yet? I thought not. We must find something for you to wrap your- self in while you get your things well dried by the fire." Antoinette acquiesced without remonstrance and a big army cloak was produced. Mr. Parke heaped up a great fire in her own end of the shanty, and she soon got her clothes into better order. Arthur had been moved the night before into the other cabin, so that she did not even see him. It was late in the afternoon when the doctor came to tell her that he would like her to take his place by Arthur. He and the others were about to busy themselves with preparations for his move to the shore. They wanted to give him a chance of resting before he was taken on board the boat at dark. DIVERSE PATHS 297 For a moment Antoinette almost seemed to shrink back, while a vivid crimson swept over her face. Then, bowing her head, she went silently in, and sat down on the log, placed as seat, a little behind the head of the improvised bed on the floor. Arthur seemed to be in a quiet sleep, and she sat motionless, careless of time or surroundings, all her being wrapped in the study of that face, familiar to her in so many different aspects, but never until now with the pallor of suffering and weakness over it. Presently his eyes opened languidly, but she did not move until he said, " Hewitt ! " Then she came for- ward within sight, saying gently, "Did you want anything ? " He shook his head and closed his eyes, and the silence fell again between them while her slow tears dropped one by one. Towards sunset the improvised litter of blankets on poles was ready, and again they turned their faces shorewards. Obeying the doctor's directions Antoinette took her place on one side of Arthur while he walked on the other, both ready with careful hand to ease any jar or smooth any uneasiness. "That's all right!" the doctor said with a long breath of relief, as the precious burden was lowered by the men with infinite care on to the soft sand of the beach. " Stood it better than I thought— no hemorrhage," he said after a careful inspection. The getting on board the little craft in the dim twi- 298 THE NIGHT-HAWK light haze was not so simple a matter. But it was sails were filled by a soft southerly breeze They dodged and drifted alternately for a little while unfl, the point of safety reached, they were able to go steadily on their way up the river them" "t^ITT" ^"^"f"'""^ -«^ ^P^eading among ondi'tio? lT7^t '^'"'''""y '""'''^"^ ^''h Arthur-: was Ser/"'"'' ''''' ^" ^°"" ^"'^^^ '^-'-^'th Antoinette had relieved guard so that the men could The tinkle of a chain which she wore on her wrist caught his ear with its familiar sound. "Nearly at Wilmington?" he asked with the wist- fulness of helplessness. " Nearly there," she answered bravely. " I hope vou are not very tired." ^"opcyou He let this pass as he did most such words. " Do you want me to nurse you ? " she askpd n=.cf hopes thrilling with life in her heart ' ^ ' " Thanks, no,_plenty nurses at the hospital. Not He had settled the question. It was parting then. " Very well," was her quiet answer. DIVERSE PATHS 299 "You'll be all right?" he asked, as with an after- thought of compunction. " Oh, yes. I must attend to my business at once you know. But I think you should not talk any more.' 1 he doctor will be scolding me." And so, in the light of the early morning Antoinette stood on the wharf and saw Arthur carried to the ambulance that soon hid him from her sight She had made no effort to say farewell, nor, indeed to attract his attention in any way since those last words on the deck. The sense of utter isolation from the last of personal ties or feelings that came over her as she turned town- wards almost made her light-headed. But a long, striding step sounded behind her, and Mr. Parke was at her side. " You mustn't slip away like that by yourself," he said. " I am coming with you to take care of you " Her laugh was a very gentle one, with that new gen- tle aloofness that puzzled him. "Oh, I am used to taking care of myself, and I thought that you were going to the hospital with the captain. " Oh, Hewitt has gone. He would rather have him than anyone," and something in his voice made her fancy that he too might feel lonely. Still she pro- tested. " But you cannot stay with me, for I am on mv way to report myself at very high quarters." _ "Oh, well, I'll see you there," he compromised, walk- mg along with her. Before leaving her, he had, with the quiet pertinacity 300 THE NIGHT-HAWK that marked him, got Antoinette to tell him where he would find her later. It was to a very worn haggard man in whose face might be read the coming doom of the nation, that Mrs. LeMoine presently told her story. " If everyone had been a, staunch and tireless as you, things might have looked brighter to-day," he said as she ended. " And now what do you do ? " Antoinette had flushed into brightness under his praise. " Whatever you may want me to. If you have any further tasks for me, I am ready to your hand. If not —well, I will go and plant cabbages," and she smiled gratefully at him. The states.-nan seemed to ponder a matter before he spoke again. " There is one affair," he hesitated, " but it is a dan- gerous one, and I hate to ask you to go. It seems as though you had done your share already. But it is of great importance, in fact it is almost my last hope of lengthening the struggle. You could do it better than anyone else, I know— but " he paused. " I will go," she said, simply. " Where is it ? " " It is in New York, and you will have to get through the lines." " That is an easy matter," she answered lightly to hide a certain chill of dismay. She hated to acknowl- edge even to herself that a Northern prison was the one thing that she most feared. She had heard strange tales whispered of the insults that some women had undergone in them. A glow of admiration lit the man's tired face. get DIVERSE PATHS 301 " If you succeed it will be your crowning service to your country, he said enthusiastically. " Many a gen- eral has won a battle without doing more for our free- brriXci;?.""^- ^°-^- '^y y- -- -" shi' :::;;2reTbrri;: '"' '^" " '-'-' -"'- ' '^"-" '•It shall never perish while some of us, who know what you have done, still live," he answered warmly .tr^n'T"''^ '"'"' ^'"^y ''■°'" tl'i^ interview with a n^w strength and serenity in face and bearing outed'h'" 'I^' '''^ ^'- ^"^' ^°"Sht her out and in- quired her plans. "Secrets of state," she mockingly answered him. ' He was not to be put of! so easily. J' T"","???" '■'f " '° '■™^'" ^'°"^ '" this unhappy country ? he asked. '^^ agreS'"''' '°" ^ ^"^°"^ '''''' y°" '^"°«'" ^^e "Because," he said, slowly, •• I have just had an offer to take out the Spindrift to Nassau. She is a new blockade-runner, with captain and first officer both laid up here with fever." ''But that is splendid, isn't it ? " she said heartily Yes, It IS one caance in a hundred, but I want to take you with me." Antoinette tried to treat the idea as a joke •'Really you must be an Irishman to think of such a thing It would be worth while getting all but drowned coming here, just to turn around and go back agam the next day. What put such an idea into your 303 THE NIGHT-HAWK Mr. Parke hardly seemed to be listening to her words and his usually impassive face was strangely troubled. His voice was somewhat hoarse as he began : " Ah, but drop all those secrets and schemes that can only get you into worse dangers yet, and come away with me, and let me marry you, and take care of you. " I know that it is presumption in a rough sailor like me to speak of such a thing. But, although I have knocked about in queer places, I do come of gentle folk at home; so that I would know better what you needed, and I would try so hard to please you ! I never thought to ask any woman again to share my fate, but when I saw you so brave, so beautiful, so lonely, I— well, I've been able to think of nothing else since " He paused, and she laid her hand gently on his, with a soft light in her eyes. " Mr. Parke, if evsr a woman had a kind and honest friend, I have had one in you. Believe me, I have been more grateful than perhaps I seemed. I am so sorry to give you pain, but, ah ! it is impossible. I must go on my way alone ! " Mr. Parke's face was drawn into deeper creases than ever as he said hoarsely : " Well, it can't be helped. I hardly thought that you :. otdd. But won't you all the same let me take you away from all these troubles? " She smiled sadly and shook her head. "There is nowhere I want to be, nowhere that I could be of any use save among my own people," she answered gently. " I must stick to my work. I am DIVERSE PATHS 303 best and happiest at that. But-thcrc is one thine I must say " she hesitated, Hushing deeply tZ^tA-T^^"" ''°''^°" "" "'"'' f^^e'^"-- »"<= thing necLllt T'" y '"'°''"'^' ^''°"' 'he diamond necklace, you know. For a moment Mr. Parke stared bewildered, and then, to her surpnsc, even in the sepulchral gloom of hi re3rhr"' "^ '^"^'^'' °"- ^'■^" ^''— '' - mo'nILr%'"'''-'''" ^' '"'"y '1"'='^ 'hings done in TwltH •'""""'"' - I have, you would know how httle .mprcsion it made on me. One needs o have seen a battle or a shipwreck-lVe seen both- them"°V. *''''"^''"^''^ P^°P'<='^ "<=-" can play them. Ah no, you must never worry yourself about tTn^- fu ^ f.^'nember how beautiful you looked standing there." and he took her hand into the grasp of one of h.s, wh.le he patted it gently with his other any to'e"°"' ' " "^ ^°°^-''>'^' -'^ "°' '-"^le you turned aL''"'' '°""'''' T'' °"^'^*' '°°'^ '"'° hers, he turned and was gone. And so these two parted. CHAPTER XXXIV WARWICK'S QUEST In those days all news that came of the blockade- runners, or from the beleaguered land, was uncertain as to date, and often as to accuracy as well. There were as autumn came, at least two in Halifax who counted t .'e t'"^ IT^ TM^'y '''°"''^ •'"^^ ^"""^ "'dings of the N.ght-hawk. Mabel Evans went on her ser!phic path of church work, with her smile as serene as ever _ Her ather, however, was unaccountably morose and i^tdi;:^'^'^^"^'^"^^----''-- Ho^dS Major Warwick, too, with each succeeding week of suspense, drew more into his shell, his comrades noticing how thm and gaunt he had grown ^ One la.d the change to the worry over the unaccounted^ for explosion at the powdc^,,, gazine. Another heory held that he had never looked the same s nee h.s southern charmer had vanished from the scene He couldn't have blown her up in the powder magazme, and be suffering from remorse," sugglsted one youngster, who was promptly snubbed fofflip Major 'Warwick was popular with both old and young ofh,s comrades, and these new moods of hTs were respected and allowed for 3Q4 VARWICK'S QUEST Nearly two months had L'one an,I n,„ even the autumn were h^n^'of r T" ""'' the appearance of Warwick ^ .hJ ;"w'""'' The-the passengers? What of them ? Wanvick asked briefly. °' " Nothing seemed to be definitely known about them as ar as I could learn. But thc'y must L ly b able^to tdl you something definite on board the South! the^bIo1'!^'°'' "° "■■"' '■" '■"'^'■-'"ving the captain of thereiy """"' '"' '"" "°' «-" -"ch sat'faction The captain told how he had been all h„f .,, i through the blockading fleet off Wil^ g ^n fo.ete had discovered that Fort lM.;l„.r i, j i, , held by the Northerner '^l^^^^ltZ^ to^urn and flee for safety through the outside dangers A pilot whom he had picked up had pointed out to h.m part of the hull of a ship on the sn'. ,, which I^e s,d had been the Night-hawk, blown u, o^ her own crew. He was not quite sure of the facts, but seemed to_th.nk that there could be little doub of their S 3o6 THE NIGHT-HAWK " If they really blew up their ship they wouldn't have too easy a time of it, either," he ended with. " If there were any ladies on board, they would surely not imprison them, too ? " Warwick asked in a curiously dulled tone. " They would, like a shot, if they were well-known Southerners, or had been at all active in their sympa- thies. Tell you what, this is no kid-glove war, sir." A sudden afterthought seemed to come to the man who asked : " What's this that I heard them say about Mrs. LeMoine being on board ? " Warwick was startled by some significance in the man's manner. " She was on board, yes. Why do you ask ? Do you know her?" he asked quickly. " I know of her, and I know how well the Yankees know her. If they've got her now, they may make it pretty nasty for her." Warwick could say nothing. He was too heart-sick. With brief farewell and thanks he left the captain and went his way. A northern prison! He had often heard the wild tales of the day relating to such placpi. A dull rage possessed him at thought of the woman he loved being alone in such scenes of misery. No wonder that he tramped miles through the sombre autumn twilight before returning to his lonely quarters to one of the night watches that were helping to sprinkle his hair with grey. By the next morning his resolution was taken. No matter what had been Mrs. LeMoine's commands, or his own promises, he would no longer loiter away his days in this aimless round, while she might be in such WARWICK'S QUEST 307 peril. He would apply for three months' leave at once. Ai his old general was gone he did not anticipate any din:CM!fy ;n getting it. At any rate, if by any chance he ohould I, ; refused leave, he would give up his com- nitssio.;. What did even his once dearly-loved profes- sion matier compared with Antoinette s safety? He lost no time in setting the necessary machinery to work. Then he found that even with his leave, he had no moans of gt-tting south sooner than by the Bermuda boat, which was to sail in little less than a week's time. And so, with what patience he mi-rht he waited. It was a few days after his decision that' he received a dainty note from Mabel Evans. She tenderly reproached him for not having been to see her of late, when his sympathy would have been such a comfort through " this harrowing time of sus- pense." She had always felt, she added, that he had under- stood her better than most, and she had hoped that he would have come unasked to share her trouble. Now she begged him to delay no longer but come to her at once, as she had something of great importance which she could say to him alone. So absorbed was Warwick in his own one idea that he paid no attention to the tone of this epistle. Mabel would have been flattered indeed if she could have guessed what a tumult the sight of her writing had aroused in him. For what could it mean but that she had received a communication from Arthur which would almost certainly include news of Mrs.' LeMoine. And so he hastened out that westerly road, as eagerly 308 THE NIGHT-HAWK as ever he had done on those past summer days, when it led him to the sight of what he loved best. But, scarcely inside the gate, the mela.icholy aspect of the place struck him with a sense of chill. The fallen leaves lay thick under the sombre whispering pines, and through the bare white birch-trees gloomed the steel-grey, wind-swept water. The last time that he had been at the house was on the occasion of Adair's marriage to Hattie. Now they were on their way to India, and love and hope and sunshine seemed to have gone with them. But, once inside the door, all was the usual quiet cozy comfort. If he had thought to notice it he might have seen what an effective picture Mabel made, as she sat gazing pensively into a wood fire. That her dress was all black, he did notice with a sudden sinking of heart what the fact might foretell. The stiff white collar and cuffs worn with the plain black dress gave her a nunlike look, and her smile and bearing carried out the scheme. It was more pensiveness than sadness that they suggested. Hattie had often said that she could tell Mabel's moods by the dresses she wore. Stretching out a languid white hand in greeting, she murmured : " How kind and like yourself to come so soon ! " But Warwick, discarding formalities, asked eagerly : " Have you had news from Arthur ? " Mabel's pensiveness deepened genuinely. She hated not to be the first consideration with her audience. She had expected some comment on her sad and lonely aspect. " Nothing directly from him," she had to acknowl- WARWICK'S QUEST 309 edge with a sigh, " but of course I have been told all that the Captain of the Southern Belle said " She paused. Then, with a touching little show of emotion • But oh, Major Warwick, I knoiv that he is dead ' " "Please tell me what you mean?" Warwick de- manded, with a strong effort at patience. Mabel had sunk back in her low seat, and he stood by the fire looking down at her. The lovely face was turned up to him with more open signs of distress. "Please don't think me very foolish! Indeed I would not have troubled you if I had not been 'so utterly lonely. Hattie is gone, and my father is so changed and gloomy that I am sometimes quite fricrht ened by him. I felt that I should go mad if I had not some one kind to talk to ! And you always seemed to understand so well what I was feeling ' " Warwick gave little heed to the tremulousness of her voice, or to the brimming over of the soft, blue eyes. "Please try to tell me what is troubling you ? " he urged, gently enough, but with something in his in sistence which caused Mabel to control her sorrow " I suppose it is foolish, but I have been so unhappy since I had such a strange dream a few nights ago " she began, with clasped hands. " I thought that I saw Captain Arthur struggling in the waves. He had nearly reached some safety, a boat, I think, when I saw Mrs. LeMoine's arms around his neck, and I heard him say,-oh, I heard his voice so plainly,— 'As long as we go together, what does it matter?' And their faces were both happy as the water covered them. I could 310 THE NIGHT-HAWK still see them going down, down together ! It seemed as though I had lost him doubly. Death at least would leave one an ideal " and a sob finished the sentence. If Warwick had not been strung up to such a state of expectancy, he might have showed some pity for Mabel's fanciful woes. As it was, he found some diffi- culty in keeping from swearing outright. "And is this what you had to tell me?" he asked, and his voice told Mabel that her pretty little scheme of winning his heart on the rebound had failed. " I know how silly you must think me," she sobbed, with genuine tears of vexation. "But if you only knew how unhappy I am ! I feel so certain that Arthur must be dead, or that I shall never see him again. He only went on this last voyage to please Mrs. Le- Moine. I always thought that she had great influence over him ; didn't you ? " And she looked up guile- lessly into Warren's face. H;, however, cut directly through her innuendoes. " I must say I hardly see what Mrs. LeMoine's in- fluence has to do with Arthur being dead or not. And what is more, I do not for a moment believe that either of them is dead. Some word of it would have reached us if they were." Mabel sighed, before she began in a low, reluctant voice, as if it were forced out of her : " Have you never thought that perhaps they had escaped together to Nassau, or some such place, and that we may never hear of them again ? " The moment's pause seemed very long to her, before Warwick answered her question. WARWICK'S QUEST 3,, "Thank God! I have never had such thoughts of my fnends as that ! " he said, sternly, before going on in a calmer voice : fa s "" '' However, I intend to do my best to put a stop to h.s uncertamty, which has evidently upset your nerves. I have got three months- leave, and am starting for Bermuda m a few days. I shali get through somehow from there to Wilmington " Poor Mabel ! Her hands dropped helplessly in her lap. and she sat stanng at her toppled-ovcr ai^^ castle. She was, then, never to have the chance of being a baronet s w.fe. unless Arthur should be really alive and outlive his cousin. " I will do my best to send you any tidings that I may gather," Warwick said, more mildly He felt as though he had been breaking a butterfly on the wheel, in being wroth with so futile a creature Now that the first keenness of the disappointment was over he felt gnmly amused at her pathetic attempt at another assault on him. Good Heavens ! this was the g.rl whom his cousin set upon a pinnacle and bowed down to ! But Mabel was not crushed yet. With a guileless upward glance, she asked softly : t.""eiess search"? "°" '^'""^ *'''*' ""^ f^'herwill join you in your After all. she had scored last, and his answer, " Not that I am aware of," was of the shortest, as were his adieus. And so Warwick turned his face southward It was however, by devious ways that he reached his destination. 312 THE NIGHT-HAWK The palmy days of blockade-running were over. The Northern fleets had increased in quality and quan- tity, and so had the percentage of captures. English shipowners had become discouraged as to the venture of further capital. However, from Bermuda Warwick got a passage in a man-of-war to Nassau. From thence he got across to Florida, making his way northwards through the war- ravaged land, still dauntless in its last year of endur- ance. The sights that he saw upon that journey were des- tined to remain long fixed in Warwick's memory. He was stayed by bad roads or broken-down com- munications at lonely plantations where solitary women Ef-aunchly faced what was next door to starvation for t.iem and their children. Meals were set before him of which he tried to eat no more than would sustain his strength, it seemed so like taking the food out of the mouths of women and children. But how v/illingly it was offered when they learned that he was an Englishman, and had come from Halifax, where he had perhaps seen some relative or friend. He had not gone far before every little trifle from his travelling bag had been scattered as a gift, so small but so valued. A novel and some old newspapers filled a whole household with rapture. The gift of a paper of pins sent a blue-eyed girl flying off on horseback to distrib- ute some of her treasure-trove amongst her dearest friends. Some envelopes and note-paper brought tears to the eyes of an old lady as she told how the last WARWICK'S QUEST 3«3 blank sheet of paper had been taken from the library books and even the supply of wrapping paper ha^ J; te to'heT ''^' ''' \'' ''' nothinglff o^ w'hLh ^o ■vn eto her sons at the front. In those days War aTcru";:;''''^'"-"'"-^-'^---o^war^- At last after many delays he reached Wilmin htrdtt;;;:r--'"^'°-^°--^'--i^^^^^^^ s the most important name that they would have given you in Washington. He is the centre of the Southern ebe'can ^'^ "' "" '^° ^°' ^^^ ^'"^' "° °"'-' " That is good news, and now good-bye " «1;"'^.!.''^'T° '° ^"■^'"g'^'y thrown together grasped each other's hands warmly before separating It was in the darkness of the end of the night that Warwick drove out of Richmond, in a buggy with his new friend, Mr. Butt. The dawn came, then the sunshine, and still they 33' THE NIGHT-HAWK jocgcd along the heavy, red the British His children were educated by English tutors and fo°xr """' °" '="°"^'' '° •'^ =-^ ""-"" With all his insularity he was a successful business man and occupied a respected position. f.Z l^u T' ^' ^^^ '''"'''^ '° '^^^^ "-ore into his am,Iy shell than ever. It is certain that he came in for some of the unpopularity of all things Brit sh There were even occasional rumours of his Southern fSte?' '"' -'"^ ''"'' "°* ^^"^-" -'So; It credited, were ignored. Heedless alike of good and evil report, ho went on his stohd way and held his tongue. It needed a case of genuine distress in one of his country people to reveal the warm heart that bea under the somewhat grim exterior His greeting to Warwick had been most cordial It does one s heart good to meet a man fresh from 339 , Si I M 340 THE NIGHT-HAWK the old country in this fractious land," he said heartily. " Not quite fresh, eh? Stationed at Halifax and been to the South, and made your way up through the lines ? Strange idea of a pleasure jaunt ! Well, and now I suppose you want to see the sights of New York ? " " My errand is business, not pleasure." " Then I am even more likely to be of use to you. I am at your service." Warwick looked straight into the keen, grey eyes, under their heavy, white eyebrows. " I have come to find a lady, Mrs. LeMoine, and I have been given to understand that you can help me." Instantly Mr. Oliver's face hardened into impas- sivity. " Mrs. LeMoine ? " he repeated, as though the name were strange to him. " And what made you suppose that I would know Mrs. LeMoine ? " Although guessing the reason of this caution, War- wick felt strangely baffled by it. " I was told in Richmond that you could help me," he said. " I know that she is in danger, and I have come to do what I can to help her." " She is in danger, yes," the other gravely acknowl- edged. " In too great danger, perhaps, for me lightly to reveal her whereabouts. Excuse me, but you are asking confidence from me, and I think you should first give it." Warwick saw the necessity of frankness, and rapidly gave a sketch of the events of the past summer. He may have revealed more than he guessed, for by the time the tale was finished, the stony reserve in the banker's face had changed to a fine glow of approval. ' THE RED WOLF " 341 " And, like a brave Englishman, you came to the rescue," he said, with a hearty hand on Warwick's shoulder. Then his face fell, as he went on : " And the rescuing will be no child's play, either ! It cost me my last night's rest, pondering how I could get her away. She is in a boarding-house, a quiet, decent-enough place. But the police have got on her track, and the place is watched night and day to pre- vent her escape. I don't understand why they haven't arrested her before now. They know well enough who she is, and they want her badly, too. " It was a wicked deed, sending her here at all. A reckless attempt at propping up a falling cause with money. That is what she was sent to me for." Warwick agreed with every word, but i.-.; was at a stage when all words seemed superfluous. " Can nothing be done to get her out of the house ? " he demanded. " I think I may manage that, but then how to get her out of the country ? With an appearance so strik- ing " " She could go safely enough as an English officer's wife," was Warwick's quiet interruption. The other stared at him for a moment speechless before bursting out : " God bless you for an honest-hearted gentleman ! It can be done ! It shall be done, I say ! And I shall give away the bride, too." For nearly an hour longer these two men debated and schemed, until they had evolved some plan that seemed practicable. Over one point they diflered long r 34a THE NIGHT-HAWK Mr. Oliver wished Warwick not to meet Antoinette until he himself had persuaded her to act as they wished. Warwick stuck out for one interview, and finally gained his point, although Mr. Oliver declared that any previous meeting between them added to the risks of the scheme. At last everything was decided, and they proceeded to put their plans into action. Meantime, whilst they schemed on her behalf, Antoinette was silting alone in her dingy bedroom in a gloomy boarding-house. Her face was thinner and more worn, and showed in its line the mental and physical strain through which she had been passing. It was two days since she had been out in the fresh air, days in which she had sat there, momentarily ex- pecting her arrest. The last time that she had gone out, she had been tracked all the way, and she had decided not to venture again. She felt a nervous horror of being arrested in the street, with a gaping crowd gathering round, and she preferred to await her fate indoors. In these hours her isolation was pressing very heavily upon her. Mr. Oliver, to whom her business had taken her, had shown a ,ery kindly interest in her. She had thought of trying to let him know of her plight. But a re- membrance of the peril that any intercepted communi- cation of hers might bring upon him had checked her. She would bear her own burden. " My lovers and my friends hast thou put away from "THE RED WOLF" 343 me and removed mine acquaintance out of my sight " fu u^^ f "™"«d t° herself with a fantastic smile. She had already prepared for the end by destroying all letters and papers, and by concentrating a few necessary belongmgs into a small hand-bag. There was nothing more to be done save wait. Once she turned impetuously to her writing mate- rials, and began a letter to Warwick. In these past two months the thought of him had grown nearer to her and the knowledge of his feeling for her had become the most steadfast part of herself. Now, the courage failed her to pass out of his life and leave no sign. He should know at least how fully she had learned to value the love that he had lavished upon her. Sheet after sheet, she covered without a pause, but when once she hesitated, she wrote no more • ?*,"'!."^ '?*^'' °^" *•"= P^^" '^^ had covered, she sighed deeply, and then slowly tore them into little bits. There were ten chances to one that they would never reach him. And even if they did, might it not be only to reopen a healing wound ? Life had not taught her too great a faith in her fellow-beings No. let ^ " Joy, and youth, and fame, and love and bliss. And aU the good that ever passed her door " go on their way, without any detaining supplication of voice or hand from her. She had given of the best that was m her for her country, let that be the only thing remembered of her. 344 THE NIGHT-HAWK As the fragments of paper fell in a white shower un- der her hand, a knock came at the door. Was this, then, the end to her suspense, and were the prison doors about to close on her ? Instinctively she rose as the door opened. To her intense surprise only one figure stood there, and that was the black-cloaked, black-hooded form of a sister of charity. Antoinette gave a gasp that was almost a laugh. Then, feeling her strange visitor's silence to be intolerable, she began : " I think you have made some mistake." As the doorclosed,a soft little laugh broke out from under the black funnel bonnet. In *he next moment this same bonnet was shoved back, -ealing the rosy young face, and plentiful flaxen hair of Mr. Oliver's Scotch niece. Maisie Oliver had made overtures of friendship to Mrs. LeMoine which the latter had skilfully eluded. Her present work had no place in it for a young girl's friendship. " Don't I make a fine sister of charity ? " Maisie de- manded gleefully. " But I mustn't waste time chat- tering. I am an emissary, Mrs. LeMoine!" Then with new gravity, " My uncle says that you are to do as you are told and act promptly now, if you would ever be a free woman again. You are not free now. The police are all around the house ! " " Yes, I know," was the quiet answer. Well, then, all the more reason you should be obe- dient. You are to put on this cloak and bonnet, and walk out of this house at once before they forget hav- ing seen me come in, or the twilight makes them pry closer. "THE RED WOLF" 3^5 "See, I have the black woollen gloves, and the bac that sisters always carry." " But I cannot leave you here." "You're not going to. I shall follow you in ten minutes or less." " But they will arrest you ! " " Why should they arrest a white-haired, well-dressed g.rl who comes out of a quiet boarding-house in broad dayhght. and who has her card -'^'"''O welcome befo.e ? It was sanctuary " indeed. From tl,e steps she ventured to cast one backward glance down the street. The man on watch was still lounging opposite the board-ng-house. Surely, she was' safe P The fnendly gloom o. the church interior received her. Here, , .lUcnt nght. A plain, kind-looking woman cam ^ . '.ard.a- the formula was exchanged. ►e-.cm 'ne:,!i..i;ss. Sit down and rest for a iron. -..t. KaiiniO,!, Am' -I i'l'.cc 1 , u " M • hei from Pre.cr - car prii.se God even in the house of , ill . said a Scotcli accent. ■ 'lev .-.. a,' for awhile; and the peace of the . I ■ soothmt' touch upon Antoinette's spirit. ' u.th magnify the Loru," came back to I'.er e » 1 on-ent days. he V,. man touched her on the arm with a whispered inquiry if she felt ready for fhc walk As they left the church they saw the sky all golden with the sunset, and the joy of life rose again in An- toinette. If only .he might escape imprisonment and live and move in the light of the sun ! She walked easily and quickly beside her companion, who glanced at her stronger bearing with approval At last they came to a house that was evidently a comfortable home. They passed swiftly in. and Antoinette found herself caught in the arms of a brilliant blue apparition " My own sister of charity ! Captive of my bow and spear! cried the shrill, girlish voice " Hush, Maisie ! Get her in here before any of the servants see her dress ! " l^^ I - In 348 THE NIGHT-HAWK The last speaker was Mrs. Malcolm, whom Antoinette had already met. Here was a bedroom where there was another dis- guise all ready for her to put on before any of the household should see her. " I am famous at my stage get-ups," Mrs. Malcolm announced, cheerfully. Antoinette looked with almost childish distaste at the dark wig and the heavy mourning dress laid out for her. " Must I wear them ? " she asked plaintively, and then laughed at her own folly. " Fancy a just rescued creature like me objecting to anything ! " she said gaily. Then, " How can I ever thank you both ? " she went on with tremulous voice. " Don't try," came quickly from Maisie. " Hurry with her get-up, Nan, and then bring her to have a comfortable meal, before they begin bothering her with interviews and with what comes next. She's had enough for the present" CHAPTER XXXIX WARWICK'S PLAN .pon hta .„d hi. L ..„ s;riS':r''°" .k'o.gh ,h. c,ci., J, „, si'/L"™': ' """• 1« Mure, .. Mr. 01I,„S a «™ . ''">"■'"'■' , , y- ^"" she now resolved to QPPt ;„ u iness-like fashion '" ^ ^^^ -tr.£/^--::2^--^oodon.. nature that ever ,.-e,ded L.^^lXS'"' ""'' "°' ^ The fire of logs crooned its low song of the woods. 349 350 THE NIGHT-HAV'K The shaded lamp filled the room with cheerfulness. The morning seemed like an evil dream from which she had awakened. The door was softly opened, and she raised her head with the instant alertness of one who expects evil tidings. The face of Maisie Oliver was, however, expanded in a broad smile of s,Atisfaction. " Uncle Oliver is downstairs settling all your affairs, like th; dear old despot that he is," she announced. " Do you feel enough rested for visitors ? " Antoinette never noticed that the girl had not speci- fied her uncle as the visitor. " Dear child, I have had nothing to tire me." The answer was cheerful, but it choked down a cer- tain faintness of heart that the breathing space had been so short, that the time for action had come so soon. She had risen and stood facing the door when the handle turned, and she saw Warwick standing in the doorway. For a moment he contemplated her unfamiliar dress and dark hair with a perplexed aspect. Then the calm joy of attainment covered his face. Was it a dream come in the midst of her loneliness, that those eyes rested upon with such tender scrutiny, that the voice deep with feeling said : " At last ! I have found you at last after such a weary search ! " " Did you come to look for me ? " A sob broke the words, and then she somehow found that his arms were around her, while her head sank to perfect rest on his breast. WARWICK'S PLAN Had she ever known 351 those all. Peace ! Security ! words before. Was there any earthly evil that could reach her through the barrier of those strong arms ? For a short words could have done. Then Warwick murmured low And you reaily wanted me? Somehow I never dreamt of such good as that." "Oh I have wanted you every moment since I left you, the soft voice answered. Then with a sudden start she tried to draw herself away from him. "But, oh how foolish and wicked I am to forget it U. You should never, never have come. I am a fuel- tivenow. I had been run down by the police spfes when these good kind people brought me here at great nsk and put them off my tracks for a time. But I must not stay here to bring trouble upon them." But Warwick's arm still held her, and there was no consternation in the face that looked down into hers. I know all about it," he said ; " I planned the get- tmg you here, with Mr. Oliver this morning " "Oh, I might have known," she broke in : but he went on : ' "And I fully realise that there is no time to be wasted here. Mr. Oliver says that they are sure to set a watch upon him as soon as your disappearance is known. I had hard work to get his permission to come here now. He thought it risky, but I could wait no longer for a sight of the dear face." It was a pale, distressed one that tried to smile up at 352 THE NIGHT-HAWK " Ah, you must not stay long," she whispered, " you must not be mixed up in the— the last " she drew a sharp breath as she spoke the words. He did not seem to heed them. " No, I must not stay for I have work to do." Then seeming to concentrate his force into every word, he went oi — " You know the seeming impossibility of your getting safely out of New York. There is only one way in which it is feasible. Tell me, will you trust and obey me implicitly for the next few hours ? It is the only chance." " I have always trusted you " " And never obeyed me. Well, reverse matters now if you like. You needn't trust me, only obey me." An involuntary laugh broke from Antoinette, but she persisted,—" I won't have you run any risks for me." ^ " What risks can come to a British subject ? " he protested stoutly. Then more gravely, — " Obedience to our wishes is what you owe to those who are do- ing their best to save you." The new sternness in his voice seemed to startle her. " Does Mr. Oliver want me to do it ? " she asked meekly. " Yes, he does, if his wishes carry more weight than mine," Warwick answered huffily. Lovers must have paused to squabble whilst Troy was burning. " Ah, don't ! " was her propitiating whisper, while one hand stole up towards his shoulder. WARWICK'S PLAN 353 {rnJ^''J°f' '"'^ '''*^" *•'""• "^°" a^e t° get away from th.s house at once, at least in half an hour or sT There .s a covered passage to their stable-yard. There you W.II get ,nto an open trap. They will give you a boy s hat and coat, and young Oliver will drive vou Town toT"'/°? '"^^*-''°y=- Hewil, X;::' boatsJl" "^ '''^' '°' '''' English nfail. est'wa" ch'!!!'- ""' ^''" *•'""' ^'•"^ ""' ""' *he strict- " Yes, I know. You could not possibly get on board an outward bound steamer. But there is a Cunard boat from England signalled coming in now. I shall go back to my hotel and announce that I am going down to meet my wife who is expected in her,-h s all right, beloved, don't be startled " This tender soothing was in answer to a quick movement and murmur within his encircling arm You are to be waiting for me, in an office on the wharf, of which young Oliver has the key. There thev W.11 have an ordinary travelling dress L you S there-,f you will, my beloved, if you will-Mr. ofver bnngs a clergyman who shall maro^ us. before we dnve back to the hotel. You will be safe then, as In takfl°n-t%"'^' '"^ '° "'' nothing, we shal BririsJtilT'' '"'" '° ""'''''''• ^"'^ -°" ^^ - .,^^71 '"^ u ^ P™"'' ""S '" '''"^ latter words that stored her heart, even as she started back in alarmed " Ah. no, no ! " she cried wildly. " Indeed it rin not be 1 God bless you for th'e noblest ;fmr? 354 THE NIGHT-HAWK But I can never commit such baseness as to let you save me at your own sacrifice." Then with a new thought :— " Oh, you mean that the marriage would be gone through with as a blind, for, you remember what I told you last summer " Her eyes fell before Warwick's smile. She was be- wildered by this new attitude of possession on his part " I have forgotten all webs of deceit that you wove for me last summer! I only know that Edward Castclle died last April, and that you are free to marry me. That is all I need to know ! Some day I shall tell you how I came to be so wise, and then I shall tell you what I think of the way you treated me. There is no time for it now! "I am going to marry you to-night, and carry you off like Bluebeard. We shall have all the rest of our lives to quarrel in." But Antoinette could only repeat wildly : " Ah, no ! It can never, never be ! You must go away and leave me to my fate." Then Warwick set his face as a flint, to the battle of their two wills. " Do you know that it is not a mere matter of a cer- tain time in ir rrisonment, but that there are threats against your .;i>, i I know this for a fact. They say that they have proof of your having shot a Northern officer." The deep flush of shame at a recalled insult dyed Antoinette's face as she answered : " It is true. I did shoot him. I-I was forced to But he did not die. I only wounded him." Thenj WARWICK'S PLAN 35$ w.th a discordant laugh,-" Doesn't even that show you how strange a wife I should make you ! Believe me, ,t was because I felt the incongruity of it that I deceived you last summer. Indeed, I had no choice in the matter. Captain Arthur said that if I let you know I was free he would take measures to make you give me up ! You see by that what he thinks of me • " The distress in her face wrung Warwick's heart. Damn Arthur and his opinions ! I shall have it all out with h,m some day ! " he said heartily. '■ But now dearest, promise that you will do as I ask ? " "I must not," she sobbed, " indeed, I must not. I will not rum your life." "It seems to me that you are doing your best in that line at present," he commented grimly _^ "Listen, then," he went on with the calm of despair. If you drive me away from you to-night, I shall not leave New York. When you are arrested, as you must be, I shall know of it. Then I shall give myself up as a man who has just come through the lines with letters from Richmond. There are easily found proofs against " No one would believe you." " I shall make sure of that."" Then, seeing her hesi- tate, he went on proudly: " If you object so much to marrying me, I will promise to leave you free as soon as we reach Canadian soil." She looked up into the face hardened in pride and anger. It was more than she could bear. Her two arms reached up to cling passionately to him, while she sobbed : 356 THE NIGHT-HAWK " Vou must know that you are all the world to me. Who else has ever cared for me and honoured me as you have done ? It was you who awoke me again to life and love. And it is because of my love that I cannot do this thing." Then a new note of security came into Warwick's voice. " That acknowledged love gives me a right to save you. It gives me a right to your obedience. What a hound I should be if I could live on with you dead or imprisoned! Our lives are irretrievably bound to- gether. It is too late now for any choice in the matter. You must yield to me." The inevitableness of fate was in his words, and An- toinette was silent. Their lips met as in a sacramental seal. It was hard for Warwick in such a moment of attainment to loosen his arms and leave her in peril. But there was much to be done in the next few hours that lay between them and safety. CHAPTER XL THE HOLY ESTATE OF MATRIMONY HAVING once yielded, Antoinette cast aside all fore- bodings. ™ tha?ha7"" ""f 1""" ''''' "°"^^°- unexpected joy ijut Mrs. Malcolm was quicker. 357 358 THE NIGHT-HAWK A good Idea, though it docs seem a pity ' Can't you see Maisie. how hard it would be toS up he ha.r under a boy's cap? It n,ight loose, at a cHtica 72^' ,T' ''"' ^^^^^'"''"^ A"d ifs rathe? " fash.on just now to wear it clipped, they say So L^Ui:;v'^°"^'' ^ -"■' -^ ->> 'o^ vr^int Antoinette shivered at the first ominous click of the sensors and looked sadly at the fallen lock as he gathered them into her hand. Then, with an attempt at a smile : ' A sacrifice to the fates," she s-ii,l " i that I had better bum it ? " '"PP°''= But Mrs. Malcolm .stayed her hand. Warwick V.T" ni- ''"' "''^ '"'• """ ''"^ •■' '° Major ished hZ" T "^ P"""""'-" ^"d her words ban- isned the momentary gloom. " Poor you are never to see your own particular "ggage again. I fancy." Mrs. Malcolm an' unc d Butweve put some things in one of our old sea trunks for you, and it will be on your carriage It be 3ed." '^'^"""^ '" '■' '' '^"''^ -f^' 'f ■•' should' ful'i,"°" ^°°'' ''°" ''" ■ " Antoinette murmured grate. and cap '''°"'^'''' ^' '^ey clothed her in overcoat But when they had crept silently out to the stable imbeT:: 7ol T'"'' f-"ve,ls\efore Antoinette ciimoed to .he high, spidery vehicle. THE HOLY ESTATE OF MATRIMONY 359 As the soft, damp sea-wind smote her face, Antoi nette rejoiced in the recovered sense of motion and activity. " How I love the sea-fog ! And how good it is to drive again ! " she said, with youthful gaiety, and her friendly, boyish driver laughed with her. Through crowded streets, by the more open spaces of docks and wharves, they passed, until they drew up at a great black warehouse pile. As a tall dark figure stepped out from the shadow of the doorway, they kept a wary silence. But a low voice came,—" It's Warwick." Then Antoinette felt herself lifted down by arms as gentle as they were strong. Could any other arms in the world be like them ? she wondered. Not another word was said, but she slipped her hand into his in the fashion of a child seeking familiar protection. " Be careful," he whispered. Only when they were well inside the building did he ask : "Is all quite safe? You were not followed, nor alarmed ? " " No." That's right. They have a lot of their people about the steamer, taking stock of the arriving passengers. I forgot to count on that. But we'll soon be off again." She laughed softly from the mere joy of his presence. His arm encircled her, and for a moment he held her close. Then, securing the door behind them, he led her down the passages, and up stairs, and finally threw open the door of a lighted room. She found herself in an ordinary, somewhat shabby, office, in the centre of which stood a little group of men. ^'■.■,?X- '.v.i,.- i 4-'. MfCROCOfY KSOIUTION TEST CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) 2.5 1.0 [rl^ I life it 1^ 12.0 1.8 ^ APPLIED ItvMGE Inc ^S*^ 165J East Main Slreel ^2 Roctiesler, New York 1*609 USA ■^— (^'6) 482 - 0300 - Phone ^= (716) 288- 5989 - Fa» 36o THE NIGHT-HAWK There were Mr. Oliver and his son, with a somewhat grim-Iooking parson. Mr. Oliver stepped forward, and took her hand in his hearty clasp. "Mr. Dunn is an Englishman," he said, with an in- troductory wave of the hand, toward the clergyman and he will give Major Warwick his own prayer-book service. No Presbyterian could be trusted with such a job in a hurry. They're all too long-winded." The parson stepped forward, and the two, brought together by such devious ways, stood before him As in a dream, Antoinette heard the words of the marriage service. When Warwick's firm voice took up the words, " for better, for worse, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part," she looked up steadily into his face. Had ever man given better proof of his right to use these words ? But ah, what if death, what if life were even now to part them ! Never before had she so cowered at the thought of a prison. ^ Warwick must have felt a shiver or a chill in the hand he held, for his eyes spoke courage to her, and ner spint answered his. at"^V*''°"' """^ ^P°''^" ^° ^^"t'y and clearly that Mr Ohver rubbed his hand over his eyes, and the lines ot Warwick s mouth trembled. To the spectators there was something very touching in this marriage under the shadow of deadly peril As the short ceremony ended, Warwick was the first to speak. THE HOLY ESTATE OF MATRIMONY 361 " You are safe now ! You are an Englishwoman ! " ne said proudly. He did not see the youthful Oliver shake his head dubiously. He had studied law and knew the slipperi- ness of the international marriage laws. Antoinette, her hand on Warwick's arm, received the congratulations with a smiling face. In that moment even in her quaint dress, she seemed rather the brilliant social queen, than the hunted-down political fugitive Hut the space for congratulations was short. " You will find your bonnet and other things in here, Mrs. Warwick," the old banker said, opening the door mto a side-room. 'Take plenty of time with your get-up. It is of importance." Antoinette was too practised a conspirator not to be well aware of this. There was a looking-glass placed on the table, and she concentrated her thoughts on it. Not a precaution would she omit that tended safety. Travelling hat, veil, gloves, all had been laid ready tor her use. With deliberate care she poised the smart little travelling-hat on her shorn locks and pinned a lace veil around it. She gave a strange smile of greeting CO the face that looked back at her from the glass A bride ! she whispered to herself. Warwick's eyes were fixed expectantly on th^ door as she opened it. He did not even glance rou as young Oliver came in. Ihe latter had been outsiue, and reported the coast apparently clear, and the carriage in waiting It was a hired cab, with luggage on the top, prepared for the arrival at the hotel. ^ r r 362 THE NIGHT-HAWK They were off, together, alone in the darkness, and Warwick drew his wife into his arms. Few words passed between them during that long drive. In silence they tasted the joy of each other's presence. Thej' were nearing their destination when Warwick came back to a consciousness of their surroundings. " We'll need all our wits about us in a few minutes. We are sure to be closely inspected as we arrive at the hotel. Still, Mr. Oliver vouches for the people of the house. In any case we shall not be there long, for we take the midnight train for Niagara. You would rather get it through with at once, wouldn't you ? " " Oh, yes," she answered quickly. " Would you mind it very very much if they were to take me away after all ? " " Don't, heart's dearest, don't ! " he whispered hoarsely, while the hold of his arms tightened around her. But she persisted : " But if they should, and you were never to see me again, you will always remember that it was for love's sake that I deceived you last summer, only for love's sake ! Ah, if you knew how sorely I wanted to let you love me, but I felt that I had no right to, and " — her voice faltered — " and I had promised." An ominous sound like the growl of a mastiff on guard came from Warwick. " But, believe me " — the sweet low voice went on — " I never was what he thought me. Life was very hard on mi. when I was young, and I stood very solitary. I made .nistakes, mad mistakes, but I never was bad. You do believe me, don't you ? " THE HOLY ESTATE OF MATRIMONY 363 "Dearest, I would die for that belief V > power shall tearyou from me now - Ah Lt ''" In a few hours the danger wil all f'tu'T'"^'' ahead wi„ stretch our ha^py ull toother """'' ^"'"^ oni/stircirkirvr'^r--- ' '^v^ T,f r '-'- ^"- '-Vorh lieV"''^^" O^I:;tl!^:----Pestde:.tion. wJ?onet:rhe?:^;r^ " '"•^' whUethewistfulnes., P-n^Jthatlin'^TC;""^-^ '"'■ -" ^•'^" ^ And he aia see, when wiH, . ^ assured manner, she tsurJ m '"'J""' f"*^^ ^"^ hotei. ' '"'"''^'y f°"°^^ed him into the kefnS :ot;:u\:frTh:itr ''■^' ^"^ -- furtively inspecting her trun'X 'fha't T, ^^"° ^ lounge back to where anoth., , ""^ ^*"' ^im type was smoking and at/eTh ' ■''■^''''>' '^'^^"- with him, go out exchangmg a few words " I do not want any sunn^r t a bit," she said quietly vhe„ W ."''^ ''''^'' --''' ^'^^ But she folloled nu ti 1 ^^^^'^^ referred to her. of the house/' "''" ^"^ '^« went out 364 THE NIGHT-HAWK "Good God ! " Warwick said, staring at her blankly, his heart sinking with a sick dread. " Why did I ever bring you here? I told Mr. Oliver that it was fear- fully rash, but he insisted that we must bluff them " "He probably was right. That man being there may have been only chance." she answered almost care- lessly. " Are you sure of his identity ? " " Yes. He had been pointed out to me " Jhen dropping her indifferent manner, she laughed " Who is it that is afraid now ? Go down and eet some supper, and mention the fact that I am resting. I will lock the door while yc 1 are gone." " I will not leave you for a moment. They might carry you off without my knowing." .. .f^'l ^^'^ "'"" """^ '*°°'^ '^'"^ I'^f hant^ on h'"^ arm Well, mightn't that be best? I wouldn't want to see your eyes f/ieit, you know." She had begun the words lightly, but as they ended broke down and clung to him. " My poor gay bridegroom ! What a dower I bring you she said with something between a sob and a laugh. '; Antoinette ! Don't ! " he said with the sharpness of intolerable pain. " You know more of all this than I do ! Try and think what is best to be done, and I will do it." The appeal in his voice again shook her composure • but making a strong effort, she spoke calmly and clearly, without, however, venturing to look up into his eyes. THE HOLY '.STATE OF MATRIMONY 3.5 prily 'cha'at^xt' '''' T^"'^ "^"^^ "ere is English office" :ifrlif/°"f^ ^"""'^^^ ^ poor fugitive whom hey hJrun";' ''"^'f"'^ ^-''h "'^ boarding-house? The^n, "'*'' '" ^ ^^eap I am saLy away fltXr^e "°LtTv'"°^^ ^ ^^- me-and perhaps I'd hTT ,^""f >-«" "on't leave we can just stav h. f ''^PP^ '^ >-"" ^idn't- somecoff Strr'''^- ^"^ >-«" shall order I shall keep my hat on' rnd"".^'""^ °""^' '^■■"^• shall be stooping over mC t"v n J"'^ """^ ■*• ^ corner. See?'"and T.^ t avdh^g t.^ j^ ^^.^ ^ Theydt."aLrhad"s:r''^''^''^'---''-- th^:Strt;::r^J;——W sat over It was as gay as a child's make-pretend tea-partv fore.^httTou"sti::s:p..\^°^- ^°- °- -K-" -Hkererrits^ss'-jy- to taXThalS '^dT/l- "^-^--you oryouJhil:yt^:!ksoXt';r"^"^^--'•- do'or ■■^shetbi::teV' Th " ''"^^ ="°"''' ^"^ ^° ^^e ^r^r-~lHr?--^^^^ dlv.ce. she^heganTsrtooL^rh^X"^^ ^^ ' asked gl:;f I So y:™'"^''^ •^^--t-cken face she that d^ve^?- J-. ^aT^^^^^^^^^^ But to her surprise a tender laugh broke from him. 366 THE NIGHT-HAWK " It makes you more adorable than ever," he de- clared. " Only — what have you done with it all ? It is my property, remember." " Mrs. Malcolm is keeping it for you as a wedding present." CHAPTER XLI ON BRITISH SOIL That bare little hotel room seemed Irto , f • j> shelter when the time came to .rdt ' /J^t .^ agam mto the night and its perils It had been glorified by love even as the brightest home might have been. ^ Warwick could scarcely bring himself to leave his wife even to go down to pay his bill and order the carriage. ^ " I feel as though you might vanish if I were to let you out of my sight," he said. " Mr. Oliver savs so " i,« „ -j , "nu t "y^so, he said gloomily. now •'• °' ""^^^ "'^^ -"•' 4 anytLg. But go A^nr-sto^ri::;^^^^,,^''^-'^--''- countedthei„inut;ru;Sh-retn°^'''^-°'"-'' walhf 1? "^ ^^""'f ''"''' '^°^"^°-- f--- "o- from watchful loungers; the drive through the streets already 367 368 THE NIGHT-HAWK quieting for the night ; the stir and bustle of the large station ;— they were all the setting to a possible peril. Antoinette marked how lavishly Warwick was dis- tributing money in his effort to shorten the ordeal. He had just joined her where s! stood beside the waiting train, when she felt a man brush against her in passing. One glance told her that it was the f- .e and figure that she had watched so despairingly from her win- dow not twelve hours ago. " Hast thou found me, oh, mine enemy?" was the cry that went up from the bitterness of her heart. She never moved or looked round. She only stood with her head in its same steady poise, the heavily figured lace veil covering her face. She saw the man just glance at Warwick and then turn away. But she saw, too, that he was in deep con- verse with an officer who stood by the steps at the other end of the car. Was she to be followed and carried off just as safety seemed within her grasp ? " I think that we had better get in," she said in a low voice. It was before the days of Pullmans, and the long, badly-lit car looked very uninviting on that winter night. There were but few passengers, and these of the ordinary country type. The very dulness and dreariness of the place seeme. to have a certain sense of security. With a quick glance Antoinette saw that the officer ON BRITISH SOIL 3<59 was standing over at tl-e othe- .^or from where they had entered. ' At this end there weic several empty seats, and touching Warwek on the arm. she pointed to the last " Let us sit there," she said. _ " You have a good eye for a strong position. You g.ve the enemy no chance of a rear attack " he said p.lmg wraps i,.^o a corner to give her some .omfort. ' the bench"''' ''''"''^ "°'^' "^""^'^^ °" "'^ °"t^ide of acill?" -"^ a good eye. Tell mc. are you a bit of an He looked surprised, though some warning note in Jier tone made him repress it quickly. " Not much of one," he acknowlejged, "though my wooden type of countenance sometimes serves me as well. What s wanted now." " Nothing much. Only don't look round or notice anyone wh.I^ I speak. You see that of.^cer by the door ? Well, he wrs talking just now to the man who was on guard at my door all yesterday. And what is worse, I fear that this one i. (joing in the train with us " He was and took a seat near where he had been standing, directly facing them. " How can you ever bear it ? " Warwick muttered " I can bear a good deal when I am beside you "=»,., whispered back. "Only I wish that I might p^t^up my veil. = i "h " So do I. But you mustn't think of it. What a long strain it vill be for you. Would it be easier if you sat with your back to him ? " 37° THE NIGHT-HAWK She tried to suppress a little shudder. "Ah, no. I would rather set the enemy. But I shan't mind if you talk to me. Yes, hold my hand close in yours. It seems such a protection. Now, lot us for- get all about the danger, and talk about our two selves. Think, if they should come and take me away from you, how glad I should be to have it all to remember." " I mil not think of such a thing. They cannot take you away from me now. I shall kill someone before that happens." Antoinette dared not make any outward sign of earnestness but hf r hand clung insistently to his. " Indeed, indeed, that is what you must not do. That would only make my fate sure, and yours as well." " For myself that is what I want." " But if you were free you might always have power to help me. If the worst comes, always remember that. But I fear that in any case they would arrest you for the marriage." " They would not dare to ! The British Consul " " You hot-headed Englishman ! Now be good, and talk to me as I ask. Tell me all about everything— yourself, I mean— ever since that night I left you." " ' Myself • was a very distraught being on that night. I thought the explosion had been on board the Night- . awk, and rushed off to the Point. I was standing there in the d. rkness when you went out to sea." " And I was wanting so to come back to you," she whispered. Breathlessly she listened while he told his tale of long waiting and search. ON BRITISH SOIL 37, th!'!^*"'' '"'"' ^^? '°'^°' ""= ^'"^hf"' "'■■"' on guard the .mmment per.l. and thought only of each other fh. ['^ '," ?"" ''"■'' '^''y y°" ""''l not but have thought that I had only made a tool of you ? " 1 asked, w.th a timidness strange to her fran^r " b\ T 'I"' "°"''" ""^ ■•acknowledged, frankly But then that was only when every • devi cou'd%7 ' ''"r"" °^^^ "^"^ At other Ves could always catch glimpses of your real self_7he truer, nobler self that is always there-throueh h^ rt;:i:" ''- '''-' '^^ ^°-" t*-- ^ '^'aXfcod anu took courage. ""u. "They call love blind, but I think that real love al ways sees-hke God. perhaps." came in the low voici that was as music to him. know-before I knew—" she went on presently."^ Yes, I know. What does that matter now ? " When he went on to tell of his visit to Arthur in the hosp,tal, she was ve.y silent, and he left the sub^ ject, feeling that it pained her. Then her own adventures by land and sea were to tell and so the night hours wore on, while heart re" vealed its»lf to Iieart. The morning sunlight was bright over the northern country, shmn.g in its snow robe. The conductor had just passed through, telling them that the next stop- page would be Niagara. ^ " Ifs coming now," murmured Antoinette VVarwick's jaw set like steel as they saw the officer gather h,msef together from his corner, and walk up the aisle of the car. ' 372 THE NIGHT-HAWK Antoinette leaned back with lazily half-closed eye- lids, which she never even lifted as he paused beside their seat. " Excuse me," he said in a civil enough voice. " But the conductor tells me that you are getting out at Niagara." " Well, does the fact interest you ? " Warwick asked, lounging back in his seat to look up at him. He had decided to enact the haughty British tourist. " You will find that all facts interest me that have to do with the frontier traffic," came the sharp retort. " I am the officer in charge of the same in this train. Will you please inform me of your nationality." There was something of the genuine soldier about the man, to which Warwick's heart warmed. " I am an English artillery officer, now stationed in Halifax. I came to New York to meet my wife, who arrived from England yesterday, and we are returning through Canada, first visiting the Falls. I trust that is a satisfactory statement." The official nodded with greater evidence of respect. " Perfectly, if you have any papers to support it." Then seeing a movement of impatience on Warwick's part, he added almost apologetically, " We cannot take things on hearsay in war-times, you know." Warwick had not thought it wise to show how thor- oughly he was prepared for this emergency. With a reluctant air he drew out his pocketbook. " Here are my visiting cards with my London dub on them, and here is a letter addressed to me at the Halifax barracks— a tailor's bill, you see. And here— yes, I thought I had it— is a passport from the British ON BRITISH SOIL 373 Consul in New York for Major Warwick and wife British subjects. Is that sufficient ? " This latter document the officer was carefully pe- AniofneTtt'"^ '''"* ^ '°"^' '''^" ^''"'' °^ '"^P^^^on of "Yes," he said slowly, as he folded the paper " I see that it describes the lady, ' tall, slight, auburn hair.' Well, you see, we happen to be particularly on the lookout for a lady, ' tall, slight, auburn hair.' Thev were just about laying their hands on her in New York when she gave them the slip last night and disappeared' It .s supposed that she is making for the frontier." I he Canadian Niagara is a regular hot-bed of rebels " Very interesting, Im sure," yawned Warwick in his solemnest drawl. " But I scarcely see how it con- cerns us. What may the lady's name be ? " " She was calling herself Mrs. Drewitt, but her real name is Mrs. LeMoine, a notorious Rebel spy. A handsome woman, too, I believe." "Then you have never seen her?" Warwick asked m a conversational tone, while the woman beside him wondered if her heavy heart beats could be heard She was wondering if there were room about that tightly fitting uniform for handcuffs to be stowed awav or had he them elswhere ? "No," he answered slowly. "That's the trouble If I had, I would ask your lady here to put up her veil and let me see her face," and he looked suggestively at Antoinette. ^ " I dare say that she will do that for you in any case, ' was the cheerful response. Taking the hint, Antoinette raised her veil and 374 THE NIGHT-HAWK turned her face to the stranger with an amused smile. She was careful not to speak, for she knew how betray- ing is the languid southern accent to any ear trained to distinguish it. A quick flush on the man's face paid a passing tribute to her beauty. " Thank you, madam, thank you," he said confus- edly. "You had better put it down. A draught might bring back your face-ache," Warwick warned her. Just then the train slackened speed and stopped with a clanking and jarring. " Niagara " came the call of salvation. Was it really salvation or did the officer intend to detain them? For an instant that was the crucial question. It was settled by his politely helping Antoinette down from the car, and turning away with a bow. The clear frosty air and noonday sunshine met her as be- wilderingly as it might have done to some freed Bas- tille prisoner. For a moment she clung to Warwick's arm helpless. Then came his whisper : " Trj', dearest, irj. Just for a few more moments. He may be watching us still." Then they were safe in a carriage and driving towards the bridge. Around was a strange world of great fantastic forms of ice and snow, and glimpses down into whirling torrents of blue- green water, and shining clouds of mist. This bewil- dering new world was all of a piece with the bewildering new life dawning ahead. They had passed the last ordeal of the customs guard, they were on the bridge, they were on British soiL ON BRITISH SOIL 375 Thank God" Their hands, clasped, while a deep broke from Warwick almost like a sob. The old Clifton house was their destination, and there in the hall, to Warwick's joy, he found a kindly, middle- aged English landlady. Antoinette was by now drooping heavily upon his arm. "My wife is tired out by travelling," he said, and the woman accepted his statement. She had during the last two years seen many a fugitive reach her door as the shipwrecked man gains dry land. With speedy kindness she got her to a warm room, a comfortable sofa, and reviving bowl of soup. The bright winter day was reddening to its close when they stood together at one of the windows lookmg out on the strange grand sight before them. Could it be the vision of Nature in the might of her wmter places that brought that wistful, exalted pallor into Antoinette's fac; ? Warwick had been watching her anxiously, awed by the evident intensity of her mood. " What is it, dearest? " he said at last. " Yom have a remote spirit air about you. As though you might fade from my grasp even yet. Cannot you get free from the strain of the suspense ? " She smiled up at him in the same wistful fashion, though she grew even paler. "Ah, yes. That troubles me no longer. It is already the past. But I am thinking of the future " " The future ! There can be nothing in that to trouble you." 376 THE NIGHT-HAWK He spoke sturdily, crushing down a growine mis- giving. " * '• I don't know. When you have to leave me " " Leave you ! I am not going to leave you ! " " But I cannot go to Halifax with you ! " " There is no need for us to go there at all. i can send m my papers ; in fact I fully intended to. I shall not let you tread American soil again in a hurry, so we can wait in Montreal until the spring navigation has opened, and then go to England. How would you like to come on a big game expedition into the Rock- ies? The world is all before us. But if you would rather be quiet we will settle down in Montreal. Th- general in command there is a cousin of mine, so that we should get plenty of amusement." But she shook her head sadly. "Your cousin! There you see, it is all the same thing over again. He will soon hear all sorts of stories about mc, and he will be just like Captain Arthur ! I shall bring you nothing but annoyances ! And then you know, there is my promise to Captain Arthur that I would never take your name ! " No, listen " as she saw him about to break in angrily. ' " I know that I was wrong and weak to let you have your way about the marriage ! 1 only did it because I knew that if harm came to me it would break your heart ' " But now you must go back to your work until you can end it in the proper way. And you must write and tell Captain Arthur how it all happened. Then perhaps he will ^Ive up his opposition, and not do you any harm with your people on my account." Here she pav ed, and Warwick spoke impetuously : ON BRITISH SOIL 377 "-.. do .ht r, . rorr'B.„t^'r'''"f ■'■• ■ lia. never had aiivthi»„ . ^ ^ J""" k""" that he year,, ha, „e„, e™ "'d k ''° "'". ~' '•"■'>■ «" «»vy? Thatheinh, ^ , "' ''"" I" "'the ^.^B;. n,y p„„i„ , , „„., ^„p ^^ ^,^^^^ ^^^^_^ _^ VVamlck'.hce hardened, a, he „H: -.;.pir:.'Ss"„,:hf. "-= ""•— •■L:?Vetn;.'™.:r:«!,-': „'\?--"- ■ C".-:s,te-t;°s~K'--°' duped, and made a tool of- '"^^ ''''" '^'" ...3fi^'dXntt:-t;^r;r ..^.i-a-ri-ssvif--^^^^^ no":c7:;s::sr-'«"«»-""='>'.wthe„™ 378 THE NIGHT-HAWK " Oh, I should kill myself if you were to leave mi like that now," she wailed. " That is the only way in which I shall leave you,' was the quiet, determined answer. " Then I suppose you will have to stay," and for thi first time Warwick saw on her face the revelation o what she could be to the man she loved. THE £NO leave me ;ave you. ind for the relation of