FICTION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1264, 21 May 1896, Page 40

FICTION.

(Copyright 1806 in the United States of America h'j A. 11. HawJiin.'.J

“PHBOSO

BY ANTIIONV lion:, ( Author of ‘ The Prisoner of Zend a.’ (Continued.) CHAPTER IV. A RAID AND A RAIDER. It was between eight and nine o’clock when the first of the enemy appeared on the road in the persons of two smart follows in Hoamim; kilts and braided jackets. It was no more than just dusk, and 1 saw that they were strangers to me. One was tall and broad, the other shorter and ot very slight build. They came on towards us confidently enough. I was looking over Denny’s shoulder; he held Constantines rifle, and I knew that he was impatient to try ’it. Hut inasmuch as might was certainly not on our side, I was determined that right should abide with us, and was resolute not to begin hostilities. Constantino had at least one powerful motive tor wishing our destruction; I would not furnish him with any plausible excuse tor indulging bis desire; so we stood, Hennj and 1 at one window, Hogvardt and Watkins at the other, and watched the approaching figures. No more appeared; the main body did not show itself and the sound of the fierco chant had suddenly died away. Hut, all at once, a third man appeared, running rapidly after the first two. He caught the shorter by tho arm and seemed to argue or expostulate with him. For a while tho three stood thus talking; then I saw the last comer make a gestu.o of protest; and they all came on together. ‘ Push tho barrel of that rifle a little farther out,’ said I to Denny. ‘ It may bo useful to them to know its theie. Denny obeyed; the result was a sudden pau*o in our friends’ advance, but they were near enough for mo to distinguish t he last comer; and I discerned in him, although ho wore the native costume and had discarded his tweed suit, Constantine Steffanopoulos himself. _ ‘lloie’s an exercise of self-control: J. groaned, laying a detaining hand on Denny’s shoulder. As I spoke, Constantino put a whistle to his lips and blow loudly. J ho blast was 1 followed by Hie appearance of five more fellows; in tlireo of them I recognised old acquaintances —Vlaclm, Demctri and Spiro. These three all carried guns; and the wholo eight came forward again, till they were within a hundred yards of us. 'J hero they halted and, with a sudden, swift movement, tlireo barrels were levelled straight ac the window whore Denny and 1 were looking out. "Well, wo ducked! There is no use in denying it, for we thought that the fusillade had really begun. Vet no shot followed; and after an'instant, holding Denny down, 1 peered out cautiously myself. ! he three stood motionless, their aim full at us. Tho other live were advancing cautiously, well under the shelter <>l the rock, two on one side ot the road and llneo oil tho other. Tim slim boyish fellow was with Constantine on our right hand; a moment later the other three dashed across the road and joined them. Suddenly, what military men call ‘the objective’—the aim of those manceuvrings —flashed across me. It was simple almost to ludicrousness; yet it was very serious, for it showed a reasoned plan of campaign with which wo wore very ill-prepared to cope. While the three held us in chock, the live were going to carry oh our cows ; and without our cows wo should soon bo hard put to it for food. For Urn cows had formed in our plans a most important jiu'CC dc resistance. ‘This won’t do,’said 1. ‘They’re after the cows.’ And I took the rifle from Denny s hand, cautioning him not. to snow his face at the window. Then I stood in the shelter of the wall, eo that I could not bo bit by tlm three, and levelled the rifle, not at mv human enemies, but at the unotlouding cows. . • A deu't cow,’ i remarked, is a great deal hauler to move than a live one.’ Tho live had now (c ine quite near the pen of rude hurdles in which the cows were. As 1 spoke, Constantine appeared to <dvo some order, and while he and tho hoy 3 stood looking on, Constantine leaning on his gun, the hoy’s hand resting v. ith ■jaunty elegance mi the handle of tho knife m his girdle, the others leapt over the hurdles. . Crack went the rifle, and a cow tell. I reloaded hastily. Crack! and tho second cow fell. It was very fair shooting in such a bad light, for t bit both mortally; and my skill was rewarded by a shout of anger tYom therolibeis. (For robbers they were I had bought the live stock.) • Carry them oil' now,’ I cried, carelessly showing myself at tho window. Hut 1 did not stay there long, i'«r Here sleds rang out and the bullets pattered on the masonry above me. Luckily the covering party had aimed a trifle too high. ‘ No more milk, my lord,’ observed \\ atkins in a regretful tone. lie had seen the catastrophe from the other window. The besiegers were checked. They leapt out of the pell with alacrity. I supposed they realised that they were exposed to mv fire, while at that particular angle I was protected from the attack of their friends. They withdrew to the middle ot

I the road, selecting a spot at which I could not take aim without showing myself at j the window. I dared not look out to see what they were doing. Hut presently Hogvardt risked a glance, and called out j that they were in retreat, and had rejoined j the three, and that the whole body stood I together in consultation, and were no | longer covering my window. So I looked j out and saw the hoy standing in an easy, I o-raceful attitude, while Constantine and I Vlaclm talked a little apart. It was growI inrr considerably darker now, and the I figures became dim and indistinct. I ' [ think the fun’s over for to-night,’ j said I, glad to have it over so cheaply. I Indeed what I said seemed to he true, for the next moment the group turned and began to retreat along the road, moving briskly from our sight, and wo were left in the thick gloom of a moonless evening and the peaceful silence of still air. ‘ They’ll come back and fetch the cows,’ said Ilcgvardt. ‘ Could we not drag one in, my lord, and put it where the goat is behind tho house.’ [ approved of this suggestion, and Watkins having found a rope, I armed Denny with tho rifle, took from the wall a largo, keen limiting knife, opened the door and stole out, accompanied by Hogvardt and Watkins, who carried tho revolvers. We reached the pen without interruption, tied our rope firmly round the horns of one of the dead beasts and set to work to drag it along. It was no child’s play, and our progress was very slow, but the cat case moved and I gave a shout of encouiagemoat as we got it down on to t he smoother ground of the road and hauled it along with a will. Alas ! that shout was a great indiscretion. I had been too hasty in assuming I that our enemy had gone. V e heard suddenly the rush of feet, shots whistled over our heads; wo had but just time to diop the rope and turn round, when Denny’s rifle rang out and then—somebody was at us!

L really do not know exactly how many there were. 1 had two at me, but by great good luck I. drove my big knife into the fellow’s arm at the first hazard, and I think that was enough for him. In my other assailant I recognised Vlacho. The fat innkeeper had got rid ot his gun and had a gun knife like the one t carried myself. I knew him more by his voice as he cried fiercely ‘Como on!’ than by his appearance, for the darkness was thick now. Partying his fierce thrusts —ho was very active for so stout a man—l called out to our people to fall back as quickly as they could, for I did not know but what wo might be taken in the rear also. Put discipline is hard to maintain in such a force as mine.

‘ Bosh !’ cried Denny’s voice. ‘ Hein Clott, no!’ exclaimed Hogvardt. Watkins said nothing, but for once in his life lie also disobeyed me. Well, if they would not do as I said, I must do as they did. The line advanced the whole line, as at Waterloo. We pressed them hard. I heard a revolver fired and a cry follow. Fat Vlacho slackened in his attack, wavered, halted, turned and ran. A shout of triumph from Denny told me that tho battle was going well there. Fired with victory, I set myself for a chase. Hut, alas, my pride was checked. Heforo I had gone two yards I fell headlong over the body for which wo had been fighting (as Greeks and Trojans fought for the body of Hector) and came to an abrupt stop, sprawling most igiioininiously over the cow's broad bade.

‘Stop, stop!’ 1 cried. ‘T\ ait a bit, Denny ! I’m down over this infernal cow.’ It was an ignominious ending to the exploits of the evening. Prudence, or my cry, stopped them. The enemy were in full retreat; their steps pattered quick along the rocky road, and Denny observed in a tone of immense satisfaction — ‘ I think that’s our trick, Charley.’ ‘Are you hurt?’ 1 asked scrambling to my feet. Watkins owned to a crack with the stock of a gun on his right shoulder, Hogvardt to a graze of a knife on tho left arm. Denny was unhurt. We had reason to suppose that wo had left our mark on at least two of the enemy. For so great a victory it was cheaply bought, ‘We’ll just drag in the cow,’said I—l like to stick to my point—‘and then wo might seo if there’s anything in tho cellar.’ Wo did drag in the cow, and we dragged it through tho house and finally bestowed it in the compound behind. Hogvardt suggested that we should fetch the other also, but 1 had no mind for another surprise, which might not end so happily, and 1 decided to run tho risk of leaving the second animal till tho morning, So Watkins went oil to seek lor some wine, for v liieh we all felt very ready, and I went to the door with the intention of securing it. j Hut la-fore I did so, 1 stood for a moment j on the step, looking out in the night and | smiling the sweet, clear, pure air. It was j in quiet moments like this, not in tho I tumult that had just passed, that I had i pictured my beautiful island ; and love of 1 it came on mo now and made me swear | that these fellows and their arch-ruffian | Constantine should not drive mo out of it : without some more, and more serious ; blows than had been struck that night. • If i could getaway safely and return with | enough force to keep them quiet, I would : pursue that course. If not—well, I believe j I had very bloodthirsty thoughts iu my ; mind, as even the most peaceable man will have when he has been served as I bad, and his friends roughly handled on his

account. Having registered these determinations, I was about to proceed with my task of securing the door when I heard a sound that startled me. There was nothing hostile or alarming about it; rather it was pathetic and appealing, and, in spite of my previous truculence of mind, it caused me to exclaim,‘llullo, is that one of those poor beggars mauled ?’ For the sound was a slight, painful sigli, as of somebody suffering pain; and it seemed to come from out

of the darkness about a dozen yards ahead of me.

My first impulse was to go straight to the spot; but I had begun by now to doubt whether the Neopalians were not unsophisticated in quite as peculiar a sense as that in which they were good hearted, and I called to Denny and Hogvardt, bidding the latter to bring his lantern with him. Thus protected, I stepped out of the door in the direction from which the sigh had come. Apparently wo were to crown our victory by the capturo of a wounded enemy. An exclamation from Hogvardt told me that he, aided by his lantern, had come upon the quarry; but Hogvardt spoko rather in disgust than in triumph—‘Oh, it is only tho little one!’ said lie. ‘What’s wrong with him, I wonder ?’ He stooped down and examined the prostrate form. ‘Hy heaven, I believe lie's not touched—yes, there’s a bump on his forehead—but not big enough for any of us to have given it.’ Hy this time Denny ar.d I were with him, and wo looked down on the boy's pale face, which looked almost death-like in tho glare of the lantern. The bump was not such a very small one, but it could not have been made by any of our weapons, for the flesh was not cut. A moment’s further inspection showed that it must bo Hie result of a fall on the hard, rocky road.

‘ Perhaps he tripped on the cord, as you did on the cow,’ suggested Denny, with a grin. It seemed very likely, but I gave very little thought to it, for I was busy studying the boy’s face. ‘No doubt,’ said llogvard f , ‘he fell in running avay and was stunned, and they did not notice it in the dark or were afraid to stop. Hut they’ll bo back, my lord, and soon.’

‘Carry him inside,’ said I. ‘lt won’t hurt us to have a hostage.’

Denny lifted tho lad in his long arms —Denny was a tall, powerful fellow—and strode off with him. I followed, wondering who it was that wo had got hold of; for tho boy was strikingly handsome. I was last in, and barred tho door. Denny set our prisonei down in an armchair, where he sat now, conscious again, but still with a dazed look in his large, dark eyes, as he looked from me to the rest and back again to me, finally fixing a long glance on my face. ‘ Well, young man,’ said I, ‘you’vebegun this sort of thing early. Lifting, cattle and committing murder in the day’s work is pretty good for a youngster like you. Who are you ?’ ‘ Where am I?’ lie cried, in that blurred, indistinct kind of voice that comes with mental bewilderment.

‘You’re in my house,’said I, ‘and the rest of your infernal gang’s outside, and going to stay there. So you must make

the best of it.’ The boy turned his head away and closed his”eyes. Suddenly I snatched the lantern from Hogvardt. Hut I paused before I brought it close to the boy’s face, as I had meant to do, and said—

‘ You fellows go and get something to eat and a snoose, if you like. I’ll look after this youngster. I’ll call you if anything happens outside.’ After a few unselfish protests, they did as I bade them, and I was left alone in tho hall with tho prisoner, and merry voices from tho kitchen told me that tho battle was being fought again over the wine. I set the lantern close to the boy’s face.

‘ IFm!’ said I, alter a close scrutiny. I sat down on the table and began to lmin softly that wretched chant of Oneeyed Alexander’s, which had a terrible trick of sticking in a man’s head. For a few minutes I hummed.

The lad shivered, stirred uneasily and opened his eyes, i had never seen such eyes, and I could not conscientiously except'evon Beatrice Hipgrave’s, which were, in their way, quite fine. ] hummed away; and tho boy said, still in a dreamy voice, but with an imploring gesture of his hand — ‘All, no, not that! Not that Constan-

tine !’ 1 He’s a tender-hearted youth,’ said I; and I was smiling now. Tho whole episode was singularly unusual and interesting. The boy’s eyes were on mine again ; I mot his glance full and square. Then I poured out some water and gave it to him. Ho took it with trembling hand—the hand did not escape my notice—and drank it eagerly, setting the glass down with a sigh. • 1 am Lord Wheatley,’ said I, nodding to him. ‘You came to steal iny cattle, and murder me, if it happened to be convenient, you know.’ The boy flashed out at me in a minute.

‘ I didn’t. I thought you’d surrender if wo got the cattle away.’

‘ You thought!’ said I, scornfully. ‘ 1 suppose you did as you were bid.’ ‘ No, I told Constantino that they weren’t to.’ The boy stopped short, looked round him and said in a questioning voice, ‘ Where are all the rest of my people ?’ ‘The rest of your people,’ said I, ‘ have run away, and you are in my hands. And 1 can do just as I please with you.’ Jtis lips set in an obstinate curve, but lie made no answer. I went on as sternly as I could.

‘And when I think of what I saw hero yesterday, of that poor old man stabbed by your bloodthirsty crew ’ 'lt was an accident,’ he cried sharply: and tho voice had lost its dreaminess, and sounded clear now.

‘ We’ll see about that when we get Constantine and Vlacho before a judge,’ I retorted, grimly. ‘Anyhow, lie was foully stabbed in his own house, for doing what he had a perfect right to do.’ ‘lie had no right to sell the island,’ cried the boy, and he rose for a moment to his feet with a proud air, only to sink back again into the chair and stretch out ids hand for watei again. Now at this moment Denny, refreshed by meat and drink and in the highest of spirits, bounded into the hall.

‘ How’s the prisoner ?’ he cried. ‘Oh, lie’s all right. There’s nothing the matter with him,’ 1 said, and as I spoke I moved the lantern, so that the boy’s face and figure were again in shadow. ‘That’s all right,’ observed Denny, cheerfully. ‘ Because I thought, Charley, _we mi'dit get a little information out of him.’ ‘'"Perhaps lie won’t speak,’ I suggested, casting a glance at the captive, who sat now motionless iu the chair. ‘ Oh, I think he will,’ said Denny, confidently ; and I observed for tho first timo that he held a very substantial-looking whip in his hand. He must have found it in tho kitchen. ‘We’ll give the young ruffian a taste of this if he’s obstinate,’ said Denny, and I cannot say that his tone witnessed any great desire that the boy should prove at once compliant. I shifted my lantern so that I could see the proud young face while Denny could not. The boy’s eyes met mine defiantly. ‘ You hear what ho proposes ?’ I asked. ‘ Will you tell us all we want to know ?’

The hoy made no answer, hut I saw trouble in his face, and his eyes did not meet mine so boldly now. ‘ We’ll soon find a tongue for him,’ said Denny in cheerful barbarity, ‘ upon my word, lie richly deserves a thrashing. Say the word, Charley !’ ; ‘Wo haven’t asked him anything yet,’ said I.

‘ Oh, I'll ask him something. Look here, who was tho fellow with you and Vlacho?’

The hoy was silent; defiance and fear struggled in the dark eyes. ‘ You see, lie’s an obstinate boo gar,’ said Denny, as though lie hud observed all necessary forms and would now get to business; and lie drew the lash of the whip through his fingers. 1 am afraid Denny was rather looking forward to executing justice with his own hands. 'The boy rose again and stood facing that heartless young ruffian, Denny —it was thus that I thought of Denny at tho moment: then once again he sank back into his seat and covered his faco with his hands. ‘ Well, I wouldn’t go out killing if I hadn’t more pluck than that,’ said Denny, scornfully. ‘ You’re not fit for the trade, my lad.’

The boy bad no retort. Ills faco was buried iu thoso slim hands of his. I l or a moment he was quito still; then ho moved a little —it was a movement that spoke of helpless pain—and I heard something very like a stilled sob.

‘Just leave us alone ft little, Denny,’ said I. 1 lie may toll mo what lie won’t tell you.’ 1 Are j on going to let him off ?’ demanded Denny suspiciously. ‘ You never can be stiff in the back, Charley.’ ‘ I must see if ho won’t speak to me first,’ I pleaded, meekly. ‘ Hut if he won’t ?’ insisted Denny.

‘ If he won’t,’ said f, ‘ and you still wish it, you may do what you like.’ Denny sheered off to the kitchen with an air that did not seek to conceal his opinion of my foolish tender-heartedness. Again I was alone with the boy. ‘My friend is right,’ said I, gravely. ‘ You are not fit for the trade. How came you to be in it?’ My question brought a new look, as tho boy’s bands dropped from his faco. ‘ How came you,’ said I, ‘ who ought to restrain tlieso rascals, to be at their head ? How came you, who ought to shun the society of men like Constantine Steffanopoulos and his tool Vlacho, to bo working with them?’ . .

I got no answer—only a frightened lookappealed to ino in tho white glare of Hogvardt’s lantern. I came a step nearer and leant forward to ask my next question. ‘ Who are you? What’s your name?’ ‘My name —my name?’ stammered the prisoner. ‘ I won’t tell my name. ‘You’ll toll mo nothing? You heard what I promised my friend ?’ ‘ Yes, 1 heard,’ said the lad, with a face utterly pale, but with eyes that wero again set in fierco determination.

1 laughed a low laugh. ‘ 1. believe you are tit for tho trade, after all,’ said I, and L looked with mingled distaste and admiration on him. But I had my last weapon still —my last question. I turned the lantern full on liis face, 1 leant forward again, and I said, in distinct, slow tones —and the question sounded an absurd one to he spoken iu such an impressive way—‘Do you generally wear-clothes liko that?’

1 had got home with that question. The pallor vanished; the haughty eyes sank. I saw long drooping lashes and a burning Hush; and tiie boy’s face once again sought his hands.

At the moment I heard chairs pushed kick in the kitchen. In came Hogvardt with an amused smile on his broad face; in came Watkins with his impassive acquiescence in anything that his lordship might order; in came Master Denny brandishing his whip in jovial relentlessness. ‘ Well, has ho answered ?’ cried Denny. It was plain that ho hoped for tho answer no. ‘ I have asked him half a dozen questions,’ said I, ‘and lie has not answered ‘All right,’ said Denny, with wonderful emphasis. Had I been wrong to extort thus much punishment for my most inhospitable leception ? Sometimes now I think that I was cruel; but in that night much had occurred to breed viciousness iu a man of the most equable temper, Hut tho tiling hud now gone to tho extremo limit to which it could go, and I said to Denny—- ‘ It’s a gross case of obstinacy, of course, Denny, but I don’t see very well how we can horsewhip the lady ! a sudden astounded cry, ‘The lady!’ rang from thoso pairs of lips, and tho lady herself dropped her head on the table and fenced her face round about with her protecting arms. ‘ You see,’ said I, ‘this lad is the Lady Euphrosyne.’

For who else could it bo that would give orders to Constantino Steffanopoulos and ask where ‘my people’ were? Who else, I also asked myself, save the daughter ©f the noble house, would boast the air, the hands, the face that graced our young prisoner ? Iu all ceitainty it was the Lady Euphrosyne. (To he continued J