The Courage of Captain Plum

g had passed through the door. Then he slipped along the log wall of the castle, hugging the shadows, fearing that the king might reappear and see him in time to close the door. What an opp

d choke the truth from Strang; rob him of life slowly, gasp by gasp, until in the horro

would

id not see that another figure was stealing through the gloom behind him as cautiously, as quietly as himself. He passed through the door and stood erect. Strang had not seen him. He had not heard him. He was standing with his huge back toward him, facing the hall that

was unshaken, his eyes unfaltering as they rose above the pistol to the face behind it. For fifteen seconds there was a strange terrible silence as the eyes of the two men met. In that quarter of a minute Nathaniel knew that he had not guessed right

is Ma

he friends who are invading us from the ma

in his own office beside the tem

e, Captain

ion, his huge neck bulging, his eyes flaming like angry garnets. He struggled to free his pinioned arms, to wrench off the death grip at his throat, but his efforts were like those of a child against a giant. In a last terrible attempt he drew up his knees inch by inch under the weight of his enemy; it was his only chance-his only hope. Even as he felt the fingers about his throat sinking like hot iron into his flesh and the breath slipping from his body he remembered this murderous knee-punch of the rough fighters of the inland seas and with all the life that remained in him he sent it crushing into the abdomen of the Mormon king. It was a moment before he knew that it had been successful,

illing him-killing

d as she tore

arion! You said you would take her and leave him-for me-" She struck her

his grip and stag

-a little sooner-" He stumbled to his pisto

not loo

ted so that his face was turned to the glow of the lamp and Nathaniel shuddered as he

ht he could go among the people of St. James undiscovered. A great load was lifted from his soul, for if he had not been in time to save Marion he

No lights shone in the houses. Even the dogs were gone. For the first time he understood what it meant. The whole town had fled to that huge log stronghold for protection. Build

f light burst upon them and the great square in which the temple was situated lay open before them. Half a hundred yards ahead a fire was burning; oil and pine sent their lurid flame high up into the night, and in the thick gloom behind it, intensified by the blinding glare, Nathaniel saw the shadows of men. He caught the old woman in his arms and went on boldly. He passed close to a thin line of waiting men, saw the faint glint

three fires was a cannon. He figured that there were more than a hundred rifles

ith panic-stricken fierceness for admittance to the thick log walls. Through the doors there came the low thunder of countless voices pierced by the shrill cries of l

houted. "This i

ught of Marion being in that mob, tired and fainting with her terrible day's experience-perhaps dying under the panic-stricken feet of those stronger than herself. He hoped now for that which at first had filled him with despair-that Strang had hidden Marion away from the terror an

Marion had gone to the castle-that Strang intended to make her his bride that night. But did Obadiah know that the castle had been abandoned? Did he know that the king's wives had sought refuge in the tem

g fire beyond the temple; he heard a warning shout as he darted past the men; for an instant he saw their white faces staring at him from the firelight-heard a second shout, which he knew was a command-and was gone. Half a dozen rifles cracked behind him and a yell of joyful defiance burst from his throat as the bullets hissed over his head. The battle had begun! Another hour and the Mormon kingdom would be at the mercy o

thunder of a cannon. He saw the head of the Mormon line falter. In an instant it had been thrown into confusion. A second shot from the sea-a storm of cheering voices from out of that white chaos of mist-and the Mormons fell back from the shore in a panic-stricken, fleeing mob. Were those frightened cowards the fierce fighters of whom he had heard so much? Were they the men who had made themselves masters of a kingdom in the land of their enemies-whose mere name carried terror for a hundred miles along the coast? He was stupefied, bewildered. He made no effort to conceal himself as they approached the hill, but drew his pistol, ready to fire down upon them as they came. Suddenly

f the narrow plain. Helpless he stood clutching his pistol, the horror in him growing with each breath. Could he give no warning? Could he do nothing-nothing-At least he could join in the fight! He ran down the hill, swinging to the left of the Mormons. Half way, and he stopped as a thundering cheer swept up from the shore. The mainlanders had started toward the hill! Without rank, without order-shouting their triumph as they came they were rushing blindly into the arms of the ambush! A shriek of warning left Nathaniel's lips. It was drowned in a crash of rifle fire. Volley after volley burst from

wn had dispelled the mist-gloom and as the mainlanders drew nearer he d

e shouted

ion's brother da

ay-from

empty rifles as clubs. A dozen more men and they would have split like a wedge through the Mormon mass. Above the din of battle Nathaniel's voice rose in thundering shouts to the men in the sea, and close beside him he heard Neil shrieking out a name between his blows. Like demons they fought straight ahead, slashing with their knives. The Mormon line was thinning. The mainlanders had turned and were fighting their way back, gaining foot by foot what they had lost. Suddenly there came a terrific cheer from the plain and the hope that had flamed in Nathaniel's breast died out as he heard it. He knew what it meant-that the Mormons at St. James had come to reinforce their comrades. He fought now to reach the boats, c

sciousness. There was a splitting pain somewhere

he heard a voice say. "Give him

him that it was a woman who was binding his head. He had not seen her face. Beyond her he had caught a half formed vision of many people and the glistening edge of the sea, and as he lay with closed eyes the murmur of voices came to him. The support at his back was taken away, slowly, as if the person who held him feared that he would fall. Nathaniel stiffened himself to show his re

hand passed over his face. It was a soothing, gentle touch-the hand of the woman

l be bet

rt stoo

ll be b

there fell the soft pr

his vision, his strength. He tried to turn, but strong arms seized him from behind. A man's voice

e voice behind him

ousands and millions as he looked, until there was only a black cloud about him. He staggered to his feet and a strong hand kept him from falling while his brain slowly cleared. The mi

d she go?

ain of battle, reddened a little on one cheek with a smear of blood, and there was

are you tal

Nathaniel. "The woman

d gripped his arm in a

rds loudly. Then quickly dropping his voice to a whisper he added, "For God's sake don'

ed over his face. And this man had said that she was the wife of the king! He heard the voices of other men near him but did not understand what they were saying. He knew that after a moment there was a man on each side of him holding him by the arms, and mechanically he moved his legs, knowing th

vision of it from his eyes, and beyond this there was another crowd. An aisle opened for them, as it had opened for others ahead of them. In front of the jail they stopped. Nathaniel's head hung heavily upon his breast and he made no effort to raise it. All ambition a

elf erect with the involuntary strength of one mastering the last spasm of death and as they dragged him through the door he saw there within an arm's

e rumbled in h

man to th