Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 59: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ww Impelled by the same thought the two men withdrew into the thicket at one side of the rough path. There, although they could not see the guard, they could hear his steps crunching the sgnd. They heard him come up to the place where the path debouched, where he stood for a moment as if to satisfy himself that nobody had come down. Then he turned away, and they heard his footsteps retreating. ‘I will see for myself,” said Crenshawe. “ Will you wait here?” ‘““T would rather go with you,” Edwardes replied, “for if you find your- self in difficulty or inclined to make any kind of a desperate dash, I want to be in it.” , “You shall be,” responded Crenshawe. “I will come back if I decide to do anything. I think that I can scout alone better than with a companion.” Edwardes assented and remained where he was, while Crenshawe stcle from the thicket and then crept along in its shadow on the beach. The figure of the guard was clearly silhouetted by the moonlight, not more than one hundred yards away. He was carrying his rifle in the hollow of his arm, evidently wholly unsuspicious that his movements were watched. He proceeded this way perhaps a quarter of a mile, pausing now and again to kick at some light bit of wreckage that the waves tossed up. Eventually he came to a bend in the beach, where he paused, rested the butt of his gun on the sand and waited. Crenshawe sat down on the sand in order that he might be the more.cer- tain that his form should not be distinguishable from the black line of foliage. After a few minutes had passed the guard was joined by another, who came marching from an opposite direction. The second was armed like the first. They exchanged a few words and then separated, each returning the way he had come. Crenshawe followed his man up to the wreckage, where he had been first discovered and beyond it for another quarter of a mile or more. A third guard was awaiting the first, and there was another pause, and apparently another exchange of observations. Crenshawe did not wait for the concluston of the conference. He crept back in the shadow of the thicket to the place where Edwardes awaited him. “ Come on,” said the American. “ There’ll be hard work for both of us tomorrow, and we shall need sleep.” He started off up the path towards the plantation. Edwardes drew a long sigh, but said nothing. It was not his own disappointment and discourage- ment that affected him. He felt keenly for his energetic friend, to whom these experiences came with all the force of novelty. When they arrived at the huts again, Edwardes remarked : “TI will replace these tools where I found them. I haven’t the heart to say anything more.” “Tt’s all right, Edwardes,” responded Crenshawe between his teeth. - “You did perfectly right in not forewarning me of what we should find. I see and know the difficulties now, but don’t you think for one little second that [I am giving it up. This plan was no good, but I shafl find another. Good night.” ECOMmicooolkKks CO