Chums No. 785, Vol. XVI — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

130 course with the big rains! It passes through the grounds not a hundred pa from Sake and our banks, you see, have had no repair during all these years!” “Then you think——” “That this cellar, in an hour, will be swamped to the ceiling! Come, we must risk everything and get ont, or—’’ Kinglake stopped. Right near at hand, above the turbulence of water, rose shouts of men. Spare and his followers had somehow effected an entrance! Already they were on the cellar steps; already had Spare espied a light between the door-spaces, “Hullo, within there!’ he roared; ‘‘d’you want to be drowned? For you will be! I’m standing here in a regular torrent. Now, then, are you going to hand over that packet and go free?’ : _ No!” hurled back Kinglake. ‘That packet 13 mine; it contains my father’s fortune!” “Drown, then!’’ snarled Spare; “and we'll wait in safety up above till it’s all over!” Silence fell then and the minutes sped. The Situation was a terrible one, With every moment the current strengthened; the place was already nearly two feet in water. ‘Chen Kinglake spoke—huskily. ““Tt’s true,’ he muttered: ‘we're in a fear- ful death-trap! We're right beneath ground level, and in an hour this place will be full. I must give in! For your sakes——” “No!” burst out the two Medways; and right on their cry came a terrific creak from the door. Spare and his satellites had stolen down to attempt a forced entrance. The door was placed to open outward, and with the bar CHUMS. Then, in a lower voice, to the scamps who assisted him: ‘‘Just watch here a moment to make sure, though; I'll get out the pony and trap. Stay till Teall, ihaadse, how the water tears!” : “Mr. Kinglake! Bob!” whispered Chris at that instant; “here; quickly, quickly !”’ They turned, Want derp in ‘water, and waded to the far corner where Chris held his lamp aloft. He pointed to a square patch above. “An opening!” he breathed; “an opening, surely !’” Kinglake was too excited to reply. Instead he lifted up Bob; lifted and lifted him till the boy, in his turn, was able to thrust up the, square slab of stone. He scrambled through then and hauled up Chris. Together they ped up Kinglake. 3 The latter glanced sharply around. ‘“‘Good Heaven!”? he murmured, “I didn’t know of that opening, though I know this passage into which we've climbed! It leads right to the back. Come, softly; Spare will be at our mercy!’ , There was water here, too; and more in the direction they now hurried. To right and left Kinglake dodged, till at length an open door was reached, through which the rain blew and the water flowed inward. There was a rattle of harness from a shed close by. . ‘“He’s here!’’ whispered Kinglake; “light me well, and follow close up! Now!”’ A leap or so through the current, and a spring into the dimly-seen vehicle. ‘‘ What on earth——!’’ began Spare, but he was forced down next instant, and Kinglake’s fingers were tightened over his mouth. Speedy help from the Medways, together with 1 and some = Stele from their short his strugglings. ‘ The horse va wb ed off from the dip, away from % alemy the drive. The little vi ford was reached fifteen minw was placed in charge of the and the precious packet reposed Howard Kinglake’s pocket. Spare’s two accomplices were but. it was thought that they a couple of ne’er-do-wells whom Liverpool. : “The coleckéd evidence of his late letters, as well as sa ge little : established Howard Kinglake’s cla bundle of notes. _ Spare, perceiving that such p exist, had abstained from maki losing the packet at Port Louis. however, to quite give in, he hi Kinglake to Liverpool, and thei wich, having learned that this inevitable route to Kinglake Hall. master of the latter is now a firm Medways, and they often run ¢ part of Cheshire. But they have encounter another flood—nor anothe As Put. f A yours, with a really good voice tised to sing at a charity concert p by a local tradesman—a self-made man. from the front door they hoped by === le¥erage to tear it from its inside hold. The ruse was astonishingly suc- cessful. ‘The bolt-screws loosened at the first lift; at the third they collapsed, and the door flew open. The attack was swift and short. There was a glimpse of a lean, dark figure which sprang on Kinglake, and bore him down so that he was quite immersed in water. The eycle-lamp he held hissed out. Bob edway splashed down towards him. Chris, rushing for the other lamp, brought its light into play only in time to see the enemy's retreating rush. ‘The door slammed, and Kinglake, serambling from the water, rushed gaspingly to try to tear it open, “The packet of notes?” cried Bob, =; 3 “Gone!” panted Kinglake; “I was choked beneath the water— the brute had it in a trice.” He tore again at the door, “No good,” jeered Spare from without. “We've wedged that bar %tween your door and the opposite wall; you've got to stay now. Ha, ha!” Grip, the Farmer's Dog: “ HCLLO, THERE’S ANOTHER OF THOSE MISERABLE TRESPASSERS |” # @owwG TO RON FOR FT, bs we? Weer, I serrose THe nitRa’Ly stor try.” Quite an Artistic Escape. = The first song was “ On rising to announce man was interrupted a that the singer had n a fact that he duly no audience. A little later, howey: ing artist made his appear was observed by the wor man, who called him wi But the singer had hurries not recovered his brea‘ apologies, this fact was explained, and another quisitioned. : At length the young f quite ready, Mr. Chai with evident pleasure, cently discomfited the singer by announcing, wil confidence: “Mr. *Enry favour us with the * How)” !” ; “Now, wouldn’t it be fu Mr. Popley, playfully, “i to become a Tittle boy a “Perhaps it wouldn’t be for you, father,” replied hii young son. “If you littler’n me, father, I » square up a few things.”