carried into the mountains and held as hostages. In the middle and western part of the island the ruinous movements went on without being stayed; planters and people generally railed at the govern

were masters of every square rod of land in the middle and west of the island

m Enniskillen, Dyck Calhoun's plantation, and Michae

n' friend, tell us your trouble-why are you risin'?

s, and with a small bag at his hip, slung from a cord

ghs. So, knowing a few strong men can bring many weak men to their knees, we rose. I say this-there's plenty weak men in Jamaica, men who don't know right when they see it. So we rose, massa, and we'll make Jamaica sick before we've done. They can't beat us, for we can ambush here, and shoot those that come after us. We hide,

his sword, but, thinking better of it, he took the Maroon to the Castle and locked him up in a slave's hut,

find you; but did you never hear of bloodhounds, that can h

, and that is the tooth of the hound. But he gathered courage, and said: "The governor has no

ht into the island, but my master is bringing them in himself-a lot with their drivers from Cuba, and you Maroons will have all you can do

e island, massa!" declare

d your pals be? You'll be caught between sharp teeth-nice, red, sharp,

ament of one whose crime was come t

nd he ought to be governor here. Criminal? As much as the angel Gabriel! He must put down this rebellion-no wan else can. They're stronger, the Maroons, than ever they've been. T

are, Michael. They won't know how to act or what to do. Darius Boland is a good man, but he's only had Virginian experience, and this is different. A hundred Maroons are as good as a thousand white soldiers in the way the Maroons fight. There are a thousand of them, and they can lay waste this island, if they get

lans for the immediate future. "They're in danger at Salem, Michael, so

effect the threat about the hounds had ha

in Jamaica. The governor can't refuse their landing now. The

chael, as they saw a figure ridi

yet, but there was sufficient to make even far si

ur people, Michael

k and Michael saw him hold up a letter, and a moment later he was on his way

sir," he said, and h

nd bade the man eat a hearty breakfast and return with him on one of the Enniskillen

y knew naught of the rising when I left. But the

ld go straight to Spanish Town wher

rius Boland. He says the governor told him he had orders from England to confine me here at Enniskillen, an

added, "we'll hunt Lord Mallow with the hounds of our good fortune, for this war is our war. They can't win it withou

et here, sir! Bu

does, he'll be a better man than I have ever known him, Michael. In a few hours I shall be at Salem, to do what he could not, and would not, do if he could. His love is as deep as water on a roof,

little what his past had been. Jamaica was not a heaven for the good, but it was a haven for many who had been ill-used elsewhere; where each man, as though he were really in a new world, was judged by his daily actions and not by any history of a hidden or an open past. As they came across country, Dyck always ahead, they saw how he responded to every sign of life in the bush, how he moved always

disappointments. None knew of his love for Sheila. Yet all knew that he had killed-or was punished for killing-Erris Boyne. None of them had seen Sheil

the saying was, and his only weakness or fault-if it was a fault-was a fondness for the bottle of good wine which was ever open on his table, and for tobacco in the smoking-leaf. To-day he smoked incessantly and carefully. He threw no loose ends of burning tobacco from cigar or pipe into the loose dry leaves and stiff-cut ground. Yet they knew the small clouds floating

wood ahead of them, for it was clear Dyck suspected danger there. For a momen

'll know they are in good numbers, for they'll be facing us as well as the garrison of Salem. But keep your muskets ready. Have a drink," he added, and handed his horn of liquor. "If they see us drink, and they will, they'll think we've only stopped to refresh, and we'll be safe. In any case, if they att

place where the black men ambushed. Every man of the group behaved well. None showed nervousness, even when one of the horses, co

kept them steady. They even gossiped of idle things loud enough for the hidden Maroons to hear. No face showed suspicion or alarm, as they passed, while all felt the presence of many men in the underbrush. Only when they had passed the place, did they

e'll have 'em. They've no chance to ambush in the cane-fields now. We'll get them in the open,

tered to the front door

thought you might not have heard of the rise of the Maroons. We have no ladies at Enniskillen. We pre

ent might have joined the Maroons, they will not do so now. We have got them that far. But, Mr. Cal

party for them. I did not kno

go?" asked Dyck with anxie

"They went slightly nor

do, they would come ba

rmed?" Dyck

ad a small pistol. She learned to carry one in Virg

ch them as they came. It would save our own men, and it would probably do for them. If Mrs. and Miss Llyn come back that way, they will be in greater danger than were we, for the Maroons were coming here to capture the ladies and hold them as hostages; and they would not let them pass. In any case, the risk is immense. The ladies must be got to Spanish Town, for the Maroons are desperate. They know we have n

re!" said Darius Boland. "And if there w

m in Darius Boland's face, and he said: "I have the bloodhoun

Boland ironically. "He does not like you or yo

t gesture. "I will no

in this is land, and he

ought to Spanish Town

men can pro

They might as well stay here;

for ladies to stay in this isolated spot with murderers about? When the l

lways," he remarked, "but tell me, sir, w

hey did not put him out of self-control. It was not a time to d

now. We must find the ladies. What sort of a cou

f the Spaniards up there"-he pointed or the ruins of one, and it

flection. "Yes, they would rest there-and it woul

nt of the Maroons," was the re

le predicament-no, you must not come

Our horses are fagged. If you loan us four I'll see they are well cared for, and returned in kind or cash. I'

n ridden by Mrs. Llyn and Sheila. One thing was clear, the Maroons on the hill did not know of the absence of Sheila and

tly, and Dyck's eyes were everywhere. He was quick to see a bush move, to observe the flick of a branch, to catch the faintest sound of an animal origin. He was obsessed with anxiety, for he had

. He knew the girl was armed, and that before harm might come to her she would end her own life and her mot

were such perfect listeners. He had the intense perception of a delicate plant, those wonderful warnings which only come to those who live close to nature, who study from feeling the thousand moods and tenses of living vegetables and animal life. He was a born hunter, and it was not easy to surprise him when every nerve was sharp with premonit

s' hoof-prints showed agitation. Presently the hoofmarks became more composed again. Suddenly one of Dyck's supporters exclaimed he had picked up a small piece of ribbon, evidently dropped to guide those who

his men coolly. "There are no signs of

e have one chance, my lads, and let's keep our heads. If anything should happen to me, have a try yourselves, and see what you can do. The ladies must be freed, if they're there

ur mothers' heads or grave

ahead. If you hear a call, or

he rear. He held a pistol as he stole carefully yet quickly forward. He was anxious there should be no delay, but

might be in the ruins, or near it, and he did not attack. It was essential he should know the strength of his foe; and he remained quiet. Presently the native turned as though to go back into the ruins, but changed his mind, and began to tour the stony, ru

onger to see if more natives were coming out, then said to himself: "I'll make a try for it now. It wo

d-note which all people in Ireland-in the west and south of Ireland-know. If Sheila was alive and in the place she would answer it, he was sure. He waited a moment, and th

ry. Looking round it he saw three doors-one evidently led into the kitchen, one into a pantry, and one into a hall. It was clear the women were alone, or some one would have come in answer to his call. Who could tell when they would come? There was no time to be lost. With an instinct,

r way out. Don't be afraid to fire, but take good aim first. I have some men in the wood beyond where you shot the native," he added to Sheila. "They'll co

r the entrance, and then a native appeared, armed. Without an instant's hesitation Dyck ran forw

s now," said Dyck, "an

ves appeared, a

more Maroons came-a dozen or more, and rushed for the entrance. They were met by Dyck's fire, and now also Sheila fired and brought d

Then he turned and fled out into the open, and was met by a half-dozen others. They all were about to rush the entrance when suddenly four shots behind them brought three of them down, and the rest fled into

d damp, but otherwise they seemed little the worse for the adv

?" she said, after they had got under way, having sec

ow as soon as he had dea

n place he came s

native here, and I felt sure you would not refuse to take help-even mi

tions of family life were more intense than now; when to kill one's own father was not so bad as to embrace, as it were, him or her who had killed that father. Sheila felt if she were normal she ought to feel abhorrence against Dyck; yet she felt none at all, and his

re not at Salem, but at the next plantation nearer to Spanish Town. Lord Mallow went. If he suspected the real trouble he said naught, but was gone before you could realize

e in ambush when we passed, but we took no notice. It was not

t might be the outcome- the killing or capture

d I asked them how they dared attack white ladies. I asked them if they had never thought what vengeance the governor would take. They did not understand my words, but they grasped the meaning, and one of them, the leader, who understood English, was inclined to have reason. As it was, we stopped what might have been our murder by saying it would be wiser to hold us as hosta

he could not guarantee it. Yet he knew the government would pay for our release, would perhaps give the land for which they had asked with no avail. We must, therefore, remain prisoners. If we made no efforts to escape, it would be better in the end. "Keep your head steady, missy, try no tricks, and all may

of God into them except bloodhounds, and that Lord Mallow will not have. He has been set against it until now. But th

nt to say that, in any case, you have paid your debt, if you owe one to us. For a life taken you have given two lives-to me and my girl. I speak as one who has a right to say it! Erris Boyne w

s Boyne," said Sheila.

, but he was

id Dyck waving a hand as though to c

rene. All tropical life about seemed thr

ush. The sun is beginning to set though, and the trouble m

-and you," said