[The Port of Missing Men by Meredith Nicholson]@TWC D-Link book
The Port of Missing Men

CHAPTER XXVII
9/13

When again his words grew audible he was saying: _"-- That Thou wouldst not deliver it into the hand of the enemy, nor forget it unto the end, out wouldst command it to be received by the Holy Angels, and conducted to paradise, its true country; that, as in Thee it hath hoped and believed, it may not suffer the pains of hell, but may take possession of eternal joys."_ He made the sign of the cross, rose, brushed the dirt from his knees and put on his hat.
"He was a coward and died an ugly death, but I am glad I did not kill him." "Yes, we were spared murder," said Claiborne; and when they had trodden out the fire and scattered the embers into the stream, they climbed the steep side of the gap and turned toward the bungalow.

Oscar trudged silently at Claiborne's side, and neither spoke.

Both were worn to the point of exhaustion by the events of the long day; the stubborn patience and fidelity of the little man touched a chord in Claiborne.

Almost unconsciously he threw his arm across Oscar's shoulders and walked thus beside him as they traversed the battle-field of the morning.
"You knew Mr.Armitage when he was a boy ?" asked Claiborne.
"Yes; in the Austrian forest, on his father's place--the Count Ferdinand von Stroebel.

The young captain's mother died when he was a child; his father was the great statesman, and did much for the Schomburgs and Austria; but it did not aid his disposition--no ?" The secret service men had come by way of the Springs, and were waiting at the bungalow to report to Claiborne.


<<Back  Index  Next>>

D-Link book Top

TWC mobile books