The San Francisco Sunday Call Louis Joseph Vance

- - \u0084\u25a0,- \u25a0 . i (Continued from Chapter X.) won; porarily. :himself dropped - larger vessel. Every minute that\ th« ankle deep regardless. of his laborious iand the windward rail. Of their num- He had at all events In so far Kirkwood ] directly him, a; trailing \u25a0 put coming about but intermittent with the ball- ber one stood before as to win BLACKeluding persever- if;shot,BAGreef" Ipoint slap- putative :Alethea off efforts THE meant the as • two, catboat nearer that goal, ing dish. And the* brigantine and his as much steadily lost rather than gained Abstractedly he tendered his lonely boom; thrtashed overhead. It was as but Kirkwood could do:no more than cockle shell, were drawing together 1his air of command as by hi3uncom- driver, ;•-;'the'; hope try_ in the fisher- with appalling deliberation. . imon height; tall, thin faced and sal- ground; the flash of anger sovereign to the and without close a call as he rhad/ known and to trust cheeks, and it, heavy knowledge sickened him v ; man's admission that it< could .be;done. A dozen times he was on the point ]low, with hollow weather worn even looking at crammed the : a little. like, ASthat had colored her cheeks lit weight pocket; an It was all in the boat and the way she "of surrender, as often plucked up hope* ia mouth a crooked gash from ear of change into his ' \u25a0 i eyes dying iwin beacons in her eyes, res- oversight only handled.; <-.'J - as the minutes wore on and he kept to ear, and like coal3. with which she which not won him the \u25a0 fought cabby, ; watched her anxiously, quick \u25a0to above water, he began to believe that which he looked the rescued up and olutely down until they faded to awestruck admiration of the He > may be) approve her merits, as she displayed if he could stick it out his Judgment down in one grim, semihumorous. mere gleams of resentment and deter- but entailed consequences (it semlspeculative he little apprehended. It was with an them. He had . sailed small craft be- and seamanship would be Justified : glance. In hands both forgot catboats, handy though ingenuity huge, tenderly a mination. But she to control her 'absent minded nod that he acquiesced fore—-frail centerboard . ." . human backed \u25a0! and red he fondled lips; and swift, serve, in sum- by"generosity by no con- isquat brandy, flask whose contents had they are the truest indices to in the man's announcement that he and built to ' could means waters, never adequate excuse foolhardi- iapparently, employed as a first a and temperament; might arrange the boat for him. mer/winds and protected triye for his been woman's character about he her. ness. jaid to the drowning. Accordingly cabby disappeared, and ' such' a one as this. Yet liked; and Kirkwood did not overlook the the -:,\u25a0 was, no cen- that was aside, something ir- As Kirkwood's gaze encountered his, s him, shoved off, wading thigh deep in Deep bosomed she with But Kirkwood continued to stare about draft Veparable. Wan and grim, he fought the man smiled sourly, jerking 3 eagerly, hopefully. the then . threw him- - it, ness leaving in over gunwales :,ahd shipped- and heavy keel, to hold her on the out." .: :head to one side with a singularly de- had vanished. them He stood on the brink of the Thames self the : estuary, oars. swinging offshore, wind;..stanch and seaworthy; sheathed But that his voice stuck In h,ls risive air. " etraight, set and hard, quite the re- there a possible five miles the Bows rock- throat, • shore; feet, Ing dancing, the dory began with stout plank and ribbed with;sea- parched he could- have shouted "Hi.matey:' he blustorerf. *Ow goe3 from shore to from his al- and to. elation, eventually 'appier. eigh?" verse of attractive. most, shingle sloped forge slowly toward the anchored boat. '•\u25a0> .soried timber," designed ?to keep afloat ;in his when he :it now? Feelin* a broad beach by gained point an "Some, you "So," she said slowly, after a silent gently In their faces the ;wind-. beat gustily, in'\u25a0[ the" wickedest weather brewed the of Intersection thank . . . more like to the water. ocean. a brlgan- :a eyed time, "you Qtieensborough! picket small, slapping waves, breaking the foul "tempered 'German eighth of mile ahead of the drowned rat." Kirkwood him are not for On one hand a dilapidated and clean; sight sheepishly. "I you're the man corollary admission, dooryard a against the sides, showered them wilth Withal her lines were fine and tine and got of her windward : suppose The of that Mr. fence inclosed the of fish- for all her beany she was calculated freeboard as, most . slowly, the cat- who threw me that line? I'll have to Kirkwood, is that you are for Sheer- erman's cottage, or, better, hovel—if it fine spray. . . . ' — dory lay alongside to. nose narrowly, into the wind and boat forged across her course. wait till my head clears up before I accurately at In time the the < need be described the of his can you properly.** believe," replied wearily, cabby was knocking. catboat, the fisherman .with a gnarled For all that, the moment thank S'l he "that door of which the triumph was yet; he' had "Don't mention it." He of the lan- there are no other stations on this The morning now well advanced. hand grasping the latter's gunwale to actual not was some still to carry off successfully a scheme tern jaws stowed the bottle away with line, after Newington." The sun rode high, a sphere of tar- hold the two , together: With then, — difficulty transshipped-him- that' for sheer audacity of conception jealous, care in one of his immense "It follows, that that Ifol- nished flame in a void of silver gray, Kirkwood pockets, • perturbed self, landing asprawl in the cockpit, and contempt for danger, transcended coat and seized Kirkwood's low." And in answer to his its thin,' cold radiance, striking pallid gone young ETlance, she "Oh, amid a tangle of cordages-slippery with all that had , before. hand in"a grasp that made the added: I'llgrant that sparks from the leaping crests of wind Holding time, syfe enough ; a guide. scales. The skipper followed, with "the catboat on for a man wince. "You're now. .ntuition is sometimes poor whipped waves. In the east a wall of handsomely My nyme's Stryker, Capt'n Wilyum' you George Calendar, clumsy expertness; bringing "the dory's he brought her about a .But if meet so vapor, dull and lusterless, had taken way brlgantine's Stryker. Nothing prevent painter with him and hitching It to little beyond the . .'. Wot's the row? "shall I. can that. Toil body since the dawn, masking the eye can't hinder me." a ring bolt abaft the rudder head. course, and hung in -the of the Lookin' for a friend?" he demanded skies ant shutting down upon the sea as attention, Considerably amused, he chuckled. cuttain, Then, pausing an instant to stare into wind, the leach flapping and tighten- suddenly, Kirkwood's . like some vast and out of the reports rifle shots, and wandered. "Let us talk of other things, Mrs. Hal- heart of this a bitter and vicious wind the east ,with somber eyes, he ship- ing with like — iam," he suggested pleasantly. "How ped the tiller and bent to the the water sloshing about his calves For the memory of the errand that * played like a sword. flap- bailing now altogether out of his had brought him into the. hands oC As your son?" v Shoeburyness halyards.- As the sail rattled up, dish To the north 'loomed — watched the oncoming Captain "William Stryker had come to At this juncture the brakes began vaguely, like a low drifted bank of ping wildly, Kirkwood marked with mmd while he to grind e — so much, time saved vessel, his eyes glistening with antic- the young man very suddenly; and hi3 shriek and upon the wheels. cloud. Off to the right the north light- rell f for it meant eyes The slowed; stopped; and —that it.was already close reefed. ipation. eager, were swiftly roving not train it the ship danced, a tiny fleck of warm crim- brig- • a guard be admon- last the boom was She was footing it smartly, the alone the decks but the wide world voice of could heard son in a wilderness of salty blue wa- But when .at — snoring besides, sight sign \u25a0 passengers thrashing the halyards antine lying down to It and for the or of his lshlng for Queensborough ters, plumed with a myriad of vanish- overhead and Pier to alight and take the branch had been made fast to their cleats, into the wind. Beneath her stem waves heart's desire. ing whitecaps. again erect, peer- • showers, whiter After luffing to pick him up. the "line. In the noise the woman's response Up shelving small, puny the fisherman stood broke in snow white — drowned, the shore distrustfully at wall than the canvas of her bulging jib . brigantine had been again pulled off on was and Kirkwood was hardly wavelets in impotent fury, and ing the distant enough for Freddie dashed of cfoud. broke and, gnashing their teeth In the port tack. The fury of the gale concerned poor to the shingle sang unceasingly Its dreary, to have repeat his question. Then, in two breaths, "Can't do It," impotent fury, swirled and eddied down seemed rather waxed than syncopated monotone. High and dry waned, When, after a little, the train pulled he decided; "not at the price." her sleek dark flanks. Bobbing, cour- and the Alethea was bending a few dingy boats lay canted wearily despair- tesying, plunged onward, shorten- low under the relentless fury of its out of the junction, neither found swelling —a cou- "Why?" Kirkwood stared she upon their broad sides brigantine, wasval- ing the interval with mighty, leaping blasts, driving hard, with leeward reason to resume the conversation. ple of dories, apparently daily use; ingly after the that During the in ready far ahead. bounds. On her bows, with each In- channel awash. Under her port counter, brief balance of the jour- a small sloop yacht, and drawn "—"— a ney dismantled "Danger," growled the fellow, stant, the golden letters of her name mile away, the crimson lightship . Mrs. Hallam presumably had food plainly beyond repair, and an oyster for thought; she frowned, pursed her wind." grew larger and more legible until wallowed in a riot «f breaking smack also out of commission. About completely, — — could read it plain be- combers. Sheerness lay abeam, five lips,, and with one daintily gloved fore- lit- At a loss Kirkwood Alethea! he finger of her them the beach was—strewn with a no He dropped his head, yond dispute. miles or more. Ahead t\e northeast followed a seam tailored ter of miscellany- nets, oars, found words. Ekirt; while Kirkwood sat watching cork considering. Joy welled in his heart. He forgot headland of the isle of Sheppey buoys, bits of wreckage and driftwood, ;sullen he had undergone in the pros- was bulking large and near. The cat- and wondering how to rid himeself of long forgotten (one "Not at the price," the voice all that her, if she proved really troublesome a few fish too and iterated; and he looked up to find the pect of what he" proposed still to do boat had vanished. as to assumed) responsible in part for the cunning gaze upon in the name of the only woman the More important still, no one aboard ' she threatened be. foreign wealth of the atmosphere. him. Also, he wondered continually much, then?" held for him. Unquestioning the brigantine resembled in the remot- what a "How — world, it was Why Some little distance off shore fish- poun' I'll haye no less, for come thus far In her service; est degree either of the Calendars, all about. did Mrs. Hallam ing boat, cat rigged and not more than "Five he had suspect him of designing to meet Cal- rlskin' my life this* day." unquestioning, by her side, he was pre- father or daughter, or even Mulready, 20 feet over all, swung bobbing at her farther, though endar at Queensborough? Had she any "Impossible. Ihaven't got it."^ pared to go still all the black-avised. tangible ground mooring, keen nose searching into the unshipped humanity single her with "Isye, 're you lookin* for ono for believing that wind, gave In slLence the man the should out some at sight of which Kirkwood the accusing fingers. you know?" Calendar could be found in Queens- thanks, tiller and moved toward cleats. . . . borough? Presumably she had, since for his adventitious guide had "Hold on a minute." They were watching him, aboard "Yes—your passengers. Ipresume was avowedly in pursuit served him well if that boat were to coat and, the brigantine; he could see a line of they're below ?** she of that by any Kirkwood unbuttoned his gentleman, and, Kirkwood inferred, had be hired manner of persuasion. freeing the chain from his waistcoat heads above her windward rail. Per- "Passengers!" booked for Queensborough. Was he, But it was to the farther reaches of buttonholes, removed his watch. . -. . haps she was o* their pumber. He A,hush fell upon the group, during then, running away the estuary that he gave more altogether; an audacious hand. Some one which Kirkwood sought Stryker's eye from Calendar and heed, As well abandon them he waved his daughter to a prolonged and most anxious designed to leave them as security replied, a great shout shattering itself in pitiful pleading; and Stryker looked chase will-o'-the- narrowly had wisp of his credulous fancy, off Sheer- scanning what shipping for the two pounds, and had delayed unintelligibly against the gale. He round him blankly. ness shore? \u25a0was there to be seen. Far be- stating the terms only for fear: lest neither understood nor attempted to ""Where's Miss Calendar?" the young Disturbing reflection. He scowled yond the lightship a liner was riding they be refused. Now, too .late as ever, reply; his every faculty was concen- man demanded sharply. "Imust see it, the waves with serene contempt, mak- supreme now her at over then considered the other side he recognized his error. But surely, trated on• the moment once!" of the face. Presuming Mrs. Hallam to ing for the river's mouth and Tilbury he thought, it should be apparent even at hand. The. keen and deep set eyes of the reasonably dependable dock. Nearer in, a cargo boat was to intelligence Calculating the instant to • a nicety, skipper clouded as they returned to have had assur- trail, that low that the time- ance that Calendar would stop in standing out upon the long the piece alone was worth more than the he paid off the sheet and pulled up Kirkwood's perturbed countenance. Queensborough, would she. so readily white of riven waters showing clearly boat Itself. the tiller. The catboat pivoted on her "Wot 're you talking about?" he de- have abandoned her design to catch against her unclean freeb*oard. Out to "Will you take these?" he offered. heel; with a crack her sail flapped full manded brusquely. him there, on the mere supposition that east a little covey of fishing smacks, rigid; then, with the untempered "Imust see Miss Calendar, Calen- reefed, and or. .Kirkwood might be looking for him in red sails well were scudding might of the wind behind her, she dar himself, or Mulready." Kirkwood Sheerness? That did not seem likely before the wind like strange affrighted shot like an arrow under the brigan- paused, and. getting no reply, grew waterfowl, and bearing down past a bows, so bowsprit restive under Stryker's to one who esteemed Mrs. Hallam's latter, tine's close that the inscrutable re- acumen as highly as Kirkwood did. heavy laden river barge. The of the latter first threatened to impale gard. "That's why Icame aboard." he tie brightened up, forgot that with tarpaulin battened snugly down the sail, next, the bows plunging, amended, blind to the absurdity of his was cockpit — the a fool's errand, and began again to over the and the seas dashing crashed down a bare two feet behind statement; "to sseee cr—Calendar." project prob-' over her washboard until she seemed strategic plans into a time, the catboat's stern. ""Well . . . I'm damned!" under water half the was forging Working a frenzy haste, Stryker managed to 3 lematic future. Londonward, in of Kirk- infuse into hi - A sudden jolt interrupted this pas- stodgily her bargee at wood jammed the tiller hard alee, tone a deal of suspicious contempt. time, and warning the tiller smoking a placid pipe. S bringing cat about, and, trimming "Why?" Insisted Kirkwood, the screech of the any the 'nettled brakes informed that he had no time But a single sailing vessel of the mainsheet as best he might, found but still uncomprehending. to scheme, but had best continue on notable tonnage was in sight; and when himself racing under— the brlgantine's "D'you mean to tell me you came off the plan of action that had brought he saw her Kirkwood's heart became leeward quarter -water pouring in from—wherever in 'ell ytm did come — buoyant hope, began to — him far that is trust to his star with and he generously over the cat's. from Intendin" to board this wessel thus nervous eagerness. "For and accept what should befall without tremble with Luffing, he \ edged nearer, handling and find a party nymed Calendar?" repining. he believed her to be the Alethea. his craft as though intending to ram "Certainly Idid. Why ?" He rose, opened the door, and holding There's no mistaking a ship brigan- the larger vessel, foot by foot shorten- "Well!" cried Mr. Stryker. rubbing so, turned. tine rigged for any other style of craft the little interval. When it his hands together with an oppres- seas. ' ing was air "Iregret, Mrs. Hallam," he announced, that sails the four feet, he would risk the jump; he sively obsequious, "I'm sorry to hin- •smiling smile, a From her position when first he saw on the overhang, form you you've come to his . crooked ".that her, crawled out crouch- the wrong pressing engagement is about to pro- Kirkwood could have fancied she ing on his toes, one hand light upon shop, sir; we don't stock no Calendars. my 'squiring you through was tacking* out of the mouth of the touching line, we hibit the Medway; - leaving the tiller, the other the We're In the 'ardware are. gates. understand, I'm but he judged that, ready You might try door, dessay ticket You mouth, deck ...... next or I the Thames she had tacked to shut off the you'll find what you want "sure." Abruptly the Alethea at the sty- irrepressible humor proved In- starboard until well nigh within hail wind; sail flattened and the cat tioner'B. round the corner." His having presumably the fectious; and Mrs. Hallam's spirit ran of Sheerness. Now, make a pretty/ pace as well. A good dropped back. In a second the dis- A giggle from his audience stimu- high smiling gone about, she was standing out to- boat; grace give anguish lated "If," acidly, as as his own. She was Nore, he had the to the tance had doubled." In Kirk- him. he continued cheerfully when she, too. rose. ward the boring doggedly into uttered an exceedingly cry. "I'd a-guessed you was such wind. credit to his .luck. wood bitter a damn' "I am some haste," the He would have given a deal more Already was falling fool, blimmy 'ye let you also in Bhe glasses Her disposition 'was fully dis- he far off her if Iwouldn't averred demurely, gathering up her for wherewith to read the name they away counter drownd!" upon bows, was sensible of no closed as drew from the . her but \u25a0 dimly Staggered, hand bag and umbrella. nor, beach. \lnshore with shoaling water,' A shout reached him. He was Kirkwood bore hi3sarcas- in hampering doubts; had he harbored a object hurtling A raised platform shot' beside the any, they "Take and keep them— only set m« lay still, uncouthly distorted. In the ;i•the waves had been choppy and spite- conscious of dark tic truculence without resentment. carriage, and the speed was so sensi- would have deterred him. He force, \u25a0 through air. Into th* cockpit, "Calendar," he stammered, trying upon winning aboard that ship!" bottom of of the flory, he was in no !Jful;v;.but lacking of weight. the — " to bly that the train seemed liad set his heart the of Deliberately weighed ; out, away, splashing, something dropped a coil explain, "Calendar moderated his venture, had come too far, risked the fisherman danger; the wind and waves together Farther as the bottom fell said to be creeping rather than running. the watch and chain in his broad would carry.'; the ashore. 1the rollers became: more unlfornuand of rope. He fell forward upon It, into "I carn't 'elp wot Calendar said. far too much, to suffer anything now boat . . . • Kirkwood flung the door wide open hard palm, eyes narrowing mere ;matter, man even ;powerful; heavy sweeping 18 inches deep; and for the first Mebb-e *c did mykd an engygement to stay his hand stand between to For that the' was £ seas met water with and lowered himself to the running and slits in his bronzed mask. then recovering, struggling to sit up." tthe: catboat, from their hollows, loom- time realized that, but for that line, you, an" you've gone and went an' for- him and Dorothy Calendar. Whatever drowning got dyte. board. The end of the track was in hazards, "How much?" he asked slowly. Crouching to avoid .the boom, Kirk- 1ing mountainous to' the man In the he had gone to his in the Mebbe it's larst year's • sight — the further risks and though "Eighty sinking. you're and a man who has been trained hands to pounds, together; the chain wood went forward to the bows, and, tiny cockpit; who was nevertheless another minute. The. cat was calendar thinkin' of. You John- board San Francisco cable cars fears he should take his life in his alone cost me twenty." grasping' the>.moorlng; in, ;aware a they ; he scrambled to his feet, clutch-^ ny'" (to a lout of a boy in the of .to to side, he struggle on. cable, drew it that to steamer -would /As group to alight from no moving He win her would shifty, covetous ranged cockpit 1 - lifeline, a heavy wave seamen), "you run gen- vehicle. danger; The eyes slipping back intoUhe to get be negligible.^ -^V ing the washed an* fetch this swung off, got his balance, and ran He recked nothing of personal from the a his, water left tleman a treasure in his hand to the stronger purchase with feet. It His boat breasted them gallantly, over the logged crdft and Whitaker's for nlneteen-six. \u25a0swiftly down the platform. less selfish p'asslon ran' molten in his threatening east. A puff wind a struggle; pulled slug- \u25a0;'toiling sturdily submerged; and a smart tug Look sharp, now!" • veins, moving him of was the boat • up the steep acclivi- it all but A cry from a bystander caused him to madness. caught the sail and sent the boom glshly against the wind,^ the -cable ties, poising ; breathlessly, on foam the rope added point to the advice "But 1" With an effort Kirkwood ' Fascinated, gaze upon on y glance over his shoulder; Mrs. Hal- he fixed his athwartships, like a mighty flail. inching in jealously. head to ease its con- me?" aggressively. "There ain't no ish petty officialdom, he might have de- strated. chain into pocket,* a : seizing estuary tug come, pusson nymed your boat," his then with stern, fitted in-the tiller, and isqualls that scoured the would striction when the should Calendar aboard the Al- • the fugitive. As was, Kirk- "111 hire Kirkwood told meaning grimace again mainsheet, : her, ; lytheer, tained it him, extended his the drew the boom in till '.heel over until:the water cascaded leaped on the combing and overboard. an* never was, an* never will wood surrendered his ticket and ran "to put me aboard that brigantine, horny, greedy "palm. roaring be!" off leeward. We ought start at the wind should catch in the canvas. in over.: the lee combing, and the rud- A green avalanche swept down out into the street with his luck^ still to to "What . . .?" In the" dory the skipper,- bending at his was worst itjhad -been-, a flare of passion—, that even with shortened; canvass she crush Inhis chesf; of a world a-welter vexation and disappointment. Vlctorlan fashioning, and to neither The American nodded. "Very. well," nearing lightship It .was ' • swirling lights Smartly brigantine the when he found incandescent. /: seldom . more. was staggering;^drunkenly* under' the with fdlm green half . the luffed and an agreed simply. your boat." ; her, and as,. squall clearlng^the. • ; was harnessed animal that deserved he *iGet he looked a blurred His brain" temperature rof \u25a0= fierce impacts gof ;the wind. For.;him- alternating with flashes of blinding, wore about, heeling deep as spun away • 1 . she anything but the epithet of screw. The fisherman turned to sham- the. air :between them, .blotting the his judgment': quickly, /regained its ;."self," was nip/and :tuck," now, and no of thunderlngs in his ears like away on the starboard noisily shingle, huge - ; it . whiteT tack. Kirkwood took the nearest for no other ble over the brigantine out with a smudge of rain.' mean, and he saw, his chances ;.without /:man': in!his pnormah'sense^ wouldihave salvos -from a thousand cannon Kirkwood staggered around the sky- because it was near- heels crunching, toward .one of : . . . reason than the booted iThe/efl!ect was as if she" had vanished, distortion/, weighed them ; without ex- :risked a.sixpence on -the boat's ;chance And his senses were blotted out In light: to the windward rail. From thi3 est, and all but startled the driver off the dories. To this he set his shoulder, as '\u25a0 if she '\u25a0 were forever snatched from k 'aggeration. ..;'. : , . :t •',"•\u25a0 f J . to;live until she crossed the .brigan- blackness. . V . position, looking forward, he could see his box by offering double fare for a shoving it steadily down- the beach ,his/ grasp;; Dorothy .aboard :Leaning ;against the combing, feet : }....''\u25a0\u25a0 he was breathing once .more, that they were heading simple only dry. and^Jwith •' tine's /bows. Then for the open brisk pace and a service at the until the stern was her—Heaven alone knew in what' need braced/ upon, the slippery and -treach- Time, out of reckoning he. was forced the clean air. stabbing his lungs, sea. Foulness low over the port quar- Succinctly forth, back, the last ;of; \u25a0\u25a0-.: •_. -' •/keen end of the ride. he set Kirkwood looked for him! -. / erous";;deck,; clungV; tiller and;;{to > swimming cockpit, -he swani unsupported in an ter, naught brawling >cv tb.:.-' kneel >in the "4": the while before them but a "wants, jumped into antiquated time, up Nothing * i* his the the road to Sheerness." .Mute and blind with -despair mainsheetl and peered ahead: with anxr- steering, one using 4 void, green wheeler, "and - withi thelbail- ;ethereal". of brilliance. His mouth waste of leaden and dirty white. 'aur and threw himself down moved upon it. He. was rid of Mrs.'Hal- wrath, he turned •upon*.' the -mari^ and" ious ;eyes/ a? pucker^; of V daring graven ,,ing with the other, and keeping :full of "something that burned, a Far one of sldewheel dusty to hug face a sterner dish . was out the boats of ipen musty, cushions lam. If face to .with caught him by, the-*collar,i forcing "him deep betweeh'hls brows. *. his eyes 'religiously.turned to'the belly- :liquid-"hot, "acrid and'V stinging. He the Queensborough-Antwerp line was joke problem. over v * himself over the and bless what- He had a few; pence 10 out, over the~ lip, of the .overhang. A ':toVwestward, three ; ;It was heartbreaking swallowed, slobbered, choked, Reading directly pocket, .mile Jor' more ing;pateh' of.sail." gulped, / into the wind and ever English board of railway directors shillings in his and had prom- They: were unevenly /matched, . Kirk- ahead,, he r could "see ,"the brigantine \u25a0toil; he began reluctantly to ;concede coughed, attempted to sit up, was aware making heavy weather of it. >as wood; • : It was that first ordained that tickets ised to pay the man-"four times far ,the .: slighter, .but\ strength standing close, in under "the Essex ;that - itJ. could :,not last • much longer." -that he was: the focal center of a rfng Some little while later Stryker again taken up at the end Instead much. He -would have agreed to' ten - to eyes, should be came him in /the . crisis; ;physi6al : shore." At 'times 'she-• .was /.'lnvisible; . And/if he missed ;J the (brigantine . he of glaring,, burning like 'eyes of approached him, perhaps swayed by an of the outset of a journey. times the sum demanded;; for the boat -strength and \u25a0 address such he had', again 'he 'could- catch merely :the glint;would strength was, \u25a0iravening ; fainted. he, \ as. - : be lost^mortal not ' ' ibeasts and - unaccustomed impulse -of compassion; In a period of time surprisingly he must and. would have. But had not ;jdreamed hiwas.^at'^his" -command. ofiher ;canvas, ;,white against :the dark enoVgh.to :stand ;(the-,unending strain His next conscious impression was which, however, he artfully fleeting bargain, littoral, concealed. short, he saw, from glimpses neglected to conclude* his to lAnd/, the surprise »of his onslaught, loom of.the -tonediby" a;mist 'of \u25a0upon^: every \u25a0bone, muscle : crsinew,' Istanding up, "supported by friendly Blandly Ironic, returning to his imper- understanding • . and *of of the scenery to be obtained through come to an as to the proved an ally of ;unguessed potency. flying):spindrift:.:; He^strained! his eyes, :required ,r to keep the boat upon 'her arms' on either :side, while somebody sonation of the shop keeper, "Nothink reeling windows, they payment; he. felt more ;. > the that were method of and Before ;he himself ;'knew /it he . was 'watching! for!!the ". chance which"; would course; though; for^ a';; time Itvmight was '•\u25a0 asking him if he could walk a else' we can show you, sir?" "he in- town; as the recep- ; > - threading the outskirts of the. than a little dubious to standing on the .overhang and had take:place-in: the rake of her ;masts cope '\u25a0 solve the problems step or two. -\u25a0 quired. • i.with andi " .pre- synchronously, whether by design or tion the fisherman would give his shifted his hold to' seize the fellow: and ,sails,- when ;she should 'come :sentedrby; each :new,Ymalignant his "let • presume you couldn't put it, he, about. billow He lifted headland It fall In. "I m© through actual inability to maintain proposition, sound as Kirkwood about. the waist; then," lifting;him the : longer ithat was and?;each'! furious.fhowling; squalU the token of :assent, mumbling a yes; and ashore?" Kirkwood replied ingenu- knew; to 'clear maneuver/ * the speed was moderated. And In the it be. of :the \deck, and aided ibya,;lurch; of deferred, ? the :better? was his {chance of end: inevitably must' To \u25a0 around 'him 'with"eyes wherein ously. background cabby ... beva/failure.v looked or a rew more minutes the cab Inthe the loitered, the catboat, -he cast him: bodily :into attaining^ his.: object. ..It;was; forlorn strugglejon iwould; be but .postpone light of intelligence burned supreme disgust course • j • a"; .to thef "more In the captain definitely. gnawed by. Insatiable curiosity./;' dory/ man; \u25a0 ; stopped the' The falling, struck his *hope.^;But': time the they certain s_%ve and ex- clear, with every, second. By degrees showed him his back. "'Ere. you!" ha turned,,, calling over ; " In< ".end :.^*.: . Kirkwood clambered painfully out^ The fisherman head against one of the ./thwarts," a ;to;-jescape; to;-jescape .MaplinV-Sands,; would,.; be;'cept; thei possibility of ;his 'gaining? the he -catalogued and comprehended his to one crew. "Tyke ye'd. yon .vessel, glancing" blow, called of the this shook himself together and the bruises his shoulder:' "lf catch ithat]? stunned; him" tem-'; forced ?t° tack :;and ist'and'foutjpast Jthe-I;brigantinej;,withinvtheeperlodl.of: time "weirdly; altered and sur- awye-r-tyke 'im below and put *im to bones, fearfully , 1 out of his and looked come!'! . — WithoutVrising'- he" worked* the; pain-; lightship,"the; wind"ofCSher.jport'vbdws.; strictly, and --limited ,by.* his pow- roundings. -bed;.give 'im a drink and dry 'is do's. twinge vlntersect:-v back. With one final of doubt the ; ter loose and- cas,t the dory adrift;' Then' their courses ;would It'ers endurance. > \u25a0.'•;He'iwas- partly seated, partly. up, up. then; : Intersect:-^ " held Mebbe 'e*ll be better when 'c wakes Aside from a slowly settling cloud of task" of placating this surly dog, was' crawled .back 'into., the .cockpit. ,remained to bef, demonstrated lvLong^'-isince he :had ..become ;.,numb on the*edge;of 'the'cabln skylight, an 'E don't'talk sense now, that's sure. If 7 v Jwhether - dust, the road ran clear as far as he anything but Inviting—the American »No 'pang -of compassion' :disturbed him the catboat /was „speedy enough ,to*,withYcold:; from incessant drehchings object of :interest ;to ,some half dozen you arsk me, Isye "c's balmy and — »in; : this; < :-, no could see to the point, :In fact, where strode to the boat and climbed .tak- .as iheVabandoned ;.the fisherman to the arrive";at. pointiof fcontact lin}ad-: of:\u25a0? Icy1. spray,' ; that Spiled% In over.: the men,', seafaring:, fellows all, by their 'ope for 'im." mercy, though > 7 the town closed In about if Ins the stern seat. The -fisherman of the sea' the fellow \u25a0 vahce'-of/r or* simultaneously with, tha ;'counter," keepins \u25a0 the bottom habit- clustered "round "between him (Contlnuad Next WeekJt