The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-06-25
CHAPTER XLIII-CoNTINUED.

but peep on seeing me.
tombstone. take the Wheel" said the
mate. "while we swing the yards"
He and Collins walked to the maintop-
sail brace; Rotch followed and pulled with
them.
They braced the yards fore and aft, and
while they were Delaying the ropes in the
waist l heard ROtch say: This is taut
bovine, isn't it. for a norther!y wind and
an east by north course?" The mate did
not answer.
The brig was at this time under topsails
and foresail only. and some fore and aft
canvas. The wind had scanted, but blew
a weak air; the breasts of the sails lifted
and the stem of the brig drove ripples
from the bows, and the giant mass of land
on the starboard quarter glided almost I'M
perceptibly into the wake.
Collins" cried Bates, take the wheel
from that young gentleman"
The nate then stepped up TO me, leaving
Rotch in the waist, that is. near the little
caboose.
Now" said he, looking somewhat pale.
what next's to be done?"
"Call R0tch aft" said I; "Pll bring Cap
tain Butler out?"
Collins" said the mate, keep her just
as she goes. Captain Rctch, will you please
step this way into the cabin ?"
went In first; Bates and Will followed.
1 saw Rotch coming as l knocked on Toms
door and entered. My sweetheart stood
against his bunk. one hand gripping the
edge Of it and his head inclined forward in
a strained, hearkening posture His face
was colorless, the expression hard and SET,
his eyes ShOne under the shadow Of a
irnwu Of fierce determination.
I said, speaking with difficulty, so great
was my agitation: The islanders have
LETT the brig. We have started. and the
mans in tie abin."
Bates and win? They must hear and
see"
They. too. are in the cabin"
where's Nodder?"
Lying i'll in the forecastle."
On this he opened the door and went
ont; | was at his heels. ROtch stood on
the other side OF the cabin table, viii at
the foot and near him Bates; Rotch was
at that instant addressing the mate. When
he saw Tenn the movement of his lips was
arrested as though he had been shot
through the heart. He stared in a sort of
gaping way-ihe expression is not to be
described. Let me call it chilling. be-
numbing amazement-with horror al d fear
like II sort of life creeping into it. | had
read OF men changing color under mental
tension of an eXravagant kind; | wit
messed this now; while Rotch looked gap
ing, the darkness Of amaZement taking
a vitality from the incrawling horror,
his balls of sight strained as though
lie beheld his fate in the form of some
frightful phantom, his com lPxion changed
color; not from the white of fear to the
crimson of rage; it turned. while / looked,
into a sort of dim, blush purple as if he
had been poisoned. His lips then moved
and he stammered out in a voice that was
half a scramble words bursting from
him-"You bereW The next instant he
srrang toward the door. But Tom stood
close 10 the entrance: with single stride
he blocked the way, and said, Stand
backw
Let me gol" cried Rotch. suddenly re-
covering the full use OF his lungs. "Alr.
Bates, help me to signal the island boar.
She's not ashore yet That man means to
murder me. You're not going to stand
by and see him take my life? Let me
60! There's time to recall the boat. That
man means to take my life. | call upon
ycu to help and save me. By God,
never suspected thsr'
He plunged afresh at the door. l don't
doubt that terror and rage gave him the
strength of two or even three men at that
moment; yet Tom met him as he came
caught him by the throat and hurled him
against the bulkhead from which he had
ran, driving him against the solid wooden
wall with acTaSh which you'd think should
have beaten him in recCil senSeless upon
his fafe.
No violence, no violence, I beg, gentle
men" shouted the mate.
Stir but step ana I'll strangle your
SAID Tom, making single stride toward
Rotch
Collins" roared the villain, they've
h I, IL.
Help! I'm your captain. Quick, Collins !
Signal to the whaleboat-port your helm
Tor the island"
VIII rushed to the door.
-. stop where you are" he shouted,
there's no murder being done here.
Nobody's going to be hurt Keep your
luff. Il you're Just a little bit off your
course YOU will be sent to help
Marian. Bates, Johnstone," exclaimed
Tom, pointing at Rotcb, that's the man
you rave sometimes heard me name He
Is called Rotch-Samuel Rotch. He @as
my chief mate aboard the Arab Chief
save you the story last night. You saw
mat way served him at Valparaiso when
the toad lpsulted lacy of my acquaintance
at dance there. That was the man who
slept In his watch on deck when the sea
was thick with shipping; he lost his
berth. but l got him another, and let
him serve under me in the Arab Chief
when he was named as chief mate. You.
Rotch;" he drew pistol from his pocket
one OF the brace we had found in the brig.
ana put II u on the table; for some while
he eyed Rotch steadily in silence: I be-
lirved be meant to shoot hini-had he
offered, /, standing close beside, should
have struck away the hand that ATTEMPTED
to hinder him.
Rotch looked chastity; he trembled from
head to foot; his hands worked with a
strange, spasmodlc motion as though he
wonld lit and clasp them in entreaty.
on, Rotch," rereated Tom, after a
silence that had lasted at least minute-a
minute Ihat seemed an hour; 1--WE were on
very good terms during the first part of our
voyage. talked 20 you somew hat freely
toid you oil my engagement with this young
lady, OF my venture in the bark and to
what extent had protected it, and spoke
hopefully of the voyage to you. And all
the Time you were plotting my ruin. Was
it that you hated me for that little affair at
VALPARAISO? For reporting you and losing
you berth? For holding command in a
ship which you supposed you'd obtain
charge OF if you coulc get me out of the
road? Surely you, RGtch, these provided
but shabby foundations far the heavy
weight of villainy you constructed upon
them"
AT this point he picked up his pistol and
rep laced il in his pocket.
What was your scheme? Nodder was
second mate aud carpenter. What you
promised him, how you bribed him, don't
know-he'll tell me before he dies. BIT
what you did was this; You took an
anger from his toolchest, you and he
pierced the skin and side in the lazarette.
you plugged the inner skin, hid the anger
in my cabn-you found it easily-took