The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-10-08

the beach, watching for wreckage, and.
had they come into collision with my
own men? Grand my heart beat
faster at the thought-had a stranger
thing come to pass: was there life on
that battered hull2 Life that feared TO
be molested?
urged the sailors TO make haste.
and in a few minutes we were I'm the
little haFbor close TO the brig. which
had drifted on TO a sandy beach. [
looked around. expecting To see Pill
grim Cush forward to meet me, eXcit-
ed and overjoyed, as l was, at our
good fortune; but there WAS neither
sound nor movement The stretch OF
beach looked dreary and deserted n
the dim gray light. But as I stepped
on shore l saw something lying on he
sand close TO the wreck. / fastened up.
and TO my horror, / found that it was
Pilgrims companion. He had been
shot. for blood was Oozing from
wound in his side, but he was not in-
sensible. AS l spoke TO him he nuts
tered something unintelligible and
made a gesture in the direction of the
ship. II was evident that something
was wrong there
Leaving the wounded man in charge
of my companion, telling him that
should l need his assistance / would
summon him by a whistle, / made
haste 10 so on board the Sonia | must
look there for the solution of the mys-
terry. I took the precaution to have my
revolver ready though | was more be-
wildered than afraid. What could have
become of Pilgrim Had he been in
jured, too? But there was only one
shot. Or had he followed the assail-
ant on board?
Stepping as softly as possible, | slow
ly descended the cofnpanioRWay Who
could tell what might await me below?
But though / looked cautiously all
round 1 could see nothing. As l stood
still for a moment, in the half dark
ness, wondering which way ] should
turn, I heard a sound in one of the
cabins. Treading on tiptoe ] went IN
that direction, and the door being ajar,
Hooked in. l could not restrain a
startled exclamation as l saw that the
man who was bending over an open
portmanteau. hurriedly sorting some
papers by the light of a lantern on the
floor, was none other than Richard
Pilgrim!
He had evidently been too engrossed
to notice my approach, but at my eX-
clamation he looked up and his hand
shot out to his revolver, which was ly
ing ON the table.
Touch it / fire." 1 cried, and though
he hesitated a moment, as he saw the
shining barrel pointed at his breast, he
threw up his hands. 1 had the advan-
tage of him by a fraction of time.
Make the slightest movement and
you are a dead man" 1 said, and he
knew it was no empty threat. ] had
had some revolver practice on board
to while away the time, and he had
seen what | could do.
sit there" l said. pointing TO the
end of the cabin farthest removed
from the pOrtmanteau, having previous
ly placed his weapon out Of reach.
Nov, tell me what this means. /
would advise you to speak the truth;
il will be of most service to you. If
not. | shall discover it for myself, and
then ] will have no mercy. 1 give you
five minutes; after that 1 shall sum-
mon assistance, and your chance will
be gone" A silver whistle hung from
my girdle with a few other useful ar
ticles. and | held it up as / spoke.
What do you want TO know he
asked sullenly.
who you are and what you were
doing at that pOrtmanteau." [ replied.
If | tell you, viii you give me my
liberty?" he said. Il can be of no fur
Their service to you now. either for good