Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-08-08
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
Z REWSTER'S heart almost ceas.
* ed beating, and every vestige
y of color left his face. Clear
So and distinct in the light from
the yacht the Arab and his burden
were outlined against the blacb
screen beyond There was no mistak.
ing the earnestness of the threat, moi
could the witnesses doubt the CHASTITY
intention of the long, cruel knife that
cleaned on high. Peggy's body serv.
ed as a shield for that Of her captor.
Brewster and Bragdon recognized the
man as one of Mohammed's principal
retainers, fierce looking fellow who
had attracted more than usual atten.
ton on the day of the sheik's visit.
"For Gods sake, don't kill her."
cried Brewster in agonized tones.
There was diabolical grin on the
face of the Arab, who was about to
shout back some defiant taunt when
the unexpected happened.
The sharp crack of a gun sounded
in the stern of Brewster's boat, and
an unerring bullet sped straight for
the big Arabs forehead 1t crashed
between his eyes and death must have
been instantaneous. The knife few
from his hand, his body Strengthened
and then collapsed, topping over, not
among the. oarsmen, but across the
gunwale of the craft. Before a hand
could be lifted to prevent, the dead
Arab and the girl We're plunged into
the sea.
A cry of horror went up from the
Americans and something surprising
ly like shout of triumph from the alb
ductors. Even as Brewster poised for
the spring into the water flying form
shot past him and into the sea with q
resounding splash. The man that fired
the shot had reckoned cleverly, and he
was carrying out the final details Of an
inspired plan. The Arabs position as
he stood in the boat was such as to
warrant the sailors belief that he
could fall no other way than forward,
and that meant over the side of the
boat. With all this clearly in mind,
he had shot straight and true and was
on his way to the water almost as the
two topic overheard.
Monty Brewster IS in the water an
instant later. striking out for the spot
where they had disappeared. a little to
the left of the course in which his
boat was running. There was rattle
but he paid no heed to these sounds.
He was length or two behind the
sailor, praying with all his soul that
one or the other might succeed in
reaching the white robes that still kept
the surface of the water. His crew
was backing water" and straining
every muscle to bring the boat around
sharp for the rescue
The sailors powerful strokes brought
him to the spot first. but not in time
to clutch the disappearing white robes.
Just as he reached out an arm to grasp
the form of the girl she went down.
He did not hesitate second, but fol-
lowed. Peggy had fallen from the
dead Arabs embrace, and that worthy
already was at the bottom of the sea.
She was half conscious when the shot
came, but the plunge into the cold wa
ter revived her. Her struggles were
enough to keep her up for a few mo-
swimmers to reach her side. She felt
herself going down and down, stran-
Cling, smothering. dying; then some
thing viselilie clutched her arm, and
she had the sensation OF being jerked
upward violently.
The sailor fought his way to the sur
face with the girl, and Brewster was
at his side in an instant. Together they
supported her until one of the boats
came up, and they were drawn over
the side to safety. By this time the
abductors had scattered like sheep
without leader and as there was no
further object in pursuing them the
little American feet put back for the
yacht in great haste. Peggy was quite
conscious when carried aboard by the
triumphant Brewster. The words he
whispered to her as she lay in the bot
tom of the bolt were enough to give
her life.
The excitement on board the Filter
was boundless. Fear gave way to Joy,
and where despair had for a moment
reigned supreme there was now the
most insane delight. Peggy was bun
died below and into her berth, Dr. Lot
less attending her. Brewster and the
sailor We're carried to place where hot
toddies were to be had before blankets.
You have returned the favor, Con
roy" said Brewster fervently as he
leaned across the heads of his bearers
to shake hands with the sailor who was
sharing the honors with him. Conroy
was grinning from ear to ear as he sat
perched on the shoulders of his ship
mates. Il was lucllier than 1 thought
in saving your life that day"
iCl7tinued in Next Issue.l