The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-05-17

ings. He was not SLOW to follow 1t,
however, with vigorous protest
against the proposed farewell. But he
was oyerruled, and the masterful pris
oner had his way. He was to have
five minutes with the girl while the
captain and Mackenzie stood within
range, but not within earshot, with
their revolvers behind their backs. AS
we We're moving from the cabin in a
body he stopped and gripped my hand.
$50 I've let you in at last, Bunny
at last and after all! II you knew how
sorry am. But you won't get much.
don't see why you should get any
thing at all. Can you forgive me-!
This may be for years, and it may
be forever, you know! You We're a
good pal always when it came to
the scratch. Some day or other you
mayn't be sorry to remember you were
good pal at the last"'
There was q meaning in his eye that
l understood, and my teeth We're set
and my nerves strung ready as l
for the last time in my life
How that last scene stays with me
and will stay to my death! How 1 see
every detail, every shadow ON the sun
lit deck! We We're among the islands
that dot the course from Genoa to Ma
pies. That was Elba falling back on
our starboard quarter, that purple
al, wifi thra MOT
The captains cabin opened to star
board, and the starboard promenade
deck, sheeted with sunshine and scored
with shadow, was deserted but for the
group of which was one, and for the
pale, slim, brown figure aft with Raj
fies. Engaged? could not believe It
cannot to this day. Yet there they
stood together, and we did not hear q
word. There they stood out against
the sunset and the long, dazzling high
way of sunlit sea that sparkled from
Elba to the Uhlan's plates, and their
shadows reached almost to our feet.
Suddenly-an instant-and the thing
was done, thing have never known
whether to admire or to detest. He
Caught ACl, AC AlSSC0 ACl OClOl0 uS I'LL
then flung her from him so that she al.
most fell. 1t was that action which
foretold the next. The mate sprang
after him, and sprang after the mate
Raffles was on the rail, but only just
Hold him, Bunny,' he cried. "Hold
him tight.'
And as I obeyed that last behest
with all my might. without a thought
of what was doing save that he babe
me to do it, saw his hands shoot up
and his head bob down, and his 1.-the
spare body cut the sunset as cleanly
! and precise as though he had plunged
at his leisure from a divers board.
OF what followed on deck can tell
you nothing, for l was not there. MOI
can my final punishment. my long I'M
| prisonment, my everlasting disgrace
concern or profit you beyond the inter
est and advantage to be cleaned from
the knowledge that l at least had my
deserts. But one thing l must set
down, believe it who will, one more
thing only, and am done.
. 1t was into second class cabin on
the starboard side that was promptly
thrust in irons and the door locked up
on me as though l We're another Raj
| fles. Meanwhile boat was lowered
and the sea secured to no purpose, as
is doubtless on record elsewhere. But
either the setting sun flashing over the
waves must have blinded all eyes or
else mine We're victims OF strange IL
fusion
For the boat was back, the screw
throbbing and the prisoner peering
| through his portfolio across the sunllt
waters that he believed had closed for
ever over his comrades head. Sudden
ly the sun sank behind the island of
Elba, the lane of dancing sunlight was
instantaneously Quenched and swal-
lowed in the trackless waste, and In
the middle distance, already miles
astern, either my sight deceived me OF
q black spGk bobbed amid the gray
The bugle had blown for dinner. II
may. be well that all save myself had
ceased to strain an eye. And now
lost what had found. Now 1t rose
now sank, and now gave It up utter
4 ~. Yet anon 1t would rise again. 8
mere mote dancing In the dim gray
distance, drifting toward a purple Is
land beneath a fading western sky
streaked with dead gold and cerise
And night fell before knew whether
Il Il was human head or not.