The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-10-25

lamp-that had probably been injured
when Graden fell in the lazarette-
smoked, hared, and expired. vas too
unwell to care, except for the smell.
Yet it was the darkness which saved
our lives.
1t was about half an hour later that
| first noticed tia faint ray of linn
nation winking in the center of the cabin
floor. At first I imagined that the nau-
sea had affected my eyes. and so peered
into the black of the night rubbing them
impatiently. But the rays steadied and.
if anything, increased in volume. 1t was
a ghostly thing to witness, this white
knife-edge of light stabbing up from
the solid planking without ca use or ex-
PLANTATION. l was about to shout to
Graden when i remembered the trap
door. Someone was below in the lazar-
cite,
For some moments I remained staring
at the crevice through which the rays
passed up to me. After all, it might be
some member of the crew: but if not
if it We're old Marnac. What then? He
was an old man; he could not force the
grating, even if he had obtained the key.
We had seen to that.
/ 10 not pretend to say that I was I'M
afraid. There were devilish possibilities
in a hatred such as that in which the
mad professor held US. Yet after a while
my curiosity overcame my fear, just as
my fear had put aside my sickness.
rolled from my bunk-noisily enough,
dare say, but all sound was dulled by the
turmoil without. The pitchings of the
vessel made it impossible for me to
stand, so l crawled forward to where the
edge of the trap was outlined. / felt for
and found the ring, gripped it with my
teeth, and slowly, for the irons hampered
my balance, raised the edge. Then with
my hands l thrust the edge of the boot.
which | had removed for that purpose.
into the crack. Flat ON my face, l peeped
below
1t was indeed Marnac The light of
a ships lantern, damned between two
barrels, drew streaks of silver from his
white hair as he bent to his labor. Seat
ed astride one of the steel cylinders that
we had noticed, ne was unscrewing the
last of the nuts which secured its iron
cap. What he intended had no idea.
He was lingering the nut which the
spanner had loosened, when l saw a face
creep out of the shadow behind him.
Ii was the captains boy. With infinite
caution he moved forward, with blend
ing of alarm and curiosity in his manner
and showed he was no party to what was
proceeding. Probably the key to the
lazarette had been purloined from him,
and he had discovered its loss. When
he
lurch of the ship threw him from his
balance As he stumbled forward. Mar
nae spun round with a scream of the
most violent passion. Swinging the
heavy hammer, he brought it down upon
the bent head with a scrunching blow.
The lad had dropped upon the floor face
downwards; nor did he try to rise again.
Murderer l cried down upon him,
in horror at so fearful spectacle.
Marnac dropped his weapon and
started back. his fingers twitching. his
eyes searching wildly round for sight
of his accuser. Yet when, at last. he
saw my face above him, he drew himself
together without a sign of trepidation
save that the hand with which he
gripped the stairs still shook slightly.
Zach, but it is you," he whispered up.
"For moment | thought-but it was
the folly of a child. And so, Mr.. Har-
land. you come again to trouble me. Well.
il is for the last time-mark you that
for the very last time"
He sat himself across the cylinder. As
he did so felt hand upon my shoulder.
and knew that Graden was awake.
"Yor. might have spared the lad" he
said very quietly.
Marnac looked up with one Of the
beast ike glances that showed the dis
ordered brain.
'sIt was a necessity" he said. He
would have prevented my act of justice
upon you-upon you who have tried so
hard to hinder me in my reyange upon
my enemies who are also the enemies of
science. Do you understand what / am
aboutw
Perhaps" answered my cousin grim
ly. and at the word he jerked away my
boot. letting the trap fall into its place.
ITO the door. Robert" he whispered.
ssTo the door and shout for help, or it
is all over with us. He must have no.
ticed the ammonia cylinder this after
loon. If he turns the tap, that stuff
will choke the life out of US The gas
is under immense pressure and will pour
up into this den like water from a fire.
hose. Run, man, rum
/ staggered across the heaving cabin
TO the door and dropped upon my knees,
hammering with my irons and screaming
for aid. 1t seemed to me that the thun-
ders of the storm redoubled in violence.
~. III .r
me down. Once l looked round and saw
that the light about the trap had gone.
Graden had smothered the spot with
blankets. Presently he came cropping to
me. raising his voice in hoarse below
ings-
And then il happened.
There came an acrid. piercirs scent To
my nostrils, that grew and grew until
my lungs seemed to contract. so that
1 fought for very breath My cries
ceased. l struggled TO my feet, with ms
head raised like a bird shot through the
lungs. Brilliant lights flashed In my
eyes; there were hollow drummings in
my ears. And then it seemed that the
air left N vacuum l fell. and
forgot it all
1t was daylight when 1 remember
facts again. The motion of the ship had
ceased. and there was an English strang
er by my side. Ny chest felt bruised
and battered. and my eyes still watered
freely Also was very weak and ILL.,
MY cousin? 2" l faltered.
"We have got your friend round" said
the doctor-for so felt that he must be
.'also the other mar"
what MANI
The man who pulled you ont after
the cylinder exploded. A red-beaded
fellow-Blake, l think his name is. YOU
owe your lives to him. You had both
tainted when he opened the door,
''Then he beard is. after all! Tell me
what became of sIarnac?7
Il really cont know about him.
don't think he was injured. Oh. perhaps
you mean the old gentleman who bolt
ed?"
'Bolted?"
'sYes. of course there was great excite
ment over the accident. The captain
was dreadfully cut up over the death Of
his servant. He could not imagine how
it came about. When the ship arrived
I, II -tot au m a