The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1906-12-21
CHAPTER XXI.

CHAPTER XXI.
The wind rose again that afternoon
and by four o'clock it was blowing very
hard. The seas drove against the sides
Of the old ship in thunderous murmurs;
now and again they sprang the bulwarks,
crashing down upon the deck above US
and shaking the iron fabric in convulsive
tremors. In the confined cabin my nau-
sea visited me again. Enough that
was supremely miserable.
At six, Blake had brought US a sup
per. His presence irritated me; and
when he pressed food upon me, spoke
my mind strongly on the lamentable
want of tact general amongst sailors. He
gave us the comfortable news, however,
that we were expected to reach South
ampton by three next morning.
The night crawled on. Blake had
helped US into hunks and covered us with
rugs. l found the handouts of small
inconvenience. could hear Graden snor-
ing. For myself, could not go to sleep,
but lay in the lowest misery, staring at
the opposite partition, that rose and fell
at the ships rollings with sickening
regularity. Just before midnight, the
lamp-that had probably been injured
when Graden fell in the lazarette-
smoked, fared, and expired. l was 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
l first noticed it-a faint ray of illum-
nation winking in the center of the cabin
floor. At first 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
ghostly thing to witness, this white
knife-edge of light stabbing up from
the solid planking without cause or ex-
PLANTATION. l was about to shout to
Graden when l remembered the trap
door. Someone was below in the lazar-
ettel
For some moments l 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 were 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.
afraid. There were devilish possibilities
in a hatred such as that in which tue
mad professor held us. Yet after a while
my curiosity overcame my fear, just as
my fear had put aside my sickness. l
rolled from my bunk-noisily enough, l
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 l had removed for that purpose,
| into the crack. Flat ON my face, peeped
below.
| 1t was indeed Marnac The light of
ships lantern, jammed 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 l had no idea.
He was lingering the nut which the
spanner had loosened, when / saw a face
creep out of the shadow behind him
1t was the captains boy. With infinite
caution he moved forward, with a blend
ing of alarm and curiosity in his name
and showed he was no party to what wa
proceeding. Probably the key to tn
lazarette had been purloined from him
and he had discovered its less. Whel
scarcely two yards from Marnac, tn
lurch of the ship threw him from hi
| H. lad arl Noy
nae spun round with a scream of tn
most violent passion. Swinging tn
heavy hammer, he brought it down upo
the bent head with a scrunching blow
The lad had dropped upon the floor fac
downwards; nor did he try to rise agaiI
Murderer l cried down upon hin
in horror at so fearful spectacle.
Marnac dropped his weapon an
started back, his fingers twitching, h
eyes searching wildly round for a sgl
, of his accuser. Yet when, at last,
saw my face above him, he drew himse
together without a sign of trepidatio
save that the hand with which /
gripped the stairs still shook slightly.
), Zach! but it is you," he whispered u
! "For a moment thought-but it WI
the folly of child And so, Mr.. Ha
. land, you come again to trouble me. We
, it is for the last time-mark you tn;
for the very last time"
. He sat himself across the cylinder. 4
Q he did so felt hand upon my shoulde
and knew that Graden was awake.
e "You might have spared the lad"
said very quietly.
Marnac looked up with one of Il
. beast-like glances that showed the di
n ordered brain.
at was a necessity" he said. "E
would have prevented my act of justi
n upon you-upon you who have tried
a hard to hinder me in my revenge upt
ny enemies who are also the enemies
science. Do you understand what / a
aboutT'
Perhaps" answered my cousin gril
f ly, and at the word he jerked away n
boot, letting the trap fall into its plaC
d ITO the door, Robert" he whispere
d ITO the door and shout for help, or
IS is all over with us. He must have 4
= ticed the ammonia cylinder this aft'
e noon. If he turns the tap, that ST.
Ie will choke the life out Of US. The 6