The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1906-12-14
CHAPTER XVIu.-(Continued.)


made no second mistake, but crouched
at the tiller, tricking the succession of
great seas that swung upon us out Of the
throbbing blackness. Stung by passing
hailstorms, drenched to the skin, and ach-
Ing with cold, l toiled with a tin panni-
kin. baling, baling until my back creaked
with stiffness and my hands could scarce
ly feel the handle. Graden and the sail
or worked beside me- 30 that We man
aged to keep the water under. Now and
again slit in the rushing dark above us
showed me Marnac lying by the steers
mans side. Was he alive or dead? l
did not know, nor did l stay my labor 10
make inquiry.
The daylight came at last, the God
given light for which all poor mariners
must pray In their hours of danger.
With 1t came q lessening Of the wind
add falling sea. Yet there had been
an angry menace in the brilliant cOlors
that lit the eastern sky, and l stared
eagerly over the muddy green of the hur-
rying surges. Indeed, l was the first
to see a steamers smudge Of smoke on
the western skyline.
Her be making for We, gentlemen"
ACAAdA hCu JUL SlceTSuldu, alter lOHS
stare at the distant vessel Happen her
would take e aboard. if you be so
minded The weather be blowing up
again, and it's long reach back to
Polleven."
Il don't like deserving tho ship, Isaac"
said Graden; though, to tell the truth, l
don't relish another day in the chops Of
the Channel"
'Bain't no desartion. sir. Me and
Jake can take her wheam; and. to tell
e the truth, herll ride the lighter for
the want of him.
He pointed to where Marnac sat
crouchng under an oilskin coat. Save for
occasional shivers. the old man seemed
to be no worse for his handshake with
Death. He received the sailors remark
with benevolent smile. ''Doan't e go
grinning at me, you wicked-minded old
toad!' cried Isaac. ''Twas only through
special mercies. that Providence forgot
you was on board. We'd ha' been sunk
for zarten, else"
Within half an hour We could see
the steamer clearly. an ancient tramp Of
the seas. bluff in the bows, square in the
flank, with a coloring of SCOT and rusty
iron. She answered our signals with a
melancholy toot and stood towards u.s.
Graden, who had been watching her ap-
proach at my side, turned and walked
aft
Il have already dropped your revolver
overheard, Professor Marnac," he said;
but must trouble you to hand me your
pocket-book. Money. you know, is often
the most valuable of weapons"
The professor obeyed with a gentle
cluck of amusement.
Il trust. Sir Henry, that the notes
are not damaged" he said in the low,
musical tones with which 1 was SO ia
miliar. "Indeed, l was assured that the
case was waterproof"
Now, your loose gold, If you please"
Here it is, Sir Henry, with nv watch
and chain. Observe that my pockets
are now completely empty. All, Mr.. Har-
land, forgive me if 1 did net notice you
before. fear that these nautical adyen-
lures will interrupt ysur course of
studies. Did you hear whom the mi
versity have appointed in my stead? l
should be sorry if my students, amongst
whom l always held you to be the most
studious. if not the most able. should be
long without lecturer-like sheep that
have lost their shepherd, Mr.. Harland. +"
turned from him with a feeling of
nausea. Mad or sane. he had done such
deeds as placed him beyond the inter-
course of humanity.
The steamer was close upon us now.
and as she came rolling down the heaye
of the swell we were hailed from the
bridge in tongue that was strange TO
me. Before we could reply, seaman
had sprung to the bulwarks and sent the
coils OF line spinning over us. This
Isaac made fast, allowing a fair space to
intervene between his little craft and
the rusty metal fabric that lowered
above us.
"Good-bye. Isaac" said Graden. shak-
Ing the little Cornshman warmly bv
the hand. II will see to your check the
moment l get to London"
'Doan't e mention it, EUR. wa.
right proud to take e. Nor do e troublo
about we uns. Jake and l will be max
Ing Polleven by midnight at latest
please be"
CHAPTER XIX.
1t was an anxious scramble-tbev bod
to swing out chair for Marnac-but tho
trawler was as handy as a row-boat md
at last the three Of us stood on the dack
of the stranger. A more ill-assorted trio
of bedra ggled voyagers never ranged in
line.
But If we were strange to look unon
20 were the group of men who confronted
us. They were of the degenerate Latin
breed, dark, small, uncertain in temner
and dirty by nature and training. Their
seafaring dress seemed as ill-suited to
them as a sash and colored cloak would
be to British shellback
"Eengleshe?" asked one whom I took
to be the mate. 'Eengleshe? What
say?"
eve are Englishmen who were driven
out to sea by last nights storm. If
may see the captain, l will explain"
said my cousin.
The man grinned his lack of compre-
hension. Plainly his vocabulary was of
the smallest.
"These men are Portuguese, Sir Hen
~" said Marnac, stepping quickly for
ward. II know their tongue. Allow
me to explain the situation"
But he got no further. My cousins
long arm shot out. gripping his collar
srm,v from behind. With a gentle heave,
49, profossor from HIS feot