Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1907-12-12
CHAPTER vi.-continued.

"And why, tonight, against the reg
ulations of my vessels" adds An
struther, "he kept this galley fire un-
banked so that the light shining
through his open portfolio indicates to
The felucca what craft it is to
pursue"
Marina puts these questions to the
cook and translates the following an
swer. THE ice was necessary. After
| am on shore to get it, l sent a tele-
gram, as promised, to Monsieur Deu-
PEE, who had come to me in Marseilles
and said: You go on the Seagull. The
Cafe Vefieur will want you as soon as
their grand chef Meudon goes to Paris.
To engage you, they must know where
you are. To miss your services would
be blow for the great restaurant. So
they can communicate with you, tele-
graph me Immediately on landing
from each port the yacht stops, that
they can get you the instant Meudon
leaves He gave me money for this.
Therefore the moment am on shore,
telegraph simply: st. Tropez. / am
here. Leboeuf.' Soon received a re.
turn message: Hold the yacht three
hours / have vegetables to buy, also
flowers. That takes time, after the
market Is closed. don't hurry. What
matters IL pleasure yacht leave lit
tie later? From Marseilles 1 receive
no further answer. The chef of the
Vefieur has not yet gone, so come on
board. This night, the morning watch
want coffee; Monsieur Graham say
give it to them, so leave my fire I'M
banked. 1t was very hot; open the
portfolio of my galley. That's all.
Voici, what have done Is simply bust
ness. am great cook. The Cafe
Vefeur wishes to engage me; that is
ALL"
"Aha," cries Enid generously; you
see the chef simply expected to get a
good position in the kitchen Of lead
ing Marseilles restaurant"
Listening to this, Edwin and Barnes
60 into consultation. Probably the
memory of his magnificent cuisine
makes them lenient to the artist. II
believe the little beggar is innocent"
says the sailor.
simply a matter of vanity" re-
marks Burton. "He thought they
wanted him very much for the Cafe
Vefleur."
eff we don't put the little chap on
shore, we must trust him." remarks
the American. Then he says briefly to
Marina: please show Leboeuf what
danger he has placed upon US by his
telegram"
And this being explained to him by
the beautiful women, both fair ones
almost speaking together, Leboeuf be-
ginning to comprehend the plot against
even their lives, the little Frenchman
breaks out excitedly and CALAMITY in
a mixture Of polyglot: Mile. ton
nerres, murder you, angels of mercy?
Nevaire! /, Felix Leboeuf, will defend
you both With my life" He seizes and
kisses their hands. "Zese assassins
shall answer to me for making me zeir
instrument. No more kilograms while
/ am Seagull Eat swear to you,"
and the little fellows eyes glow with
gratitude as they rest upon the gentle
creatures who, as they have stood be-
tween him and marlinspike and pistol,
have seemed divine in mercy.
But despite the innocence and fealty
of Monsieur Leboeuf, Edwin and
Barnes leave his galley dismayed.
"We must settle exactly how we
proceed" whispers Barnes to Edwin,
the two ladies having retreated to the
stern. What do you propose?"
"Why, as not only sailor but man
of common sense, l propose to get
away from these sneaky devils as far
as possible; crack on everything,
round Sardinia, drive for the Strait of
Gibraltar and up the Atlantic and Bay
of Biscay to England"
Barnes glances over the stern-far
away in the gloom of the coming morn
ing is the felucca. There's practical
proof that the vendetta is ever follow
ing u.s." he says, simply. THAT cruel
craft is sent to dog US to any port
where we may land. In England, you
will be too prominent to escape notice.
Besides, do you or | want to live our
lives always looking over our Shout
ders for some enemy behind us? No.
there is one way-my original plan.
Get the ladies concealed and guard
ed as carefully as possible with Lady
Chartris at Villefranche, then you and
I turn about and meet these devils,
and, If necessary. destroy them; at all
events, destroy the man who has the
money, that permits these assassins to
follow US to the ends Of the earth"