Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-22

a care not to anger me again. and with
| that I got up. He scrambled to his feet
| and Agapa and julius came out of the
| trees and joined him.
murmur of establishment at my lem
| iency ran the round of the men as
crossed to Drake. Now, Drake, I'll deal
with YOU l said.
But all his courage had oozed away
when I had beaten his ally. He cringed
and skunk back. Il won't fight" he
muttered..
| His cowardice disguised me- and Selling
him by the throat shook him till his
teeth ratified like castanets, and then
| flung him away. and turned on the rest
| rs there any one who wants to dispute
| my claim to lead in Beltano'S absence?''
| They shuff1ed uneasily and no one an
| Swered. you've mad your lesson, see
| that you learn it, / said. as l shea hed
my knife. and they drew aside to let me
pass to my hut. There times when
bluff is the only policy. That was one OF
| them
| Luigi came to ME minute later and
thanked him for having kept Drake quiet
during the fight. He shook his head
seppe Beppo. He will only hate you
the more for having beaten him
Better his hate than his love, Luigi
| / answered.
| you will need to watch him" he re-
piled. and went off with another dubious
shake of the head.
! l was now resolved that MaSita- should
! leave the island that night and that her
| brother should take her. I was sure that
| as he had witnessed the fight word or
two from me would brighten him into
| obedience
| / called him over. and as I led him
away toward the old fort I explained
| blunt1y what l expected him to do. He
and l told him to come to the fort in an
| hour. by which time l would have every
| thing In readiness.
I I hurried there and gave Breva his in
| structions. When Julius arrived he was
| to be at once admitted to- Masita and
bring her to the landing stage, and in
| the meantime Pepita was to explain
| things to her.
| | then got the boat ready They did
| not come, however. and, after waiting
| till my patience was exhausted, i went
| back to the fort to find out the cause of
| the delay.
Julius had not been there. SO I sent
Breva in search of him. Masita was
waiting with Pepita at the door. and l
did my best to assure her that all would
| still be we'll | was confident that Julius
would not dare to fail me-
| But l was wrong. We had waited many
| minutes In growing uneasiness when
Breva came running back. GREATNESS and
excited.
There is ILL., he said. drawing me
aside. Julius has betrayed everything
to Molta. Agapa told me, and she is like
a devil with rage against him for 1t. She
Is following me to see YOU
l went at once to MaSita "Your brother
| has failed us and has made trouble. But
| If you will come with me will take you
| across. There is still time
But her mistrust of me was too strong.
| She hesitated. How do l know that YOU
have not arranged all this yourself?''
! Her words both hurt and angered me-
las you will said. CURLY. You had
better return to your rooms. l. can do
no more and / turned away.
| Pepita spoke to her. striving to induce
her. l caught Mas!ta's reply. You be-
trayed me to him before: how. then, can
| believe you are not also in league with
him against me?''
Again and again Pepita sought to per-
suade her. Agapa came directly after
| ward and ] went to question her
| Just then Pepita called that Masita
would go. and the two came hurrying
down the path.
| But it was too late. The sound of many
voices reached us-Molta's. Giuseppe $
and others'-speaking in the high tones of
| excitement and danger.