Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-15
CHAPTER z.
Jealousy.

For GREATNESS second after hearing
the report of the guns l was at my wits
end. Then it occurred to me that as the
figure of tine man by the boat was out
lined against the water / could probably
see him much more plainly than he could
see me, since l was close to the dark
limestone rock.
Il told them to fire if they got him. 1
expect that is the signal l said. Wen
go up to them. Come
With the instructive obedience of his
training he started, but after half a dozen
steps halted. MY orders were to stay by
the boat whatever happened, captain.
III stay here / replied.
But either the order or something in my
| tone reused his suspicious. He drew
back step and l saw him bringing his
carbine to the present.
/ didn't give him time to get it to his
shoulder however. Picking up heavy
stone / flung it straight at his face, and
| before he could recover from the surprise
of the blow ! rushed at him and thrust
him into the sea.
The water was only shallow, but he
went in backward, letting out a loud yell
as he splashed in, and before he had re-
gained his feet ! cast off the boat and
punted it out until l could get the oars
to work.
/ was some thirty yards or so from the
landing stage when the others came clat-
tering down the path and over the beach.
shouting and calling like pack of mon
keys.
Every second was carrying me farther
away from them as | tugged and strained
at the oars with all the strength | pos
sessed But as soon as they had heard
| from their souSed companion that | had
escaped in the boat, some of them began
to fire after me, while l heard others
rushing about the beach in search of an
other craft.
| / had TO run the risk of their hitting
me until could get the sail set, and then,
with the sheet in my hand, / lay down
under cover of the bulwarks. There was
good steady breeze, and as soon as
was clear of the cove the little boat rip
ped through the water at speed which
| soon carried me out of range.
| With a sigh of intense relief at my es-
cape, l rolled a cigarette, glanced astern
| to make sure that no boat was following
me- and leant back, realizing for the first
/ time how close a call il had really been.
/ slight hitch in the luck and l should
| have been in gaol, or what would have
been almost as bad, a fugitive on the
| island with a price on my head,
| When once / reached the island l would
| stay there | resolved, until Beltano was
able to assure me that 1t was safe to
leave. or until l had probed the mystery
| of VicinO's death.
| AS there was no signal light to guide
me / had some little difficulty in finding
| the landing stage on the island, but this
| did not delay me long, and after l had
stored the sails and oars, ! went up to
the old fort to relieve Breva of his watch.
| He was intensely glad to see me, but
| had bad news.
! There has been the devil to pay about
your absence. Beppo. Drake found out
about 1.-THE must have spied on YOU
| think. and he and Giuseppe crossed about
! an hour after you had left. They were
| I<,.,t t,,l.. Il
| their return Molta came to me with a
hundred questions about your going and
| all the rest of it, But l held my tongue.
| She was in fine rage however,
| ! told him briefly what had occurred
and sent him TO rest. Go and sleep,