The Washington times., 1908-12-15

the clouds, he sprang 10 his feet and
pointed over the side.
Look" he cried The island!'
In the momentary flare Jim beheld
for an instant a line Of seething break
ers not more than three miles away. a
white strip Of low-lying beach behind,
and beyond this the palm trees and
dense vegetable growth Of a tropical
forest
For an instant he saw this brilliantly
Illuminated as though by the blaze Of
a calcium; the next. the darkness had
shut down again, and he was struggling
for his life.
Whether the sight Of the island ha0
brought a recurrence OF the captain
insanity, or whether he had merely been
cunningly watching for his opportunity,
there could be no doubt that he was
now beside himself.
Quick as a flash his cfutching fingers
had gripped around Jim's throat, and
the latter. taken completely or MS
guard, found himself 1,Owerless TO IN
loose them.
''AhaT' the old man shrieked with a
high, crazy laugh. I've got you az
last You stood in my shoes once. did
; lou, and you thought you could againf
But I'll show you. YOU Tnutineer"
All the time. he was holding his
victim secure, despite J1m's thrashing
| struggles to escape, and never relaxed
for an instant the choking pressure
upon the others winupipe
Struck your captain down like a dog.
didn't y)u?" he tainted. Spilled my
Z cd
didn't see it; but I saw more than you
| thought I have not been too crazy for
that I have seen all along what was
! in your mind. You meant to XIII me
| when we got TO the island and keep the
| treasure for yourself. But you don't do
! it You don't do it, You don't"
/ Jim's strength was practically gone.
| He mad boosted once that he was more
than a match for his antagonist: but
! he had failed then 10 realize the al
most supernG"1an energy Of a maniac
| Captain Ezra nov seemed inbued with
the strength Of ten, and he handled his
| enemy like a baby.
The world grew black before Jim's
| eyes. his senses were leaving him; faint
and PARKWAY be heard that hish-pitch-
| ed maIevolent refrain: You don't do
it, You don't 60 it, You don
Then he felt himself lifted high and
flung bodily over the side. and, into the
/ boiling sea
Down, down, he went, seemingly hun
dreds OF feet into the food: but the
! shock restored his almost departed con
| sciousness. and when he came 10 the
| surface again he struck out boldly
J Rising TO the crest Of a monstrous
wave. ne saw by another fash Of light
ming the sloop not a cables length
| away.
| As he gazed she preached with her Un-
/ tended helm to the wind, and her sticks,
| v hich had stood so stanchly the fury
| of the gale, gave way.
/ With a sharp report the main and
| jib stay both parted at a. single instant.
and the mast, trembling for a second
like a reed. snapped or short and went
over the side.
The sIoop heeled until half the deck
was submerged, but the captain was
at her wheel again by this time. and,
Fighting. she drove on before the blast
Jim heard an exultant cacltle in the
/ darkness. but when the next fash came
I the Helene was out OF sight. Close be
side him, however, swept upon a r,Ish-
! ing wave the dismantled spar lie flung
himself toward it through the water
I gripped il with his hands and clasped il
1 close.