Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-02-27

suspicion. but as it was the only
chance | resolved upon it Immediately.
That's all very WE'LL" l said firmly.
but you can't get anywhere without
me, and I'm not going to put in two
years and then keep my mouth shut
for nothing. ! want q share in the
swag-an even share with the rest of
you"
"Oh. thatll be all right" he cried
You can have it."
If anything was needed TO convince
me of the mans sinister intentions,
this too ready acquiescence would have
been enough. knew him too well. II
he had had the slightest intention of
permitting me to go free, he would
have bargained.
The niger called us to mess. We
ate in the after cabin. The chest was
locked, and the men had as yet been
unable to break into it. Pull profess
ed some skill in locksmithing and
promised to experiment later. After
| mess we went on deck again. The is
land had dropped down to the horizon
and showed as brilliant glow under
4 dark canopy. / leaned over the rail.
looking at it. Below me the extra
dory bumped along The idea came
to me that if | could escape that night
| could row back to Percy barrow.
| The two of us could make shift to live
| on fish and shellfish and mutton. The
plan rapidly defined itself in my brain.
~ an of hn
we could construct some kind OF n
craft in which to run free 10 the sum-
mer trades. Thus we might in time
reach some one or another of the
Sandwich Islands. whence n passing
trader could take US back to civiliZa-
ton. There We're many elements of
| uncertainty in the scheme. but it SEEM
ed to me less desperate than trusting to
the caprices of these men. especially
since they now had free access to the
| liquor stores.
While | leaned over the rail engross-
| ed in these thoughts one of the black
thunderclouds that had been gather
| ing and dissipating over the island dur
| ing the entire afternoon suddenly glow
ed overhead with Il strange white in
candescence startingly akin to Oar
rows SO called devil fires" Strange
] ~ enough, this illumination. unlike the
| volcanic glows. appeared to be cast on
| the clouds from without rather than
| shot through them from within. as
| were the other volcanic emanations
| At the same instant | experienced a
| sharp interior revulsion of some sort.
most briefly momentary. but of char
| acter that shook me from head to toe.
| had no time to analyze these vari-
Gus impressions, however, for my at
| tention was almost instantly distract
| ed. From the cabin came the sound
of sharp fall; then man cried out.
and on the heels OF it Pull darted from
| the cabin. screaming horribly. We
| were all on deck. and as the little man
rushed toward the stern Handy Solo
mon twisted him deftly from his feet.
What is it," he cried as he pinned
the sufferer to the deck.
| But Pull could not answer. He shiv-
cred, stiffened and lay rigid, his eyes
rolled back.
Fits remarked Thrackles impa-
tiently.
The-excitement died. Rum was fore
ed between the victims lips. After a
little he recovered, but could tell us
nothing of his seizure.
After the dishes had been swept
aside from supper Handy Solomon an
nounced a second attempt to open the
chest
"Pancho. here. says he's been a me-
chanic," said he. 81 right well know
he's been a housebreaker, so he's got
the sabe for the job, and you can kiss
the book on that
Perdosa, with a grin. leaned over the
cover from behind and began to picb
away at the lock with long crooked
wire The others drew close about. ]
slipped nearer the door, imagining thai
In their riveted interest i saw my op
portunity. To my surprise I caught
glimpse of legs disappearing up the
companion. I took stock. Pulz hat
gone on deck.
This surprised me, for I should have
thought every man interested enough
in the supposed treasure to wish to b.
present at its uncovering, and it an
noyed me still more. The success Of
my plan demanded a clear deck. How
ever. there was nothing for it now bu
to trust that Pulz had wished to visi
the forecastle and that might find tn,
! afterworks empty.