Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-09
'Labertouche. Why? You don't know

him.
mo. but Rutton did. Rutton got that
poison from him."
Quain whistled. his eyes round. did
eh? So much the better: he'll probably
know all about Rutton and IL take a
keener interest"
But you forget"
Hang your promise. I'm not bound
by 1t and this is business-blacker bust
ness than you seem to realize, Davy.
You're bent on jumping blindfold and
with your hands tied into the seethins
pool of infamy and intrigue that is India
And I won't stand for il. Don't think
for an instant that I'm going to let You
go without doing everything I can to
make things as pleasant as possible for
You. No. Labertouche is your man."
And to this Quain held infiexibly. SO
that, in the end. Amber. unable to move
him. was obliged to leave the matter in
his hands.
A sullen and portentous dawn hung in
the sky when the little party left the
cabin. In the east the entire armament
was ensanguined with sinister crimson
and barred with long reefs OF purple
black clouds in motionless suspense. Upon
the earth the red glare fell ominousy
the eastern faces Of the snow-clad dunes
shone like rubies: westward the shadows
streamed long and dense and violet. The
stiffness was intense.
A little awed. II may be, and certainly
more than q little depressed, they left
the hollow by the beaten way, the Portu-
guese Antoine leading, with a pick and
spade Amber and Quain following side
by side. Doggott with his valise bringing
up the rear. Beyond the hollow the
tracks diverged toward the bay shore.
and presently they came to the scene OF
the tragedy.
Between two sandhilIs the BengAli lay
supne. huddled heap OF garish color
scarlet, yellow. tan-against the cold
bluish-gray of snow. A veil Of unmeted
flakes blurred his heavy. contorted fea-
lures and his small, black eyes-eyes as
evil now. staring classify up to the ZEN
it'll. as when quickened by his malign in
telligence About him were many foot
prints. some recentlys made-presumably
by his companion. The latter. however.
kept himself dscreetly invisible
At a word from Quain the Portuguese
paused and began to dig. Quain, Amber
and Doggott went on a little distance.
then. by mutual consent, halted within
sight of Antoine.
81 wouldn't leave him IL 1 were YOU"
Amber told Quain. nodding back at the
Portuguese. 1T mightnt be safe. with
that other devil skulking round-heaven
knows where"
"Right-O!' agreed Quain. His hand
with you." he said. huskily.
Amber frightened his clasp upon the
mans fingers. II can't improve on that,
Tony" said he. with a feeble smile.
dropped his hand and turned away.
Come along, Doggott."
The servant led the way baywards. Be-
hind them the angry morning blazed
brighter in the sky.
In the sedge of the shore they found a
rowboat and. launching it, embarked for
the power boat, which swung at her
mooring in deeper water. When they
were aboard the latter Doggott took
charge Of the motor. leaving to Amber
the wheel. and with little delay they were
in motion.
AS their distance from the shore in
creased Amber glanced back. The island
rested low against the flaming sky, a
shape of empurpled shadows. scarcely
more substantial to the vision than the
rack of cloud above. In the dark sedges
the pools here and there caught the light
from above and shone blood-red. And
suddenly the attention Of the Virginian
was arrested by the discovery of a HUI
man figure-a man standing upon a dune
top some distance inland and staring
steadfastly after the boat. He seemed
of extraordinary height and very thin;
upon his head there was a turban; his
arms were folded. While Amber watched
he held his pose, living menace-iiRe
some fantastic statue bulking black
against the grim red dawn.