The Irish standard., 1909-06-12


ing the revolver in his hand. He was
shaking in a chill, though the temper.
ature was over so, and the cabin.
when he had first entered it, had
seemed to him overpoweringly hot
and sitting. He warmed himself
with nip of gin. He looked over his
clothes for trace of blood, and
was thankful to find none. He took
off his coat; he examined the soles of
his shoes. No blood Thank God. no
blood!
He went on deck and cast the re-
volver overheard, standing at the taft.
rail and watching it sink. Even in
the time he had been below the wind
had risen; it was blowing great guns
to seward, the lagoon itself was
white and broken as far as the eye
could reach. Aboard his own schoon-
er they were busy housing the top.
masts, and the yeo-heave-yeo of
straining voices warned him that
Cracroft was hosting In the boats
and making everything snug.
Gregory leaned against the wheel
and tried to think. To throw Hor-
ble's body overheard would be to &C.
complish nothing. The blood, the
shot holes, the disordered cabin,
would all betray him. To scuttle the
schooner with stick of dynamite was
better plan, but that involved re.
turning to the Northern Light, with
the possibility Of Madge coming of
in the interval and discovering the
murder for herself. No. the risk of
that appalled, him. Besides, what.
ever happened, he had another rea-
son for keeping the truth from Madge.
The fact Of Horble's death, even if
she thought 1t accidental, would
shock her to the core. 1t was in.
conceivable that she would feel any.
thing but horror stricken, whether
she judged her former lover innocent
or not. She might even undergo q
terrible remorse. At such a moment
how little likely she would be to give
way to him! OF course she would re.
fuse. Any woman would refuse.
Every restraining influence would be
massed against him. No, his only
hope lay in getting her aboard his
schooner and out of the lagoon be-
fore the least suspicion could dawn
upon her. Once away, and it might
be two years before she might even
hear of Horble's death. Once away,
and the empty seas would keep his
secret. Once away
He studied the weather with a new
and consuming anxiety. How could
he manage to get out at all, or pick
a course through the middle channel!
It was thick with coral rocks, and in
day so overcast the keenest eye
aloft would be at fault And out
side, what then? Already it was
working up a hurricane To run be.
fore it would be counting death.
But to stake Madge's life! Madge,
whom he loved so dearly! Madge,
for whom he would have died!
And yet. there was something sub
lime in the thought of taking her in
his arms and driving before the gale
| the storm sails treble reefed on the
bending yards. the decks awash from
end to end, Madge beside him. the
pitchy night In front, the engulf1ne
seas behind; to swim or sink, to ride
or smother. accepting their fate to
gether, and. If need be, drowning at
the last in each others arms.
He looked toward, the settlement
and saw crowd of natives pushing
whaleboat into the water: looked
again, and saw old Maka taking his
place in the stern sheets and assist
ing woman in beside him. The
woman! 1t needed no second glance
to tell him it was Madge. He had
never counted on her coming off in
company. Fool. that he was, he had
taken 1t for granted that she would
be alone. Everything, in fact turned
on her being alone. Then, with a
start. he remembered his own dinghy
and how it would betray him. He had
made it fast on the schooner's star
board quarter near the little &C.
commodation ladder. Going on his
: hands and knees, lest his head should
be seen above the shallow rail, he I'm.
loosed the painter. worked the boat
astern. and drew 1t again to port
Then he crouched down in the alley.
way and waited.
A few minutes later and the whaler
was humping against the schooner's
side. It might have been humping
against Gregorys heart, so agonizine
was the suspense as he lay breathless
and cramped between the coff1nlike
width of the house and rail.
1T was kind Of you to bring me
of, Maka," said Madge.
The old Hawaiian laughed mu.
sically in denial. mo, no." he cried
You must come below and see the
captain" said Madge.
Gregory was in cold sweat Of ap
prehension.
"Too much Storm said Maka
doubtfully. ~ go home now, and put
rocks on the church roof"
Five minutes won't matter" said
Madge.
Again Gregory trembled.
"More better I IN honoA n,,}elr "