Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-12-23
CHAPTER XIII.

Some time in the golden afternoon
OF the following day, the Pelican
weighed anchor and slouched with a
loafsh air out OF the harbo- of the
Piraeus.
"Plyn Bill 'Ole," the captain said
ne preferred to be called. And plain
Bill Hole!" unused the Irishman, lean.
ing over the forward rail and sucking
at a short black pipe. ''Faith) not
only plain, but even trifle homely,"
he amended automatically.
"As for meself," he concluded later
I'm no siren in this rig" And he
lifted his eyebrows, protruding his
lower lip, as he glanced down over his
attire.
1t was a strange rig for the O'Rourke
to be in: an engineers blue jumper,
much the worse for wear, and a pair
of trousers whose seat, O'Rourke
maintained, was only held together by
dts coating of dirt and grease.
O'Rourke eyed this get-up with dis.
dain. Fortunately" he comforted
himself, "twon't be forever I'll be
wearing it"
In the present instance, the dis
guise was held an advisable thing.
since O.Rourke was officially register.
on the ships books as assistant en-
gincer The Pelican carried no IL
cense for passengers, and in view OF
his avowed purpose it was deemed
unwise for the Irishman to risk de-
lection by appearing too tony" Can
expression culled from the captains
vocabulary.
Otherwise. it was understood that
his duties were to consist of the pur-
suit Of his own sweet will, that he
was to occupy IL stateroom aft. and
that he was to mess at the captains
table.
On an evening, some nine or ten
days after he had left Athens.
O'Rourke at the forward rail saw tho
long, low profile of Egypt edge up out
of the waters, saw it take color and
form. made out palms and the wind
mills, the lighthouse and Pompeys
pillar; and knew that he was close
upon his journeys end.
Her wirches ratified cheerfully as
tho Pelican dropped anchor, nut
O'Rourke did not move. There would
be no going ashore, ne knew, until
Hole was ready. and that would De
when the customs officials had PAID
him call ard the usual courtcsles
had been exchanged. The lrlsnman
had no need to be in haste 10 change
from his present garh to one that
better suited him. So he lolled upon
the rail and regarded with kindllng
eye the harbor views.
He mopped his brow. simply Gas be-
fitted one OF his apparent station IN
life) with the back OF hand, ana
stood erect. exulting III the scent, the
inaescribahle impalpahle, insistent
odor Of the East that IS forgotten OF
none who had ever known it. The not
wind drove it guatily in his face, and
ne shifted and drew great lungfuls
and was glad.
lis good" he said Simply. ana
bit later, while on the short-line. the
brazan arcs were beginning to pop out
silently: There's the customs boat.
I'm thinking I'll slip below"
No lamps haG yet been lighted be-
low, but O'Rourke knew the way TO
his room. lie entered and shut the
door. The afterglow OF the sunset.
entering through the portfolio, rem
dered the little coop light enough for
his purpose. Dropping TO his knees,
the Irishman pulled his kit-box from
beneath the bunk.
The lid came up freely as he
touched it. For a full minute he did
not breathe. Then, in ominous ST.
lence, he bent and examined the lock.