The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-10-26
pleasure-bo boating.


, situation briefly, then bent over and
with the twisted screw-driver pried up
one Of the deck planks, which had
been left unnailed, though tightly ut.
| ted, to facilitate the placing Of bal
| last. In the aperture revealed a num-
| Der of bricks of lead lay against the
center beard trunk, in thin wash OF
bilge water. Coast picked one up,
| balancing it in his hand while he re-
placed the plank. The bar Of lead was
solid and very heavy-of the shape
and weight technically known as
''fifty-six"
Right commented Appleyard;
that may do the trick. Come over on
this side, If you please, Mrs. Black
| stock" he added, as Coast rose and
facing the door balanced himself as
carefully as the scant headroom. of the
tiny cabin would permit; "if the door
should hold by accident, that things
liable to bounce back like a rubber
ball, only much more so. You might
as well keep out of the way"
When Katherine had quietly com
piled, Coast, the f1fty-six poised near
his shoulder, waited until the Echo
momentarily rode with an even keel,
then with all his might sent It crash
ing against the panels Of the stRrboard
door. They yielded like paper, leaving
a ragged hole, through which he
thrust an arm, cropping for the bolt
This found and drawn, he pushed the
door back and assembled, Appleyard
following.
To his immense establishment, both
sky and sea were stark and bright
with moonlight.
Behind him he heard the little mans
quiet and courteous voice: Better
not come up just yet, Mrs. Blackstock.
A little later.
At their feet. blocking the cockpit
with his huge body and long, massive
ly proportioned limbs, Chang lay su.
pine and inert, half across the engine
pit, into which one limp arm dangled.
What time the shadow of the sail and
swinging boom did not blot it out in
inky blackness, the moonlight struck
cold and hard upon the evil, grinning
mask of death that was his face.
Swsying drunkenly. Blackstock oc-
cupied the wheekbox, his fat white
hands loose of grasp upon the spokes
and moved by rather than controlling
it. His head sagged low upon his
chest, swinging heavily from side to
side as the catboat rolled.
He, at least, could not be dead, as
Chang unquestionably was-a fact Ap-
pleyard presently verified by the most
brief of inqussts, discovering in the
Chinsman's naked torso no less than
three bullet wounds, all indicating the
perforation Of vital spot.
STOPPING low to escape the banging
OF the boom, Coast stepped over the
Chinaman's body and went to Black
stock He had some trouble overcom-
ing his physical repugnance to the
task, but resolutely forced himself to
touch the man, Selling a shoulder with
one hand, while with the other he
lifted his head and exposed his face
to the light. 1t shone a CHASTITY white,
but the jaws were set and IN their
sockets the prominent eyes moved and
lifted to Coasts face, with dim, pale
glimmer OF recognition. But it was
evident at a glance that only his tire.
mendous vitality and force Of will sus.
tanned the man; the blood soaked bo-
som of his flannel shirt told too plain
ly the tale OF terrible drain upon his
strength.
"Appleyard-"
mo; this ones nrst-he's done FOR
completely" interrupted the little man
with prompt decision; we've got to
get him out of the way before we can
move. T'other can wait"
But he'll die"
I'm satisfied. Here, lend me
lift at this, won't your"
Together with considerable diff
Guilty, they managed to raise the
body of Chang to side seat and then
over the rail. A sullen splash and
shower Of spray, molten silver in the
moonlight, were all his funeral rite.
And now for the quick" said Ap-
pleyard; "and quicks the word
But as they approached Blsckstock
the man, drawing upon some unsus-
pected reserve OF nervous force, de-
nberately If with torturing effort,
pulled himself together, lifted a leg
over the wheel and slipped of the box
to the seat to lesward. A grim ghost
Of G smile showed upon his face. and
for fugitive instant there shone
from his eyes q CLEAN of their one
time hooking luster, a little proud
and disdainful, altogether. unrepent-
ant. Then with a long sigh, his chin
dropped down on his breast again.
Thanks" said Appleyard, callously;
you've saved rs a deal Of trouble
and exertion. I'm sure. Coast, take
the wheel, will you, while I get Mr..
Blackstock a drink and see what can
be done to save his worthless hide
for & more evil end"
Cbediently Coast placed himself on
the box. ANY idea where we are?"
be asked.
Blsckstock reused at the query and
raised his head, staring round the hori-
zon. Vineyard sound" he croaked
hoarsely, with q nod to leeward;
uhara AGAINST 4ha nala h1t,a sp1a,doy