The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-09-08
CHAPTER XIV
The End of the Yacht Adventure.

n" Racksole and Prince Aribert
" Of Posen on board the yacht
without a name.
Inc Princes first business was to
make Jules, otherwise Mr. Tom Jack
son, perfectly secure by means OF
several pieces of rope.
Although Mr.. jackson had been
stunned into complete unconscious
ness and there was a confused
wound under his ear, no one could say
how soon he might come to himself
ana get very violent. So the Prince,
having tied his arms and legs, made
him fast TO a stanchion.
~ hope he won't die said Nella.
He looks very white"
The Mr.. Jacksons Of this world"
SAID Prlnce Aribet sententiously, 'nev-
er die till they are hung. BY the
way, wonder how II is that no one
mas interfered with US. Perhaps they
are dlscreetly afraid of my revolver
of your revolver, / mean"
Both he and Nella glanced I'D at the
lmperturbable SteerSman, who kept the
yachts head straight out to sea. By
thls time they were about a couple of
miles from the Belgian shore
Addressing him in French, the Prince
ordered the sailor to put the yacht
about and make again for Ostend har-
Dor, but the fellow took no notice
whatever of the summons
The Prince raised the revolver, with
the idea Of frightening the steersman,
and then the man began to talk rapidly
In mixture of French and Flemish.
he said that he had received Jules
strict orders not to interfere in any
way, no matter what might happen on
the deck OF the yacht He was the cap
tain OF the yacht, and he had to make
Tor q certain English port, the name
OF which he would not divulge; he was
TO keep the vessel at full steam ahead
under any and all circumstances.
he seemed to be a very big, a very
strong, and very determined man, and
the Prince was at a loss what course of
action to pursue. He asked several more
questions, but the only effect of them
was 20 render the man taciturn and ILL
humored.
In vain Prince Aribet explained that
MISS NeIla Racksole, daughter of Mil
honaire Racksole, had been abducted by
MT Tom Jackson; in vain he flourished
the revolver threateningly; the surly
but courageous captain said merely that
that had nothing to do with him: he
had his instructions and he should carry
them out.
He sarcastically begged to remind his
interlocutor that he was the captain of
the yacht
TT won't do to shoot him, suppose"
said the Prince to Nella. II might bore
kind
Its rather risky and rather hard on
the poor captain, with his extraordinary
COASS "a uuSy, TeJOlneQ Nella. And,
besides, the whole crew might turn on
else"
81 wonder where the whole crew tsp"
observed the Prince.
just then Mr.. Jackson, prone and
bound on the deck. showed signs of re-
covering from his swoon. His eyes
opened and he gazed vacantly around,
Al length he caught sight of the
Prince, who approached him with the
IT'S you, is it?" he murmured, !
3aintly. What are you doing on board /
Who's tied me up like this?'
See here" replied the Prince, 81 don't
yacht must return to Osteni at once, |
thorities."
..s "RealI y, snarled Mr.. Tom Jackson.
Then he called out in French to the
man at the wheel: Hi, Andre, let these
Two be put off in the dingey."
II was a peculiar situation.
Certain of nothing but the possession
OF Nella.s revolver, the Prince scarcely
knew whether TO carry the argument
further, and with stronger measures or
70 accept the situation with as much
dignity as the circumstances would per-
Let us take the dingey," said NeJla.
I'VE can row ashore in an hour"
ne Ieit that she was right. To leave
the yacht in such a manner seemed
somewhat tgnominious, and it certainly
involved the escape of that profound
Thomas Jackson
But what else could be done? The
Prince and Nella constituted one party
on the vessel; they knew their own
Strength of their opponents.
They held the hostile rlngleader bound
and captive, but this man had proved
himself capable Of giving orders, and
the captain of the yacht persisted in his
obstinate course.
Moreover, there was a distinct objec-
ton to promiscuous shooting. The
how promiscuous shooting might end.
I'VE will take the dingey," said the
Prince quickly, to the captain.
A bell rang below and a sailor and the
negro boy appeared on deck.
The pulsations of the screw grew less
rapid. The yacht stopped. The dingey
was lowered.
AS the Prince and NelIa prepared to
descend into the little cockboat, Mr..
Tom Jackson addressed Neila, all bound
"Good-by," he said. -"I shall see you
again, never fear. 1 always get what r
want"
In another moment they were in the
dingey. and the dingey was adrift. The
yachts screw churned the water and
the beautiful vessel slipped away from
them.
AS it receded figure appeared at the
stern. 1t was Mr.. Tom jackson. He
had been released by his minions.
He held a white handkerchief to his
ear and offered calm, enigmatic smile
to the two forlorn but victorious occu-
pants of the dingey.
Jules had~been defeated for once In
his life; or, perhaps, 1t would be more
Just to say that he had been outman-
euyered. Men like Jules are incapable
Of being defeated.
1t was characteristic Of his luck that