The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1912-06-07

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by new complication. In the shape
Of Mrs. Prynne herself. That lady
came up the companion steps with no
apparent hesitation, no fear or appre-
hension; quietly and confidently alert,
on the other hand. she was visibIy
armed and prepared against danger in
whatever form she might have to en-
counter II.
She came directly TO the adventurer,
without SO much as a glance for the
group OF lascars or the grim evidences
OF tragedy upon the deck. O'Rourke
shut his teeth with evaporation.
Whatever he decided to believe of the
serang, whether his judgment said of
the man, Guilty" or Not Guilty" he
dared risk nothing with the woman
present. He could not tell what hell
of murder and mutiny he might not let
loose upon the Rance, did he make
one ill-advised or hasty move. Alone,
he could have faced the situation with
equanimity; with the woman by his
side. he felt as though handcuffed.
"You are hurt, Colonel O'Rourke?"
"A mere scratch. madam-an inch
OF skin shaved off me arm. Be good
enough to return to the saloon, waken
Danny and send him to me-"
She ignored the curtness of his tone.
even as she ignored his wish. What
has happened?" she demanded, rang.
ing herself by his side. who is that
there on the deck?" Her voice ris-
ing note. foreboded hysteria.
"Quick-stabbed I didn't want ye
to see. A lascar ran amok, cut down
the captain, was killed himself-kind-
ness" the irrepressible humorist
broke out" of our little brown brother,
the serang."
His eyes never left the latter: not
an instant did he take his attention
from the cluster of dark figures; he
was more than every ready to defend
himself should they make any overt
move, deeming his attention distract
ed.
"What will you do?"
"How can I say? Do ye, for the
love Of God, get below and leave me
; to deal with these fiends In me own
fashion"
which" she returned equally, "is
: precisely what shall not do"
r IF that's the case he said brus-
: quely, have the kindness to hand me
t. the revolver by the captains side, and
t we might see If the poor fellow still
I lives"
( He heard a quick rustic of skirts
and the woman's hand closed over his,
, pressing into his palm the weapon he
, had desired. AS promptly, without
: further words. she turned to Quick.
The adventurer deliberated briefly,
r while she bent over the captain, max
ing a hurried examination. He Is
badly wounded" O'Rourke heard her
say. as he arrived at his decision, but
= not dead"
Praise God for that!
must ask ye, madam. TO back me up.
It is necessary to clear the decks. Are
we ready?" He saw. out of the tail
, OF his eye, that she had sprung to her
. feet. Now, we curs,'' he Numbered.
:. with a menacing pistol in either hand.
get forward, the lot of ye. Move. We
, blackguards,"
They went expeditiously, crowdng
. between the deck-house and the rail,
budding together as ii for mutual pro.
lection. The serang was the last to
: move, and went reluctantly, or seemed
+, to.
? Yet that was no time to Judge him
for minor fault. O'Rourke herded
the pack before him, watched them
> scramble down the ladder to the fore
deck, then backed to the spot where
:, the woman stood above the captain
, His arm was paining him somewhat
with the irritating. singing ache that
such wounds produce. and he thrust
. one revolver into his pocket, clasping
q hand above the hurt.
, In a flash realization of his loss
came to him; he clutched the rail with
a cry The Pool of Flame, his sacred
trust. was gone! His eyes searched
the deck wildly. but found no trace o.
the round leather bag with it's preci
Gus burden. Despair gripped his hear
in a clutch of ice. and for space the
ship reeled about him.
He found himself gazing blankly in
,. to the woman's solicitous eyes. VIVA
a is it? What is it?" he heard her voic'
Il repeating breathlessly. He knew tina
d his own lips moved for some seconds
" without sound as he strove to answe
her. The words when they came
, should have' been quite unintelligibl'
e to her; he realized this almost as soOl
9 as he had uttered them: The Poo
d of Flame."
Il Then he stumbled forward. crying
8 aloud for the serang. Halfway to tn
IS ladder he halted; that indiidual'
II head and shoulders were lifting abov
r the level Of the deck. O'Rourke GOV
cred him and called him aft as h
D. again retreated to the scene Of tn
g. tragedy.
e. Had he been in a condition to thin
4 coherently, he might have acted NOR
Q. prudently. But maddened, he wa
IN ahla m oracp hut ono fact. that IN