The Delta independent., 1912-03-29

told the Irishman that his order had
been carried out. But he heard it.
abstractedly, confronted as he was
with problem whose difficulty was
not to be underestimated, the problem
embodied in the statuesque, impertur-
bable serang.
1t was hard to know what to do,
what to believe, what action to take.
II he were right in his surmise, the Sc
rang should rightly be shot down in
stantly, without an instant's respite.
Yet the heartless brutality upon which
his theory was based made him hesi-
tate. 1t was difficult to believe that
the serang had been able to accom-
plish what O'Rourke was inclined to
credit him with; that he, the wielder
Of the kris. the murderer of Quick.
thrown off his feet by the Irishman's
attack. had deliberately involved his
fellows with him in his fall and profit
ed by the confusion to Stay one upon
whom he could throw the blame for
all that had happened.
The weapon quivered in O'Rourke's
grasp. More than once in that brief
debate he was tempted to shoot the
hand; he could not be positive. With
every circumstance against him, he
might still be telling the truth. The
whole horrible affair might boil down
to nothing more than an insane crime
of crazy Malay, one who. as the Sc
rang claimed, had run amok"
He had not made up his mind when
his thoughts were gwen a new turn
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 visibly
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 of 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 b, his side. Who is that
there on the deck?" Her voice ris-
ing a note. foreboded hysteria-
"Quick-stabbed. l 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 do7"
How can say7 Do ye. for tho
love of God. get below and leave no
to deal with these nends in me own
fashion
(which" she returned equally. "iS
precisely what l shall not do"
IF that's the case" he said brus.
quely. have the kindness to hand me
the revolver by the captains side. and
-ye might see II the poor fellow still
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,
while she bent over the captain, max.
Ing a hurried examination. He In
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.
1t is necessary to clear the decks. Arc
ye ready?" He saw out of the tail
OF his eye, that she had sprung to her
feet. Now. ye ours" he Numbered.
with menacing pistol in either hand.
get forward, the lot OF ye. Move, 70
blackguards!"
They went expeditiously, crowdins
between the deck-house and tho rail,
budding together as II for mutual pro
q, Ia.
move. and went reluctantly. or seemed
to.
Yet that was no time to Judge him