The Delta independent., 1912-04-05
Copyright 1909. BY Lon Is Joseph Vance


is it? What is it?" he heard her voice
repeating breathlessly. He knew that
his own lips moved for some seconds
without sound as he strove to answer
her. The words, when they came.
should have. been quite unintelligible
to her; he realized this almost as soon
as he had uttered them: The Pool
of Flannel"
Then he stumbled forward, crying
aloud for the serang. Halfway to the
ladder he halted; that individuals
head and shoulders were lifting above
the level of the deck. O'Rourke GOV.
cred him and called him aft as he
again retreated to the scene of the
tragedy.
Had he been in a condition to think
coherently, he might have acted more
prudently But maddened, he was
able to grasp but one fact; that the
Pool of Flame was gone and must be
recovered at whatever hazard.
The lascar came with what might
have seemed suspicious alacrity, con.
sidering the fact that he was coerced,
that O'Rourke held him at the pistols
point. Gaunt and sombre in the
bare feet, head up and arms swinging
limp, he advanced without pause un.
til about six feet from the Irishman;
at which distance ORourke, collect
ing his wits, found voice enough to bid
the fellow, Stop"
The serang halted, impassive, un
moved.
THE sahib has called" he said in
an even voice. Il am come. What Is
the sahib's will with me?"
His words, together with his half
indolent, half-deflant, wholly contemp-
tuous bearing, supplied the one thing
needful to restore to the ADVENTURE
his self-control. ORourke drew him
self up, master of self once more, and
looked the lascar in the eye.
you stand he said slowly, choos.
ing his words, ION the edge of the
grave. Do you comprehend that,
dog?"
AYE, sahib!"
Il have called We, then, to demand
back that which is mine, the leather
bag which We stole when We slew your
brother, pretending falsely it was he
who had slain the captain. l counsel
We, speak truth ana render back to
me that which ye have stolen
The serang stiffened. his eyes glist
ening in the moonlight. "Sahib!" he
cried as if in duplication.
mo words, dog!" cried O'Rourke
sternly. do as bid We, or abide the
result of disobedience!"
THE sahib," said the serang slow
ly, "is full of eyes and wisdom. He
sees what no man would believe he
could see. ! am content" He bowed
his head with curious submissiveness
stretching forth his palms as II In
token of surrender.
O'Rourke caught at his breath. He
had scarcely hoped for this; he had
merely called the serang aft as the
leader of the lascars, hoping to fright
en- him into revealing whichever OF
his comrades had stolen the great
ruby-if he knew.
Eye have then, the leather bag?" he
demanded, exultation In his voice
AYE. sahib; or If not that, hav
that which was therein"
1.-The stone?"
AYE. sahib"
"Then give 1t me-"
II am the sahib's slave" The So
rang flashed a strange smile at the
revolver In O'Rourkes hand. His at
titude puzzled O'Rourke; he would
hardly have believed this of the man;
rather he could have conceived of him
as denying the theft to the last and
fighting like an unclaimed fiend to re-
tain his booty His present pose WAS
out of character, or the Irishman mis-.
Judged him.
Out OF character or no. 1t was com
Portable. The serang. with head bent,
was fumbling In the folds of his sash;
O'Rourke thought him over long about
1t. yet was inclined to give him time
in view of his abject surrender.
At length still smiling oddly, the
man lifted his eyes and stretched
forth a hand tight closed. THE sa-
hib." he said gently, shall see that
his servant spoke truth. Let this
weigh with the sahib for mercy Be-
hold"
The brown fingers Enclosed and in
the hollow of his palm trembled that
which seemed ball of crystalized
rose fire, the stone that man has
named the Pool of Flame. O'Rourke
uttered low cry of satisfaction, step
ping forward to snatch up the Jewel.
simultaneously he was aware of q
quick gasp from the direction of the
woman, followed. ere he could account
for them, by two pistol shots.
The adventurer groaned, pitching
forward blindly. one side of his head,
from the ear to the temple, a-quiyer
with an agony as II white-hot iron
had scared him there. He stretched
forth an arm aimlessly and gripped an