The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1912-06-14
Copyright i0,. By Louis Joseph vapoe
CHAPTER XIV.

Mrs. rhyme, reused out OF her semi
stupor by O'Rourke's cry. with some
return Of her habi,ual clearness Of
thought. stepped to the companionway
and called for her maid.
ORourke passed hand over his
eyes. and brought II away black with
blood, but was. no more than half
sware of this. Dazed and eart-brok.
IN. he stared blankly round the sham.
blss that was the deck, then, recover.
ing slightly. saw Cecile join her mis-.
tress. and realized that, whatever his
personal grief. pain and despair, he
must play the part Of the ORourke.
10 he turned and staggered down into
the saloon.
Danny was In his berth, sleeping the
childlike and loglike sleep that was
ever his. Dravos. below, his ears deaf.
cned by the mighty chant of his en-.
gines, had been no more conscious of
the drama on deck than had Danny.
ORourke caught the boy with hands
that gripped his shoulders cruelty, and
shook him awake. then methodically
booted him up the steps to the deck.
Once there, Danny came to his prop
or senses and fell with q will to the
tasks ORourke set for him. With Ce.
Gle he lifted the unconscious captain
and bore HIN down to his berth: then
left him to the ministrations OF mis-
dress and maid and returned to throw
overheard the last corpse that OF the
lascar whom the serang had set to
Slay the adventurer from behind.
O'Rourke himself proceeded to the
bridge. where he found the helmsman
still at the wheel, soberly keeping the
vessel on her course. The circum.
stance at the time surprised him; but
1t afterwards was developed BY dipt
OF crossexamination of the remainder
of the crew that the serang had spe-
cially exempted Quick and DMvos
from the general massacre. they being
held necessary to the navigation of
fhe ship. He had likewise put strict
dnjuctiOns on the helmsman not to de-
Bert the wheel. whatever the tide OF
battle. whether for or against his
brethren. The stabbing of Quick
seemed to have been accidental, or
necessary under circumstances unfore-
seen.
As a matter Of fact. the remainder
of the lascars were thoroughly cowed
and proved unbelievably docile for the
balance Of the trip.
Thus 1t was that the voyage Of the
Rance from Alden to Bombay was
pushed through without further fatal.
hty. To the lrishman, however. must
so more than half the credit; for for.
ty-eight hours he never left the bridge
nor once closed his eyes In slumber.
1t was not indeed until the Rance,
on the stroke Of the hour. the evening |
OF the fifteenth day of jane. walked
emartly into Bombay harbor. the In.
aernational code signal M" nutter.
tng from her peak. rounded Colabra
and dropped anchor on the point not
'until Danny and Dravos, free at length |
from their toll In the broiling engine
room. came on deck to relieve him,
That O'Rourke collapsed-xtumbled
down the bridge ladder and lurched
down the saloon compan.
AOnway. His head humming with
sleep. his brain bemused with fatigue
and pain, his eyes heavy. he brushed
by Mrs, Prynne without seeing her or
even hearing her low cry of pity and
and so entering the first
BtaterOom that he came to, threw him.
self. already asleep. into the berth.
As he did SO loaded revolver
dropped from his numb fingers.
ITO be continued.)