Evening star., 1912-06-30
THE ISLE OF STRIFE
GEORGE c. SEEDD
CHAPTER XXII.-Continued.
Copyright 1912, BY Snail, Maynard 4 Co)

tered a shout of warning. Del Hervalle
whirled about, dropped the rope. while
| his hand darted to his breast and he ut
| tered an oath.
and with the same movement it was hred
| The report cracked sharply against the
cliff: the bullet sang by our heads.
| l have never been particularly expert
shot, indeed; my targets have shown but
few bull's-eyes Now. however, my
nerves were sreeled by determination.
Aiming at the widest part of his body. l
fired, and, without waiting. fired again.
A sort of cough came from his lips and
his weapon dropped from his fingers,
| while he staggered and fell.
ITO me, Pilon, to me!'' he cried, stretch
ing forth a hand, ''let me not be taken!'
| Pilon, however was too greatly engaged
/ to render assistance. for Jean, sWerving
when he saw that Del Hervalie was down,
| ran toward the sailor. The latter crouch
| ed behind the prov of his boat. which
grated on the sand and they began firing
wildly at each other. With sudden
| curse Pilon flung his pistol at Jean $
| head, gave the boat a mighty shove ana
| flung himself into it.
ITO me, Pilon.'' Del Hervalle uttered,
| in a last, despairing cry.
/ drew nearer to the man slowly, watch
| fully. He lay sprawling on his breast.
| some misshapen beast or huge toad, or
great. black, round beetle. He was in
| pain. apparent from the convulsive work
| ing of his hands, opening and clutching
at the sand. My shots, as l afterward
learned, had not been especially fine. were
they judged by the standards of pistol
fire. but they had been singularly effec-
| tive-one through the bowels and one
| through the hip-and he could not in any
case have lived long. His little eyes were
| fixed upon me with malignant hatred. as
would have been those Of a wounded,
helpless spider; his face was ashen,
| which brought out with sinister distinct
ness the line Of his black, close-trimmed,
pointed beard and waxed lnustache.
| Thus ends the dream of empire. mon
sieur." l said. looking down upon him.
Water he gasped.
That brine?" / asked, pointing at the
sea.
What other? Be quick"
+! He was in agony. / thrust my revolver
into my pocket and hurried to the marge.
| Jean and Pilon were fighting battle
| of their own. Since the latter had flung
| away his weapon. Jean had put away his
pistol also, trusting to bare hands. The
man in the boat caught up an oar to
strike my companion. but Jean seized the
| blade Of it and thus they tugged. Pilon' s
| face was one of fury, Daffled animals,
with, curses pouring from his mouth: that
Of Jeans was cold. gray, expressionless.
on the gunwale. was wading beside the
boat was awaiting an opportunity to
| spring in and close with his antagonist.
Shouts came from the beach. Through
| the fog .Leould see forms running toward
us. / scooped up a double handful of
water and turned toward Del Hervalle.
| 1t was only to drop it with a cry. to run
| toward him. For while my back was
| turned he had wriggled forward-what
| the effort cost him must have been some
| thing dreadful and was stretching a
hand to the revolver which he had drop
ped. A spring. kick, and / sent it spin
| ming far away.
Mischief will not cease in you until
| you are dead" | exclaimed. harshly.
''You think yet to sting with your last
BREATH"
A wan smile lowered on his lips. a SEM
| blance Of the old. bland smile | knew SO
well. He struggled over upon his back,
where he seemed to rest easier.
| Il think it is myself l shall have to
sting, mon Charles he answered
Men were running toward us. behind
| them were others. and behind these still
| more, for cries could be heard all down
| the beach, cries of alarm at the shots,
which had echoed from the cliff The
runners nearest were calling out pointing g
| at me.
Bon Dieu. must l make spectacle of
dying for the canaile? Del Hervalle
| gasped
You have earned it..
They may lock at my body. not my
soc.,' he said. between set teeth you
I only shall have that honor
| Flipping his hand into his BOSOM he
plucked out stflettO. small, bright. slen-
der. Involuntarily cry of horror es-
| capped me.
! This you shall not deprive me of at
least" he said. smiling once more.
| Jhe needle point rested upon his BOSOM
His fingers frightened around the handle.
| Not that l exclaimed.
And ] have often since wondered why
| should so cry out. Why. indeed not
thus? Was it not fitting? If he were a
villain, he had at any rate been bold in
| his yilIainy.
| He lay upon his back. His face smiled
up at me with color1ess lips.
| THUS ends the dream of empire-with
needle prick said he, in musing
voice.
Then, before my Mortified eyes, the
stifetto sank until the handle alone was
visible. The smile froze upon his lips,
! his eyes opened a trifle; his fingers Slip
ped from the hilt and rested lightly upon
| his bosom. And there was only the BOOM
| ing of the surf like a requiem.
Del Hervalle = DUrville - the man OF
| crlmeH. iniquities. contrivances, schemes,
plots. evil deeds, was dead!
A hand touched my elbow. / looked
| round. Surcon was at my shoulder, be-
/ side him other men, all staring upon the
black form upon the sands. No word of
| explanation was needed to make clear
what occurred; they asked no questions.
/
| aroused us: we turned thither to behold
| Pilon triumphant. He had wrenched the
| oar free and beaten Jean off. Out and
| eastward the little craft had been blown
i by the wind; it's bow swung away from
the island; but Jean still followed. intent,
| undaunted, relentless. Now the water
washed about his waist; he waded deeper:
| Pilon struck at him, cursed him, Knocked
| him. laughed aloud.
/ Suddenly Jean brought forth his hand
| and shook water from the weapon it held
Fascinated by the drama being played
mist indistinctly. we followed along the
| beach. Now Pilon uttered a cry, he drop
| ped his oar: but it was too late to crouch
| under cover OF the gunwale, for Jean
/ fired. scream burst from the sailor S
| lips that rang among the cliffs, a scream
and sank beneath the water. Jean turned
about. Without another look he waded
| shoreward and came dripping out Of the
| sea. his work done.
Slowly we returned to the spot where
the body of Del Hervalle lay. Each mo-
| Der. until finally the whole village, men,
| women and children, stood in a circle,
peering at 1t in silence. Even Mr.. Moore
| Mr.. Fenton and the gentleman from the
State Department had caught the con-
tagion. following the pursuit A warm
hand crept into mine-Betty's. Tears of
happiness shone in her eyes, for / was
alive. free and unharmed.
The approach of night, hastened by the
| fog was darkening the earth.
/ Am l to consider myself still under
investigation, monsieur the mayor?" 1
| asked
There is no need Surcon replied.
The guilt OF Senior Del Hervalle and
| Pilon was established beyond all doubt
and they have paid the penalty. Esper