River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-06-27
cHAPTER xxIv-(continued.)

CHAPTER XXiV-(Continued
She came directly to the adventurer,
without so much as a glance for the
group of Iascars or the grim evidences
of tragedy upon the deck. O'Rourke
shut his teeth with evaporation.
Whatever he decided to -elieve of the
serang, whether his judgment said OF
the man, Guilty" or mot Guilty" he
dared risk nothing with the woman
present He could not tell what hell
CT 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 a note, foreboded hysteria
"Quick-stabbed. l didn't want We
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
A., IL. q L.
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 l say? Do We, for the
love of God. get below and leave me
to deal with these fiends in me own
fashion,
Which" she returned equally, sis
precisely what l shall not do"
IF that's the case" he said brus-
quely, have the kindness 20 hand me
the revolver by the captains side, and
we might see if the poor fellow still
lives"
He heard a quick rustic OF skirts
pressing into his palm the -5eapon 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 is
badly wounded" O'Rourke heard her
say, as he arrived at his decision, "but
not dead"
Praise God for that! I
must ask We, madam, to back me up.
1t is necessary to clear the decks. Are
We ready?" He saw, out OF the tail
of his. eye, that she has sprung to her
feet. Nov, We curs," he Numbered,
with menacing pistol in either hand,
get forward. the lot of We. Move, We
blackguards!''
They went expeditiously, crowding
between the deck-house and the rail,
budding together as if 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 a 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, stinging ache that
such wounds produce, and he thrust
one revolver into his pocket. clasping
a 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 of
the round leather bag with its preci-
Gus burden. Despair gripped his heart
in a clutch of ice, ana for space the
ship reeled about him.
He found himself gazing blankly in
to The woman's solicitogs eyas What