Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1912-05-08
ILLUSTRATIONS by
ELLSWCRTHYOUNC

CoPYRIcHT 1909 6y Lou1s(l0SePn
"How can I say? Do ye, for the
love Of God, get below and leave me
to deal with these Aends in me own
fashion"
(which" she returned equally, us
precisely what I shall not do"
'Tf that's the case," he said brus-
quely, have the kindness to hand me
the revolver by the captains side, and
-ye might see If the poor fellow still
lives"
He heard a quick rustic Of skirts
and the woman's hand closed over his,
pressing into dis 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. maxi
ing a hurried examination. HE is
badly wounded" oRourke heard her
say, as he arrived at his decision, ''but
not dead"
Praise God for that! :. I
must ask ye, madam, to back me up.
It is necessary to clear the decks. Are
ye ready?" He saw, out Of the tail.
of his eye, that she had sprung to her
feet. Now, We curs," he thundered,,
with menacing pistol in either hand,
'get forward, the lot Of We. Move, ye.
blackguardsl"
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 theml
scramble down the ladder to the FORE
deck. then backed to the spot where
the woman stood above the captain.
His arm was paiping him somewhat,
with the irritating, stinging ache that,
such wounds produce, and he thrust.
one revolver into his pocket, clasping,
q hand above the hurt.
In a fash realization Of his loss.
came to him; he clutched the rail with.
q 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. Despeir gTtpped his heart;
In clutch OF ice, and for gpaoe tho
ship reeled about him.
, He found himself gazing blankly In,
to the woman's solicitous eyes. What.
Is It? What Is TT" 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 forwerd. crying
aloud for the serang. Halfway to the,
ladder he halted; that individuals.
head a9dtshoulders were lifting above
the le&lAbf the deck. o'Rourke coy-
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.
prudeptly. 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 coerce6,
that O'Rourke held him at the pistols
point Gaunt and sombre in the
moonlight, moving noiselessly II his.
bare feet. head up and arms swinging
limp, be advanced without pause dn>
til about six feet from the Irishman;
at which distance O'Rourke. collect
ing bis wits. found voice enough to bid
the fellow, 1Stop!"
The aerang halted, impassiVe. un>
moved.
"The satdb has called" he said tns
an even voice. u am come. What Is
the sahibs will with wes"
Hs words, together with his halfa
indolsnt, baH-defant, wholly contemp+
tuous bearing, supplied the one thing,
needfnl to restore to the .advsnturer'
his ssaScontrol. O'Rourke drew Mmz
self un, master of self once more. and
looked the lascar in the eye.
"Eou stand" he said slowly, choos.
ing hts words, con the edge Of Sha
grave. Do you comprehend that
dogY
AYE, sehtbl"
& have called ye, than. tp dewand
hack that which fs nina. the leather
bag which ye stoie when yesslewsyouf
Ibyothar, pretending falsely II was be
VINO had siatn tho captain. counsel
ye, speaA truth and render back 30
me Gat which 70 hsyes stolen"
Fhs ssrang sssRsnA Aae aares glist.
sYfirt1 IN the nnocu3sRhA si&ahIhlh be