Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-01-02

attack, had deliberately involved his
fellows with him in his fall and profit
ed by the confusion to Stay one upon
:Yhom he could throw the blame for
all that had happened.
The weapon quivered In O'Rourkes
grasp. More than once in that brief
debate he was tempted to shoot the
fellow on suspicion. Yet he held his
hand; he could not be positive. With
every circumstance against him, he
might still be telling the truth. The
whole horrible affair might boil down
to nothing more than an insane crime
of crazy Malay, one who, as the Sc
rang claimed, had run amok."
He had not made up his mind when
his thoughts were given new turn
by new complication, in the shape
OF Mrs Prynne herself That lady
came up the companion steps with no
apparent hesitation, no fear or appre-
hension; quietly and confidently alert,
on the other hand, she was visibly
armed and prepared against danger in
whatever form she might have to en-.
counter it.
She came directly to the adventurer,
without SO. much as a glance for the
group of lascars or the grim evidences
Of tragedy upon the deck. O'Rourke
shut his teeth with evaporation.
Whatever he decided TO believe of the
serang, whether his judgment said of
the man. Guilty or Not Guilty" he
dared risk nothing with the woman
present. He could not tell what hell
Of 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 hersslC by his side. Who issthat
there tile .deck?" 44ef .Eaicei IT'S
tng a:.note, f6rebodedn hyster@ag siiHi:%,
!. }%QiitclktMstahbdd.: ], didn't want. We
BTses, s,A.1assadrs:. rain. sla;msosk,: cut down
tbe5ea ptaln;l!was';killed:Iiim seif4 Kind
insssgM thea, jErepressi blee9 .'hlfnprisl
Brgulss out, ";of :euff ifttla brown brother,
s ssfap s & ,.y ssff ' ;i:sH gG M
sss1slsa sSeg inever left THE latter; HGt
ali Fihstant. did he. take, his. attention
from The, ctustar%of dark fguresatihe
MAS inaipfe, thatl' every ready tp.defend
Himself, should. they make any !: overt
move, deeming. his attention, distract.
"What will you do?"
"How can I say? Do ye, for the
love of God. get below and leave me
to deal with these fiends in me own
fashion,"
Which, she returned equally, is
precisely what l. shall not do
IF that's the case" he said brus-
quely, hare the kindness 10 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 his palm the weapon he
had desired. AS promptly, without
further words. she turned 10 Quick.
The adventurer deliberated briefly,
while she bent over the captain. max
ing q hurried examination. He is
badly wounded" O'Rourke heard her
say, as he arrived at his decision, but
not dead"
Praise God for that! |
must ask ye, 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 had sprung TO her
feet. Now, ye ours" he Numbered,
with menacing pistol in either hand,
"get forward. the lot of ye. Move, ye
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 10 the spot where
the woman stood above the captain.
His arm was paining him somewhat.
with the irritating. singing ache that
such wounds produce, and he thrust
one revolver into MS pocket, ciaspinS
q hand above the hurt.
in fash realization OF his loss
came to him; he clutched the rail with
cry The Pool of Flame, his sacred
trust. was gone. His eyes searched
the deck wildly. but found 70 trace Of
the round leather bag witt is Drsci.