The state herald., 1913-08-08

was a spiritual stock-exchange, where
he who would win must bid very high
indeed for the prizes of life. And he
had so little to bid!
Communing thus with his unhappi-
ness, Jim utterly lost the sense Of
time. The shameless vermillon sun
set went into second mourning and
thence to nuns gray. before the figure
on the sail-cloth moved. Then, through
senses only half awake. Jim heard q
light sound. like scratch-scratch on
the hull of the yacht. Chamberlain.
no doubt, just rubbing the nose OF his
tender against the Sea Gull. Jim was
In no hurry to see Chamberlain, and
remained where he was. The Eng
lishman would heave in sight soon
enough.
But though Jim waited several min
utes. with half an eye cooked on the
stairway. nobody appeared. The wind
was still. the sea like glass; not a
sound anywhere. Struck by some
thing of strangeness in the uncanny
silence, Jim sat up and called Alloy,
Chamberlain" There was no answer.
But in the tense stiffness there was a
sound. and 1t came from below-the
sound OF n mans stealthy tread.
Jim sprang to his feet and made
the companionway at bound. He
listened an instant to make sure that
he heard true. cleared the steps, and
landed In the darkness OF the ships
saloon. As he groped along. reach
Ing for the door of the principal
cabin, the blackness suddenly lighted
little. and dim shadow shot out
and up the stairway. Jims physical
senses were scarcely cognizant OF the
soft. quick passing. but his thumbs
pricked. He dashed after the shadow.
up the stairs. out on deck. and aft.
There he was-Chatelard, armed. fac
Ing his enemy once more. cool but not
smiling. desperately at bay. Below
him. riding Just under the stern Of the
yacht. was the tender whose scratch
scratch had awakened Jim. A man.
oars In hand. was holding the boat
close to the Sea Gull.
Jim saw all this during the seconds
between his turning at the sfair-top
and his throwing himself plump
against the hgure by the railing. He
was quick enough to pass the range
Of the weapon. whose shot rang cut
In the clear air. but he was not quick
enough to get under the mans guard.
Chatelard was ready for him. holding
his weapon high.
A he pressed forward. Jim felt
something under his foot He ducked
quickly. ss II to dodge Chatelard's
hand. and ON the downward swing he
picked up the rusty marlinspike. II
was n weapon Of might. indeed. Jim's
blow caused Chateiard's arm to drop.
limp and nervelcss. But In gaining
bis enemy's weapon. Jim was forced
to drop his own. He put frm foot
upon the spike. however. while he
held Chatclard at arms length and
looked into his face.
so we meet once more. after ALL"
he cried. And once more have tho
pistol" Even as Jim spoke. his nd.
versary made a spring that almost en-.
abled him to seize the weapon again.
Jim eluded his clutch. and quick as
thought threw the gun overheard. II
struck far out on the smooth water.
II wns = sorry thing to do, as II
proved. for Chateiard. watching his
chance. stopped. wrenchcd the spike
from under Jim's foot. md once more
rtood dcnantiy at bay. And at this
point. he opened his thin lips for one
remark.
You'll go 70 hell now. you pig OF an
Amcricani"
'But after you. Monnicuri" Jim
cried. and With tho words, his arms
were about tho other In n paraiyxin
grip.
Had Jim been mn strong m when
tho two men measured forces weeks
before, In the fo'cas'ic OF tho Jeanne
p'Arc. IN. result might have been dit
foront. hut the struggle was too long.
and Jim's strength insufficient. chAte
lard freed himself from his antaronis,
sufficiently to WELD tho spike some
where about inns head. and there
came over him n sickeninx conscious.
meas that ho was going down lie
dropped. hanging like n bulldog to
chateiard's kneos. but he knew he
had lost tho game. lilo gathered bin.
self momentarily. determined te gs,
on his feet once more. and had al.
most done II, whom sounds OF mp
preaching voices mingled with the
acuflie Of their feet and their quick
breathing. before jim .ouid SEQ what
new thing was happening. chnteinrd
had turned for one alert instant TO.
ward the por, side. whence tho invad-
Ing ,oioea came. lie was cut on from
tho stairway. caught In the stern OF
tho yacht. his weapon gone. lie gave
quick call In low voice 10 the boat
below. stepped over tho thnraii and
then leapad overheard,
pfoppsd up on mn elbow. dassd and
half blinded. blood flowing down his