Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-16
Copyright, 1912, by Little. Brown Coy

past. I'll guarantee that you'll open your
eyes at what's waiting for you ashore"
Slyne, safe in the background, listening,
laughed furtively to himself.
"But-if you're going back on me now
I give it up Strike a light and put a
bullet through me right away, II you feel
like that. I've only one hand-I won
lift even that against you. And my share
of what little money there Is on board
YOU can divide among YOU"
A general murmur of approval greeted
this blatant speech. And not even the
two malcontent mates could pick any
hole in that proposal. A. faint crimson
glow amid the darkness beyond the surf
statement. in part. That he meant to ac-
company them was his strongest guaran-
tee of good faith. They were evidently
ready and willing. for such prospect as
he had held out to them. to follow him
wherever he liked to lead them. The
two mates began to tell the men off to
the boats and get these swung cupboard.
temporary atmosphere Of peace and
goodwill prevailed.
Capt. Dove turned to Reuben Yoxall.
you stay on board" he whispered. very
bruSquely, lin charge of the ship. I'll
tell tine chief engineer to lend you two or
three men, and you'll see to 1t that they
don't lay their hands on any more guns"
You'll stick by me-" he told Slyne. in
the background and Slyne merely shrug-
man passed on to where Sallie was wait
ing to hear what her part was to be. She
did not know in the least what to make
of his newly declared intentions.
"Am I to go with you?" she asked. on
the spur Of the moment And Capt. Dove
stared at her.
mo. YOU are not" he declared. en-
phatically. ''D'you want to be shot-or
kidnaped-or what! Get away down be-
low. girl. and stay there till 1 come
aboard again. You must be mad!''
She turned obediently toward the COM
paniOn hatch and stopped there. He went
forward then, the men making way for
him readily, and disappeared into the en-
CINE room. When he climbed carefully
back on deck through the fiddley hatch
afioat and only one boats crew remain
ing on board under charge Of the sec
ond mate, Hobson. with the evident aim
of making sure that he did not somehow
give them the slip or otherwise take any
advantage Of them. In response to a
shout from him. Jasper Slyne went jaunt-
lily forward and with commendable
promptitude let himself down the falls
oversize. One of these. unlocked, served
Capt. Dove for a sling and he was soon
seated at the boats tiller. The men fol-
lowed swiftly. and the second mate went
last. no doubt satisfied by then that all
would be well.
Give way. lads- cried Capt. Dove to
those at the sweeps. and we'll show the
others the short road ashore. I'm in no
end of hurry to get what's coming to
me from that caravan"
Midnight lay very black on the blight
where the Olive Branch was riding cas-
lily to a single anchor; as the dark hours
sped they seemed to grow always darker.
The boats which had just put OF from
her were almost instantly hidden from
Sallie's sight. She stepped quietly out on
the Deck beside Reuben Yoxall
I(tr1, ,hn -ofd At
voice. Il must be going too, now. Will
you help me to get out the canvas boat?'
He stared at her, as Capt. Dove had
done. and swallowed down lump in his
throat.
Its madness now!' he declared. But
I'll go myself. You must stay where
you are. 1t would be worse than mad
ness for you
She was smiling very gratefully up into
his unhappy. stubborn face.
Wen go together. Rube," she said.
| cor not at all. And. even although 1t
| does seem hopeless. l know you wouldn't
| want me to break my promise. So you
| get the boat launched while go and tell
Mr.. BrasSe.'
| She turned and ran lightly down the
| steps and along the main deck, leaving
| the mate, sorely perturbed and uncertain.
| to carry out her instructions or not. as he
| chose. AS she reached the engine room
| skylight on the quarterback an unob-
| trusive shadow emerged from 1t and
would have passed her with q nod on its
| way toward the bridge.
Mr. Brasse," she said, appealingiy
| and II halted to peer at her through q
/ single eyeglass. after touching its cap in
! very precise salute.
! Miss Sallie?' 1t answered, in a sur
| prised but courteous tone, which told
that the speaker was. or had once been
| a gentleman
I'm going ashore" she went on, in a
hurry, and Mr.. Yoxall Is going with me.