Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-10-01


ly untouched, and she was sitting there
pistol. frightened half to death. Poor
grill I don't blame her. Whatever
may have been the cause Of it. she was
genuinely glad to see me when l came
in and lighted the cabin lanterns.
"Oh," she cried. Il have been in
agony the whole day. Every sound
has caused me to seize this weapon,
and when I have not been watching
the door I have been on my knees
praying for you and for myself. do
not think / can stand another day like
this"
please God. dear lady, you shall
not" said. smiling reassdringiy at
her.
what do you mean? Have you q
plan?"
81 have. The men are all drunk.
am going to leave the ship and take
you with me-"
But how-whenT
For answer ! threw open the stern
window Of her cabin. On a level with
it swung a small boat, a whaleboat-
Now I had taken occasion during the
day to lower that boat little by little.
q few inches at time and then few
inches at another time, as I had op-
portunity TO get near the falls and to
manipulate them unobserved, but
had brought It down to the level of the
cabin windows. Its sea lashings were
cast of, and had no doubt, If condi-
lions on deck were as I expected them.
! could lower 1t all the way later with
impunity.
What do you mean? she asked.
staring out of the window and into
the empty boat.
81 mean that you and are going to
embark in that boat tonight and leave
this ship"
But where are we going?"
There is land not a league and a
half under our lee. 1t seems to be the
most easterly of cluster Of Islands"
rs it the island we seek. do you
Think"
We are in exactly the latitude and
the longitude Of the chart If my calcu-
/ lations are correct"
THE island was uninhnb ited when
I my ancestor was cast away upon It."
Yes" said !. but there may be ma
tives there now, but no savages of the
/ south seas could be more cruel and
ruthless than the men on this ship"
Let us 60" she said. sbuddering.
What is your plan?'
81 want you to dress yourself in your
stoutest clothes. with your heaviest
and take with you a change of clothes
and some few necessaries for your
comfort. 1 will go and rummage the
lazarette for provisions. and l will see
II can turn up any more weapons in
the captains room. ] dare not go tC
the arms chest"-it was below i'm the
hold anyway, and j could not waste
the time to hunt 1t out-'we must
hurry"
why. you said they were insensi
ble."
They'll recover their senses before
we know it. ! want as long u start as
possible"
Wait a moment" she said. Sht
opened drawer under her berth anC
drew out leather case. which sht
opened and placed before me- There
were two ivory handled silver mounted
pistols in ii. They belonged TO my fa
ther." she said. with one of them b,
he Her voice broke nodded.
knew what be had done with one O
them. She rummaged further anC
drew out an exquisite sword. quite I'M
like my heavy one. but. If could judg,
anything about weapons, of fine TEN
per and strength and with its hill
studded with diamonds. This wa
my fathers too" she said. And I rec
ogniZed it also. 1t was that had tax
en- from Arcester.
The pistols were smaller than m
huge barkers. better suited for he
hand. and to load them from tn
TASKS which accompanied them wa
the work of few minutes. ! thrus
my own heavy weapon back into m
belt | then buckled her two pistol
around her waist and babe her tax
the sword also. We might need Al
these weapons.
, Then / left her and went out o
deck. The men were in a prOfoun
drunken stupor. PimbalI was SCUM
asleep; Glibby was nodding. He leel
! ed at me as / drew abreast of him.
; "Everyth-thing a-all r-right?" he biz
cougbed.
Everything" answered. 1.-The oil
, bark doesn't need much watching Il
, night"
yawned extravagantly 81 viii g
q and turn In. I think. If you need n
, call me-"
Z AS went below into the .~hin sa'
that in few moments hr would t
? ike the rest
] CHAPTER x.