Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-08
THE DEVILS PATH

the girl sprang to her feet and grabbed him by.
the coat.
me to save her Help mel"
IN help if it is in my power" said Captain
Jack Are there others?'
Bailey stuck his head in the door, then, and
glared at us. THAT dingy belongs to the Sea
Swallow he snarled. Better ask her what she
We looked at the girl and she wiped her eyes
and nodded her head. i escaped from the
We had enough to digest for the next min
ute and we were glad Cameron was not in a
hurry to ask any more questions. The Sea
Swallow had reputation tnat was OF the
breed as the one carried by octopus Bailey.
The tales about that yacht and owner could f1D
Sunday edition of New York newspaper.
Ronald Hamilton, the owner and captain, was
supposed to be the son of Scotch baronet, and
he was sent out to the Australian colonies and
supplied with money on the understanding thai
he'd keep 5000 leagues between himself and
said that he flung glass of wine in the face of a
royal prince, and those that heard it didn't
doubt it much. He was a headliner in the
devil-may-care business, and if he did keep the
distance between him and the white lights Of
Piccadilly clubdom, he kicked up a big enough
dust south Of the line to let his people up in the
northland know that he hadn't been measured
for his coffin.
From Penang to the Paumotus the Sea
Swallow had upset penal laws and torn holes
in navigation acts; but Hamilton had luck.
''Blackbirding," pearl poaching, Illicit sealing
anything that offered an opening for hrst-cass
rascality and nerve-became his game, and he
stirred the islands like a pike in a gudgeon
pond. H. NJ S Royal Arthur had ierked a few
shells at him just before we landed at Papeete,
but the Sea Swallow had turn for speed that
made Colonial cruiser look like a trepang
prahu in speed contest.
And what were you doing the yacht7"
asked Captain Jack.
ts still there. We were kidnapped at st. Kilda
pier at Melbourne and taken aboard the yacht.
Judge EIotson is my father"
Cameron gave a little start OF surprisS when
she mentioned the name.
Then have met before" he said. quietly
The girl looked at him with startled eyes.
Il don't remember" she stammered. Il"
She stopped then, and a look Of recognition
crept into the big black eyes. She took step
toward Cameron and held out her hand.
oh" she cried, you are the American cap
tain we met at Brisbane! Oh, how glad 1 ami"
She broke down then and sobbed hysteri-
cally Murphy had to go away that
could see him doing a tear-shedding act to
shift from leg to the other while we
stood there That girl with her big black eyes
and innocent face made us feel that there
something knky about our morals. Didn't 1t
just? Steele said that every time she looked at
er than the DEVILS tuning fork so | guess that
1t was no wonder that Octopus" Bailey crept
out of the cabin. When IT came TO a show
down morals We had ii on Bailey.
Cameron soothed her like as II she was a
child-she didn't seem much more to us, and
then he got the rest of her story from her, Her
sister a year younger than she was and
that arch-fend Hamilton had the pair Of em
confined to the cabins all the way down from
bara was her name-had unscrewed the lock Of
the cabin in some way, and had escaped to the
deck from which she had slipped into the
dingy from which Cameron had rescued her.
Then the yacht was anchored?" said Came
ron.
morning. That was why the boat was out. He
went ashore somewhere-Tm sure he did. and
thought-oh, l thought could reach land and
get help for Beatrice. What town we near7"
Town" repeated Cameron. "Why-why.
we are not near any town, Miss EllOtson We
Pacific"
ing out into the old squirming ocean, and Cam
eron looked as II he could kick himself for
breaking the to her so abruptly. But
She caught hold Of Captain Jack by the
lapels of his coat and bored his soul with those
she cried You must! you must! Oh, Beatrice!
Beatrice Beatrice"
Steele and couldn't stand much Of that We
bolted for the deck, and we were up there for
a good five minutes. staring out at that old Pa
eide, before Cameron raced up the stairs.
M mISey pointed to Octopus" who was
standing near the deck -7tndlass, and We got
scraps Of the conversation that took place when
a silent pei son mostly. guess he knew that
when man talks he talks heap about himself.
and il wouldn't be healthy for Bailey to do too
much Dragging about his own actions. But he
opened up a little after Captain Jack had a say.
Gee didn't he let loose? He unwound bias
phemy by the league. and in between the
chunks Of pure cuss words he let out enough TO
show Macltey and what had started the flow
Turn back and hunt for Hamilton" he
roared What do you think l am? Why you
COMPOUNDED, big nosed, lady-saving Yankee do
you think Captain Bailey is that SORT Of a Grim
son ass? Get out of this I'll dump you over
board"
Mackey and I were wondering whether "Oc-
topus" would think the wrath Of God had
fallen on him when Ca meron let loose, but at
tina. instant the Fates threw a half-hitch in the
line Of happenings, and Captain Jack didn't get
a chance. The lookout man let out shrek OF
agony and Bailey jumped for the wheel
Put her ovsri" he screamed. Were done!"
No one could believe the way that old
trolIup rushed the reef. It looked If the Pa
cifc had been toying with her until f. got her
within striking distance Of the coral teeth that
ripped those snaky rollers into foam showers.
Then we were flung at the thing A swell got
under US, and the Annabel Lee jumped like a
mule bit with moccasin snake. She made one
mighty leap at the white fengs that reached out