The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-10-04
CHAPTER ~.
After q Night Of Fear.

| StNCs = W
The three men-llington and his
two companions-sat detected in their
badly leaking boat and watched Cap
! tain Hardin's vessel fade away into
the distance. Hernandez watched her
keenly as she disappeared Into the
innermost recesses of his mind he
tucked away the fact that she was the
steamer Princess of New York. Some
day that knowledge would be OF use
to him Hot ashes brushed against
Ilington's cheek; some rested on his
shoulders He shook himself like some
huge mastiff He seized the oars.
Come" he said, we've got to get
out of this-and right away. This
boat is filling fast"
Go to it, senor," said Hernandez
Row"
! 1t was not a request; 1t was COM
| mand II was a strange thing that as
! long as Ilington had borne the child in
his arms. llington had been the lead
er of the three. Now his Independence
seemed to leave him.
For hours he rowed-he forgot he
was human being. His oars rose and
fell with the regularity of machine.
like movement Suddenly Hernandez
spoke.
Careful senor.' he commanded.
i Behold the surf"
He was quite right. They were
crossing some bar well off the shore
Before they knew it they were in the
midst of tumult of wind-driven angry
waves Ponto shrieked. A wave tow
cred high above them and fell with
thunderous thud upon the bottom Of
their boat She went under.
Come on" cried Ilington; "a hand
on each of my shOulders-lll take you
safe ashore"
Half an hour later the three men
staggered out of the battered surf and
sank down exhausted upon a strip of
beach.
Dawn broke with Ilington still sleep
ing heavily. Ponto was the first to
wake. He shook Hernandez, placing
his finger on his lips. Hernandez
4 cpi ans up viii thc agility Vi pdA-
Their He collected his faculties in an
instant He placed his hand upon the
shoulder of the sleeping man and
shook him.
Wake, senor," he commanded; 1T
is day"
"Senor," went on Hernandez, let
us resume our conversation-our talk
of yesterday. Where is this lost
island?' He thrust his face into the
face of llington. And where" he de-
manded. lis the oil-silk packet"
Where. also" added Ponto. lis the
bag of gold?"
Ilington smiled. so you have
searched me. have you?" he returned
We'll. you're welcome, gentlemen. to
anything you find" He rose to his
feet. Come on" he commanded
we're marooned I'm hungry. Let US
see what We can find"
Hernandez caught him by the arm
Where is the packet" he demanded
And where the gold?" persisted
Ponto.
llington smiled Both travelling
north, he answered, with Annette II.
ington. They are confided to her care.
And Why" asked Hernandez
llington shrugged his shoulders 81
| thought you and | and Ponto here
were booked for death, that's why
Who kn0ws-we may still be booked
for death"
Hernandez glanced significantly at
Ponto Some of us may" he said
Come on, said llington. there are
musseis on those rocks yonder. Fol
low me"
lie strode into the water and waded
toward a pat, of rocky reef beyond.
Porto seized bit of jagged wood
that lay upon the beach He and Her
nandez waded after Ilington. Once
On the rocks Ilington stopped and tore
huge shell Esb from their moorings
with his naked hands AS he did so
Ponio in sudden frenzy lifted high
the billet in his hand and brought it
with a crashing blow down upon the
head of Ilington.
Ilington fell like log. Hernandez
SpTdHs al fCnlO anu SHOOK MIN as
terrier shakes a rat.
You fool he cried. what do you
gain by ths?''
Wait" exclaimed Ponto, clawing
llingtoR with his clutching talons:
let us search him thoroughly"
The search yielded nothing TO them
Fool" repeated Hernandez, you
have done a useless thing There's al !
ways time I tell you"
Ponto shook his head "Senor," he |
said, this man stood between us and |
the packet. There is no one now to |
keep US from his child
Hernandez slowly nodded True" |
he returned, perhaps you are right. |
He was menace-now he is dead. He |
is removed Let US leave him to the |
mercy Of the sea. Come on"
To the mercy of the sea-" these |
Adventures had said, and the sea was
strangely mercifnl. With the tender. |
ness Of mother 1t laved the limbs of |
the supine victim-it washed his |
wOuud--if layed his brow