The evening world., 1915-02-27

the cove could see lights twinkiins
aboard the schooner. hear the rafting
Of her anchor chain and the creakinG
Of the blocks a. the halyards passed
through them. It was plain that she
was getting under way. and whom
realized that the entira number Of 0uI
forces left, except Jones, and maybe
Chitty. were aboard her, I saw little
shrift for me should We be ever
hauled.
The view Of the schooner and cove
was. however. obscured by our direct
skidding along the coast Of the island
For the moment had some reelection
The schooner could most readily over
haul me, that l knew. provided she
was in any degree ready for the chase
when the alarm was soundsd-and
that i believed she was, for had not
Longuehaye sent Chitty ahead before
/ entered the house to give EveltnS
instructions to get under way. no
doubt, ! supposed, that he might
hover about the reef and pick up his
friends with the cork floats and cleo
tric torchesf
Ny only chance, then, of sluding
the schooner and reaching the light.
house ahead OF them was to make q
series Of short tacks, keeping up IN
the wind as much as possible. In this
sort Of craft going about does not
necessitate much loss Of headway, and
II would not interfere with my speed,
while the schooner. which was much
slower in stays, could not attempt
to follow my tactics without losing
her headway and marking down her
speed.
I looked across at Longushays and
knew that he had no intention Of al
lowing me to light the lamp on Red
Reef. even II he took serious bodily
risks himself. He was unarmed,
however, and unarmed did not fear
him. ] knew. also. that he would
make no attempt to stay the boat, for
such an attempt would harm him ~
much as myself--and 1t was . brief
life that even q strong swimmer
might live In that choppy sea,
obscured from rescuers by the snow
haze. There was something like five
feet between US. Longuehaye on the
step of the bow and ]. tiller In hand.
The wind was dead ahead and blow
ing Q small gale. the snow particles
singing my eyelids. tackled again.
and this second tack brought me In
line with the cove again and gave me
~
shape emerging therofrom. She had
gained the mouth Of the cove and
was, perhaps, half q mile from mo.
! saw that she was crowding ON every
inch Of canvas.
"Your friends have got half-mils
handicap, Longuehaye," said.
I knew he was furious with rage.
for ne was shaking. "so?" he said. In
his usual soft tones. "Sof And
haven't you got sense enough to know
that half 4 mile is easily made UP
when q big boat like that chasee Q
little one Hike this? You'll md that
out presently"
I laughed shortly, but was afraid
that he was speaking the truth. The
schooner was now preparing for q
long leg, and was soon bearing down
rapidly upon us. The lighthouse was
something like duo southeast, and
that was the course ! was taking with
my short tacks. the wind blowing
east, and my tacks being to north and
east.
I realized that It was only . ques-
tion of distance before the schooner
would catch me, but there was some
hope that she could not make up my
gained half-miie In four. There must
be some very skilful manipulation to
make this chance beer fruit and TO
keep the bateau from close proximity
70 the schooner on these amau tacks,
for to be within accurate hring dis
tance OF her was almost as bad an
being overhauled- There were some
good marksmen aboard the Crown Of
Grenada.
When ssinsd sasht Of the schooass
aftor her tack ] cav that had Lost
evidently oSserv5d Il too.
Coma Cousin Dqbby." hs sai1 alk.