Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-24
TILE 1CKER By EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS
i Ill NlNAolNCIC Of the nd MARS STORIES

est coward Of them ALL should be showing
no signs OF cowerdice row. Probably ne
was paralyzed with fright
The moment that the mas. sew tho two
that were in the wheelhouse, and tiie WORK
that they were doing, he sprang quickly to-
ward them At his approach the girl shrank
closer TO Theriere
what new outrage dld the fellow con-
template. now he was beside herr
The habitual dark scowl blaokened his
expression. He laid a heavy hand on Bar
bara Hardng's arm.
Come out o. datP' he beloved. Oats
no kind o. Job fer a,broiler."
And before either she or Theriere could
guess his intention, the mucler had pushed
Barbara aside and taken her place at the
wheel.
Good for you, Byrnsr' cried Theriere.
II needed you badly"
wy didn't yeh say SO. den7'
with the aid of Byrnes herculean mus
cles and great weight, the bow OF the Half
moon Ncommenced to come slowly around
so that presently she was almost parallel
to the cliffs again; but now she was much
closer in than when Skipper simms had
deserted her to her fate. So close that The
riere had little hope of being able to carry
out his plan OF taking her opposite the
opening and then turning and running her
before tho wind straight Into the Bwirling
waters Of the inlet.
ture, and between the giant cliffs that rose
on either side of the narrow entrance a
sight was, revealed that filled their hearts
with renewed hope for tiny cove was seen
to lie beyong the flssure-a cove with a
long wide sandy beach UP which the
waves broken at the entrance to the little
haven, rolled with much-dimlnlshed vio-
lence.
Can you hold her alone for q second.
Byrne7" asked Therlere I'VE must make
the turn in another moment and I've got to
let out sail. The instant that you see me cut
her loose put your helm TO starboard. She'll
come around easy enough imagine. and
then hold her nose straight for that open
ing. It's one chance In a thousand, but It's
the only one. Are you gamer"
You know It. cui-go to T." was Billy
Byrne's laconic rejoinder.
AS Therlere left the wheel Barbara Hard
ing stepped to the mucker's side.
Let me help you." she said. I'VE need
every hand that we can get for the next
few moments"
Beat itl" growled the man. 'T don't
want no skirts In my way"
with flush the girl drew back, and then
turning, watched Therlere where he stood
ready to cut loose the sail at the proper
instant.
The vessel was now opposite the cleft In
the cliffs. Theriere had lashed a new sheet
in position.
NOW ne cut tne olu one. Inc sail swung
around until caught in position by the stout
line
The mucleer threw the helm hard to star
board, The nose of the brigantine swung
quickly toward the rocks. The sail filled
and an instant later the ship was dashing
TO what seemed her inevitable doom.
Skipper Simms, seeing what Therere had
done after 1t was too late to prevent It,
dashed madly across the deck toward his
junior.
you fool" he shrieked You fool! What
are you doing? Driving us straight for the
rocks-murdering the whole lot of us 20
And with that he sprang upon the French
man with maniacal fury, bearing him to the
deck beneath him.
Barbara Harding saw the attack of the
fear-demented man, but she was powerless
to prevent It. Hhe mucker saw IT, too, and
grinned-he hoped that 1t would be n good
fight; there was nothing that he enjoyed
more. He was sorry that he could not take
a hand In 1t, but the wheel demanded all
his attention now. so that he was oven
forced to take his eyes from the combatants
that he might rivet them upon tho narrow
entrance to the cove toward which the CALF