The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-06-15

knows of it, Fred" | suggested.
Knows of what, Mr.. Cardi-
GAM" the Duke infected.
"Of the disappearance of the
launches"
The Duke shrugged. !" did not
leave the pyramid"
1.-The Marquis left it,"
"Then l suggest that you direct
your Interrogation to him-or to
the bottom of the harbor.'
IF there is any submarine in
terrogating, said |, your Royal
Highness shall have the john
company with your son."
II don't see anything here to
float us to the Buccaneer,' ex-
claimed Brinsmade; there isn't a
log nor a stick in sight" He
passed his revolver to De Verde
nois. you look out for the
Duke; I'll swim back to the yatch
for the launch"
Lets all swim the passage, y
Rosalind exclaimed.
mot except as a last recourse, '
her brother decided. 1T seems
that these Oblivions can't swim,
SO you may be RENTED to the
water-but stay on land as long
as you can. Possibly I'm choos-
ing the safer part, yet I'm not
seeking it. Heaven knows. I'll
be back in few minutes with
the launch. Don't hesitate to kill
the prisoners-if necessary" He
nodded smilingly and dipped into
| the harbor.
We watched him to the mouth
of the passage.
Just as We were about to turn
away the Duke suddenly kicked
the revolver from De Verdenois'
fingers and dashed for the cover
of the wood.
At the same instant the Mar
quis fetched a quick kick at my
automatic, struck it ylancingly,
yet hard enough to knock it from
my hand, and sprang away.
AS he flashed by | threw out
lily lOOJ anu lIlppCu MN.
Being unable to save himself
he went down like a log, his lace
burrowing into the sand.
Instantly | was on top of him;
and though he struggled and
twisted like thing possessed, the
bonds on his arms held, and |
quickly had him powerless.
While | was so engaged. three
shots rang out; when l was free
to glance up, the Duke was just
disappearing under the trees DE
Verdenois was standing with a
supremely disguised expression on
his face and a smoking automatic
in his hand.
"Now," said I, 1--WE must get out
of this place before the Duke
comes back with his guards an
rushes us. It's either take to the
water or take to the rocks
I'm afraid l can't swim we'll
enough for an indefinite stay in
the water" Justine interrupted.
Don't mind me; the water is the
safer place for you all-and I've a
means of escape here"
"I'll stay with Mrs. Leighton
said De Verdenois quickly.
Don't talk nonsense, Justine
| remarked sharply. "The water
isn't the safer place; but If 1t
were. it's absurd to invite us to
desert you. There seems to be a
path up the cliff, yonder," point
ing to the left of the harbor.
We'll make for it, and hold the
fort until the launch comes. Get
up, SOM" jerking the Marquis to
his feet. Lets see how fast you
can move"
As fortune had it, the high
cliffs surrounding the island and
through which ran the under
ground passage from the ocean to
the island harbor were close by;
and, though forbidding, were not
so sheer in their precipitancy as
on the water side.
We hurried across; found the
path; and began the toilsome as
cent in single file.
We were more than half way
up when the Duke, at the head of
his guards, broke from the line
of trees.
A shout of surprise greeted the
empty beach. Another shout, a
second later, told that we were
seen. And we FASTENED on to a
sort of ledge near the top.
Shall we remain here?" Rosa
lind asked.
II reckon So" ] responded.
The place appeared to be the
best adapted for defense, or rather
the most difficult to come at. II
the Duke were disposed to kill
us, 1t was a veritable trap; but
as he sought to take us alive, ii
was a very fair refuge.
1t was quite inaccessible from
the sides, and the only means OF
approach up or down was in sim
gle file. And as there was nc
other path, there was not much
danger from above. OF course,
did not know what was the con-
dition elsewhere; though the
cliffs, as l have said, completely