The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1919-12-04
CHAPTER xxxIn.
Before the Governor.

Inc SOunU SVHTtleu me i lfnVElneu
I heard the keel slipping, yet before we
had reached the door opening On deck
the slight movement ceased. My hand
gripped the frightened Haines.
Tell them In the boat to do as l
said; then come back here"
"My God. sir. she's n goin' down."
mot for some minutes yet. There
nre thousands of pounds in that chest /;
you've risked life for less many a
time. Jump. my man !"
The boat lay In close. bobbing up
and down dangerously, yet held firmly
beneath the opened port. The box
was heavy enough to tax the strength
Of two men to handle 1t, but Of q size
and shape permitting Its passage.
Sanchez had raised himself again, and
chung there to the edge Of the bunk
watching us.
"Now let down easy. lads" I called,
mo. place II amidships get II even, or
you 60 over. Fix II to ride steady. and
stand by-weW pass q wounded man
out to you"
stepped across to Sanchez. He saw
me coming. and drew back. his CHASTITY
face like q mask.
mo you don't. Carlyle !" he snapped
angrily. keep your hands of me.
So you want me to die with my neck
In a moose. do your I was born a gen.
tleman, and. by God I'll die like one
and go down with my ship. Get out Of
here now! You won't7 You will. or
else die here with mel I'll give you a
minute to make your choice"
He left no doubt as to his meaning.
From beneath the blanket, the black
muzzle of u pistol looked straight into
my eyes. The hand holding 1t was
Arm. the face fronting me savagely
sardonic.
"Td like to kill you, Carlyle" he
Kissed hatefully. by God. l don't
know why l shouldn't. Every time !
look at you I see her face. II you take
n step nearer I pull the trigger-go! u
1t was a hard pull back to the Santa
Marie. Dorothy greeted me first, and
we stood close together at the rail rs
the men hoisted the chest on deck.
She said nothing. asked nothing. but
her hands chung to my arm. and when.
ever ! turned toward her our eyes met.
There was a sudden cry forward,
and a voice shouted:
There she goes, buckiesi That's
the last o. the Namur!"
l turned swiftly. my hand grasping
her fingers rs they chung to the rail,
The battered hulk slid downward. the
deck breaking amidships us the stern
splashed into the depths; then that
also toppled over, leaving nothing
above water except the blunt end OF d
broken bowsprit. and q tangle OF
wreckage tossed about on the crest
Of the waves. ! watched b~reathlessly
unable TO utter n sound; I could only
think Of that stricken man Ia the cabin
those wild eyes which had threatened
me. lie was gone now-gone!
I yet held Dorothy's hand Tight,
clasped In my own, and the depths Of
her uplifted eyes questioned me.
ave will go aft. dear, and | will tel
you the whole story" l said gently
"for now we IRE homeward bound"
write these few closing lines n yea
later In the cabin Of the Ocean Spray
q three master. full TO the hatchs
with n cargo OF tobacco, bound 70
London. and a market. Dorothy ts OF
deck, eagerly watching for the frs
glimpse OF the chalk cliffs Of oil
England. must Join her presently
yet llnger below to add these final ser
fences.
There Is. after all. little which need
to be said. The voyage OF the SAINT
Marie north proved ~uneventful. and
after that first night of storm. tn
weather held pleasant and the sc
fairly smooth. l had some trouble wit
the men. but nothing serious, as Wa
kins and Eaines held rs I did. and tn
pledge of Dorothy's influence brough
courage. I refused 10 open the ches
believing our safety. and chance q
pardon. would depend largely on on