The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1919-10-02
CHAPTER xxxlll.
Before the Governor.


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.
'"rell them in the boat to do as
said; then come back here
MY God, sir, she's goin down.
mot for some minutes yet. There
are thousands Of pounds in that chest;
you've risked life for less many a
time. Jump, my mani"
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 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" called.
"No. place it nmidships; get 1t even, or
you go over. Fix it to ride steady, and
stand by-we'll pass wounded man
out to your
/ stepped across to Sanchez He saw
me coming, and drew back. his CHASTITY
face like mask.
mo you don't, Carlylel I" he snapped
angrily. keep your hands off me-
So you want me to die with my neck
in moose do you? 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't? You will. or
else die here with mel I'll give you
minute to make your choice"
He left no doubt as to his meaning
From beneath the blanket, the black
muzzle Of pistol looked straight into
my eyes. The hand holding it was
firm, the face fronting me savagely
sardonic.
I'D like to kill you, Carlyle" he
Kissed hatefully. "By God, I don't
know why / shouldn't. Every time |
look at you see her face. If you take
step nearer I pull the trigger-gow
1t was hard pull back to the Santa
Marie. Dorothy greeted me first. and
we stood close together at the rail MS
the men hoisted the chest on deck
She said nothing, asked nothing. but
her hands chung to my arm. and when
ever l turned toward her our eyes met
There was sudden cry forward
and voice shouted:
There she goes, buckles! That's
the last o. the Namur!"
I turned swiftly, my hand rrasn,nr
her fingers as they chung to the rail
The battered hulk slid downward. the
deck breaking amidships as the stern
splashed into the depths; then thot
also toppled over, leaving nothinp
above water except the blunt end Of .
broken bowsprit, and a tangle 20
wreckage tossed about on the crest
OF the waves. l watched breathlesslv
unable to utter sound; l could only
think of that stricken man in the cabin
those wild eyes which had Threatened
me. He was gone now-gone,
yet held Dorothy's hand tightly
clasped In my own, and the depths Of
her uplifted eyes questioned me
we Will go aft, dear, and will FOL,
you the whole story" said gently
"for now we are homeward bound "
write these few closing lines n voor
larer In the cabin of the Ocean Snron
three master, full to the hotchs.
with a cargo Of tobacco, bound for
London, and market. Dorothy Is o.
deck. eagerly watching for the fr.,
glimpse OF the chalk cliffs ~ ola
England. I must Join her proso,,,,
yet linger below to add these final son
fences. 'ei'-
There is, after all, little which needs
to be said. The voyage of the SAM
Marie north proved uneventfu, OIL
after that first night Of storm ,ho
weather held pleasant and the COO
fairly smooth. l had some trouble u,,,h
the men, but nothing serious os wo,'
kins and Haines held as did. and ,ho
pledge Of Dorothy's influence brouah.
courage. refused to open the chea.
believing our safety. and chance :,
] pardon. would depend larrelv 81