The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1919-09-19
CHAPTER xxxIl-continued.

30
Haines was evidently reluctant, but
sailor enough to follow as lowered
myself to the deck, clinglng hard to
keep my footing on the wet incline. A
light spar had lodged here, and by
making this species of bridge, we
crept as far as the companion, the door
Of which was open, and gained view
Of the scene below. 1t was a dismal
hole in the dim light, but presented no
obstacle to our entrance. and / led the
way, down the stairs, gripping the rail
to keep from falling.
The door Of the captains room gave,
but 1t required our combined efforts to
press 1t open against the volume of
water, slushing about within. For
moment my eyes could scarcely recog-
nize the various objects as chung to
the frame of the door and stared blind
Iy about In the gloogA Then slowly
they assumed shape and substance.
Screwed to the deck. the furniture re-
tanned its place, but everything else
was jammed in q mass of wreckage, or
else floating about in foot of water,
deepening toward the stern. There
were two chests In the room, one of
which instantly recognized as that of
Roger Fairfax. The sight of this made
me obllvious to all else.
There's the chest we want. Haines,"
/ cried. pointing 1t out. slave the, lads
back the boat up to this port; then
come down and help me handle it"
eyes, SIR" his voice trembling, "but
but isn't that man over therein
the bunk? Good God. sir: look at
himt"
The white, CHASTITY face stared at us,
looking like nothing human in that
awful twilight / actually thought it
ghost, until with desperate effort the
man lifted himself, clinging with gaunt
fingers to the edge of the bunk. Then
/ knew.
Sanchez! You'll those towards left
you here to die!p
"No one came for me-" he answered,
choking so the words were scarcely in
telligible. "Who are you. and what
brought you here?"
"I'll tell you frankly, Captain
Sanchez" and stepped closer. 1--WE
risked coming aboard to save that
chest Roger Fairfax's chest-before
1t went down. This vessel has its
back broken, and may slide off into
deep water at any minute. We must
get you out of here first"
"Get me out I" he laughed hideously.
ITO hell with your help. want none
of 1t. am dead man now, and the
easiest way to end all win be to go
down with the ship-'twill be a fit
coffin for Black Sanchez. BY God
know you now eoffry Carlyle?"
Eyes, but an enemy no longer"
'"rhat is for me to say. i hate your
race, your breed. The very sound of
your name drives me mad. accept
no rescue from you'll Damn you, take
your gold and co."
"But why?" / insisted, shocked at
the mans violence. SIS it because In
terfered between you and Dorothy
FairfaxY'
'That chit; bah. what do care for
her but as plaything. No, my hate
runs deeper than that. How came you
here in the boat stolen from the Ma
mur?"
"No. Captain Sanchez. The day after
we left the ship we boarded a schooner
found adrift, the crew stricken with
cholera. with not man left alive on
deck. or below. She lies yonder now,
the Santa Marie-a SLAYER"
"Merciful God" and his eyes fairly
blazed into mine as he suddenly forced
his body upward in the bunk. "The
Santa Marie adriftl the crew dead
from cholera? And the captain-Para-
dilla. Francis Paradilla-what Of
him?"
HE lay alone on a dlvan in the
cabin-dead Also"
He tried to speak. but failed, his
fingers clawing at his throat. When
he finally gained utterance once more
It was but q whisper.
''Tell me-" he begged, .'there was no
woman with him?"
"There was no woman" / said
grayely, ION deck or In the cabin"
what mean you by saying that?
There was one on board! Don't lie to
mel In an hour am dead-but first
tell me the truth. Does the woman
liver.
mo. she died before. We found her
body In a chest, preserved by some
deyilish Indian art, richly dressed and
decked with jewels"
"Engllsh?"
II judged her so, but with dark hair
and eyes. You knew herr"
'In the name Of all the fiends, yes.
And know her end. he killed her
Paradilla killed her-because she was
as false to him as she had been to me.
He'll! but it is strange you should be
the one to find her-tO bring me this
tale, Geoffry Carlyle!"
"Why7 What is it to meT
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