The Red Cloud chief., 1919-10-02
CHAPTER xxxil--contlnued.


Haines was evidently reluctant, but
sailor enough to follow as ! lowered
myself to the deck, clingng hard to
keep my footing on the wet incline. A
light spar had lodged here, and by
making this a species OF bridge, we
crept as far as the companion, the door
Of which was open, and gaised a view
Of the scene below. 1t was dismal
hole in the dim light, but presented no
obstacle to our entrance, ayad led the
way down the stairs. gripping the rail
to keep from falling.
The door of the captains room gave,
but II required our combir>d efforts to
press II open against the volume OF
water, slushlng about wt<hln. For a
moment my eyes could scarcely recog-
nize the various objects ~ chung to
the frame of the door and stared blind
ly about In the gloom. Then slowly
they assumed shape ana substance.
Screwed to the deck, the furniture re-
tained Its place, but everything else
was jammed In a 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 oblIvious to all else.
there's the chest we want. Haines,"
cried. pointing II out. "Have the lads
back the boat up to this port; then
come down and help me handle It."
"Yes. SIR" his voice trembling. "but
but isn't that a man over therein
the buns' Good God. sir; look at
himp
The White, CHASTITY face stared at us,
looking like nothing human In that
awful twilight. I actually thought 1t
Q ghost, until with desperate effort the
man lifted himself. clinging with gaunt
CHgers to the edge of the bunk. Then
l. knew.
"Sanchezi You'll those towards left
you here to diew
mo one came for me-" he answered,
choking 80 the words were scarcely in
telligible. "Who are you. and what
brought you heref"
"Tll tell you frankly, Captain
Sanchez" and I stepped closer. 1--WE
risked coming aboard to save that
chest-Roger Falrfax's chest-before
Il went down. This vessel has its
back broken, and may slide of into
deep water at any minute. We must
get you out of here first"
Get me outl" he laughed hideously.
TO hell with your help. I want none
Of It. I am dead man now, and the
easiest way to end oil will be to go
down with the ship-'twlll be fit
coffin for Black Sanchez. BY Godl 1
know you now-Geoffry Carlyle?"
"Yes, but an enemy no longer"
THAT Is for me to say. hate your
race, your breed. The very sound of
your name drives me mad. I accept
no rescue from you! Damn you, take
your gold and CO."
"But why?' / insisted, shocked Mt
the mans violence. as II because In.
terfered between you and Dorothy
Fairfax"
"That chit; bah, what do care for
her but as playthlng. No, my hate
runs deeper than that. How came you
herein the boat stolen from the Ma.
mur?"
mo. Captain Sanchez. The day after
we left the ship we boarded 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 Godw and his eyes fairly
blazed into mine as he suddenly forced
his body upward In the bunk. '"rht
Santa Marie adriftl the crew deat
from cholera2 And the captain-Para
dilla, Francis Paradlla-what O.
him?"
"He lay alone on a divan in tn,
cabin-dead also"
He tried to speak, but failed, hi
fingers clawing at his throat. Whel
he finally gained utterance once NOR
1t was but whisper.
"Tell me-" he begged, "there was n
woman with him?"
"There was no woman" sal
gravely. ION deck or In the cabin"
'What mean you by saying that
There was one on boardl Don't lie {
mel In an hour l am dead-but frs
tell me the truth. Does the woma
liver
mo, she died before. We found he
body in a chest, preserved by som
devilish Indian art, richly dressed an
decked with jewels"
"English"
II judged her so. but with dark ha
and eyes. You knew herr"
"In the name Of all the fiends, We
And I know her end. He killed her
Paradilla killed her--because she VIZ
as false to him as she had been to m
He'll but II is strange you should |
the one to find her---to bring me tn
tale. Geoffry Carlyle!"
"Whyf What Is II to mer'
"You 60 back to England and tell Il
duke of Bucclough how his precio
sister died."
"IIis aistarl Good God Won Cann