The Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1919-current, 1920-03-12
By
VICTOR
ROUSSEAU
illustrations by
Irwin Myers


" Nhl'h til'y nui tiihDti uuihH
Brousseau's fictitious parleying. Each
had his knife ready. and they were
upon Hillary together.
There was no room for nlaneuvering
and Hilary never knew afterward how
lie escaped. But he thrust his club
into Lebanc's face and, then. as the
man stumbled back, brought it down
with full force upon Pierres skull.
All the strength of his arms went
into the blow. Pierre never spoke
again. He went reeIing across the
| deck like an lnnnimute thing. struck
the bulwark. and, as the schooner
lurched. tOpplcd into the sen. He was
probably dead before he disappeared
beneath the waves.
Leblanc rushed erantically toward
the barricade. Hilary was upon him
when he saw Br0usseau whip out re-
vOlver and take deliberate aim at him.
He felt the bullet clip his cheek. Twice
more Broussenu fired. AT the second
shot Hilary stumbled and fell fiat In
the cabin entrance. At the third. Lee
blanc, shot through the brain. whrled
round twice and collapsed In front Of
the barrier.
Madeleine dragged Hilary within the
cabin Blood was gushing from a
wound In his breast. Fruntically abe
began to tear away the upper part Of
his clothing and TO endeavor to stanch
the wound Suddenly she perceived the
little rusted revolver upon the floor.
She snatched Il up and ran TO see
BrOusseau in the act OF crossing the
bgrricade. She pushed It into his
face.
BrOusseau cursed and dropped on the
far side Madeleine heard him running
into the darkness. She had brought q
temporary respite. She ran back to
Hilary. But 1t was almost dark IN the
cabin. and there was hardly anything
she could do. He was conscious. but
he seemed bleeding to death. and she
could only try to stanch the blood that
never stopped flowing.
Suddenly there came terrific lurch
Of the vessel, which began to spin
crafty In the trough Of the sea. And
above the roaring of the wind came
the wild cries Of Dupont and the ex.
postuntiOns Of Brousseau. The cap
tnin's reason had deserted him he had
abandoned the wheel to fight out hii
quarrel with Hilary. The schooner
uncontrolled. ran sidewise before the
! wind. and Brousseau. willing as he
was to let Dupont go on his errand Of
murder, was unable 10 steer her. He
had handled ships before. but the
swift cross-currents at the juncture Of
river and gulf made the task inpos
sible for one who did not know init
mntely that unchnrted track. fur IRON
the main channel. now impnsanblt
with Ice. The schooner was rolling
heavily, huge seas were sweeping ever
, board. and she turned successfully
milf round the compass; the wind
catching her swinging sails, began tt
whirl her round and round: nnd
, stendlly she drifted toward the pacl
ice along the shore OF the island.
? Madeleine, working over Hilnr,
! frantically In the cabin. saw Dupont
and Brousseau struggling on the poor
' deck. Dupon: was trying to force
| his way between the lumber piles
e while Brousseau urged him back TO the
t wheel. Her mind workedrnpidly. Wal
: there any way OF controlling the stu
5 ationi She could see none. The moof
had risen high. and the mists wcr'
I clearing away. Not far distant wal
!. the nearing point Of the island. nrt
I the open Gulf lay beyond. Toward 'b'
$ ice field the ship was hurrying wild
frlghtful speed.
Madeleine saw the ice fast on ever!
U side. The narrow passage behind
filed with black. foam.necked water
was closing In She did not hesitate
but caught NJ Hilary ind urged him 4
; his feet. He managed TO rise, Will
: her support. and staggered NJ her shi'
townr,i the bulwarks.
She stopped, picked the fur CA
: from the shoulders Of the dead ont
= law. aud placed II about him. Sh
: pointed toward the Ice field. Brous
seau was stIll struggling with Dupcn
0 nenr the wheel and Dupont Wal
o thrashlng his arms and bowling BIZ
wild pncnn. With the Inst exercise o
Z his strength Hilary managed to dr,i
y to the ice.
q lie lay there. Madeleine crouchr'
over him under the bow ~ the vessel
n and her last hope went vul.