The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1920-01-17

/ '44NJ " GIG pit AIIu anu lIlak
moment was upon him, and-would
she never go below?
| FROM forward. under the bridge,
"unsa peered cautiously around the
| corner of the captains cabin, drew
| back as Helen MacKay turned in her
restricted walk to face In that direc-
uon. and then as she wheeled again.
pacing toward the stern. he darted I'M
| DER the bridge ladder that was oppo-
site ana within yard of the captains
door. The next instant he had sIipped
Ike a shadow into Laynton's cabin.
Wallen's hand upon the rail gripped
ughtly as his face set white and hard
as chiseled marble. What would the
next Few minutes bring? Death-for
himself and Gunga? Well, they were
men; he dared to hope they were men
enough to face 1t like men. But for
her 1t was not death; 1t was worse
than death.
Laynton's words addressed to Mott
that he had overheard the night before
mad rung ever since like doom In his
ears: You keep your paws off the girl
until we've got what we want out of
that masquerading swine or III bash
your face into jelly. He's sweet on
her. and he's the kind of fool along
those lines 1t amt wise to stir I'D until
we have to-. You mind what l say,
Mott! Afterward-" Wallen hadn't
heard any more; but it was almost
that "afterward" now unless-his eyes
were straining forward, and suddenly
1t seemed as though his heartbeat
stopped.
Captain Laynton, starting abruptly
to leave the bridge, stepped onto the
ladder and halted near the top like a
man stunned-as Gunga at the same
instant emerged from tie cabin.
Then, with below of rage and the
agility Of cat, Laynton swung him.
self under the handrail. leaping for the
deck.
And Gunga's shout rang out:
Quick. sahibl l have got them
Run, Sahib-run ~
second sometimes spans an eter-
nifty; and 1t seemed to Wallen that he
lived 1t then as he sprang across the
deck. Mott. from the bridge, was
hurting himself down the ladder.
Gunga was racing aft like a deer,
with Laynton, screaming blasphemy,
In pursuit. And Helen MacKay was
standing as If turned to stone by the
lounging room entrance as WaIlen
reached her.
run below" he gasped out.
Quick! Into the saloon!"
She did not move. There was no
time to speak again, to argue. to ask,
to plead. He snatched her up into his
arms and plunged through the door
way.
The sharp. vicious bark of a revolt
yer shot echoed behind him; and Gun
ga called again:
$50 on, sahib! Go on!"
She was screaming in his arms.
pounding madly at his face with her
doubled fists, struggling with all the
strength of her 1.-the young body to
free herself as he reeled and staggered
uo"s tIc
Shouts and the pound Of racing feet
along the decks came from every
where now, fore and aft. A face
doomed up before him as he reached
the bottom and a form blocked his
way. 1t was the French steward from
Port Said. Wallen crashed into the
man.
The steward went back against the
bulkhead-and was hurled from this
to the floor as Gunga. behind, with the
spring of wildcat leaping from the
top to the bottom of the companion
way, struck him in turn.
A moment more and they were In
the saloon, the three of them, and
Wallen had set Helen MacKay upon
her feet-and his back was against the
locked door. Still another moment
and Gunga was running back across
the saloon carrying the door of Wal
lens cabin that the night before they
had loOsened from It's hinges.
1t fitted, as their measurements had
promised them it would fit. at a rigid |
angle, solid. substantial brace, be-
tween the saloon door and the iron |
base Of the swivel chair at the end of |
the dining table.
And now there was q rush along the |
aIleyways and down the companion
way, and u crash upon the door,
chorus of yells and oaths-another
rush against the door.
Gunga was holding out two revol-
vers in his hands.
"They do not know yet that we are
armed, sahb," he said grimly. Shall
| fire through the door-to kiln"
And then Wallen laughed unnat-
uraIly as he took one OF the weapons