Evening star., 1921-03-27

really meant mischief It was. he
told me, the hardest thing to believe
he had run up against, as yet. in his
life. Anne nodded. The French
mans heart was set on this robbery.
Davy might expect them, about mid
night, creeping on board his ship, to
steal, anyhow-to murder, perhaps.
Her voice sounded weary. and her
eyes remained fastened on her child.
"And still Davidson could not ac-
cept 1t somehow; his contempt 1or
these men was too great.
"Look here, Davy. she said, III
20 outside with them when they
start, and it will be hard luck If L
don't find something to laugh at.
They are used to that from me-
Laugh or cry-whats the ODDS. You
will be able to hear me on board
on this quiet night. Dark it Is, too.
Oh. it's dark, Davy.-it's dark.
Don't you run any risks. said
Davidson Presently he called her at
tention to the boy, who, less flushed
now. had dropped into a sound sleep.
Look. He'll be all right
"She made as if to snatch the child
up to her breast, but restrained her
self Davidson prepared to go. she
whispered hurriedly:
mind, Davy! I've told them that
you generally sleep aft in the nam
mock under the awning over the
cabin. They have been asking me
about your ways and about your
ship. too. l told them all l knew
had to keep in with them. Ana
Bamtz would have told them II l
hadn't-you understand
HE made a friendly sign and went
out. The men about the table Tex
cept Bamtz) looked at him. This
time it was Fector who spoke.
Won't you join US in quiet game
captain?'
Davidson said that now the child
was better he thought he would go
on board and turn in.
1--we shall be sitting late over the
cards. Fector said in his harsh, low
voice.
"'Don't make more noise than you
can help
".Oh! we are a quiet lot. And If
the invalid shouldn't be so well. she
will be sure to send one of US down
to call you, SO that you may play the
doctor again. So don't shoot at
sight
in Niclaus.
"'I never shoot before making sure
there a reason for it-at any rate
said Davidson.
"Bamt. let out sickly snigger.
The Frenchman alone got up to make
a bow to Davidson's careless nod. His
stumps were stuck immovabIy in his
pockets. Davidson understood now
the reason.
He went down to the ship. He
never paused to look Ii there was
anybody about the decks AS a mat
ter Of fact, most OF his crew were on
shore, and the rest slept, slowed away
'He had mis- plan: and he went to
work methodically.
"He fetched a lot of clothing from
below and disposed it in his ham
mock in such A way as to distend 1T
to the shape of human body: then
sheet he used to draw over himself
when sleeping on deck. Having done
this. he loaded his two revolvers and
clambered into one Of the boats the
Sissie. carried right aft. swung out
on their davits. Then he waited.
uCUDDENLY in the breathless.
~ soundless hot night an argus
pheasant screamed in the woods
across the stream. Davidson started
violently, all his senses on the alert
at once.
The candle was still burning in
the house. Everything was quiet
again. but Davidson felt drowsy no
longer. An uneasy premonition of
evil oppressed him.
"'Surely ] am not afraid he ar
gued with himself:
The silence was like seal on
his ears. and his nervous inward
impatience grew intolerable. He
commanded himself to keep still.
But. all the same. he was just going
to jump out of the boat when faint
ripple on the immensity of silence. a
mere tremor in the air. the ghost
Of a silvery laugh. reached his ears.
illusion!
He kept very still. He had no
difficulty now in emulating the still
ness of the mouse-a grimly deter
mined mouse. But he could not
shake off that premonition Of evil
unrelated to the mere danger of the
situation. Nothing happened. 1t had
been an illusion!
He had left the hanging lamp in
the cabin burning as usual. 1t was
part of his plan that everything
should be as usual. Suddenly in the
dim glow of the skyIight panes a
bulky shadow came up the ladder
without sound, made two steps
toward the hammock Git hung right
over the skylighD, and stood mo-
tionless. The Frenchman.
The minutes began to slip away.
Davidson guessed that the French
mans part (the poor cripple) was
to watch his (Davidson's) slumbers
while the others were no doubt in
the cabin busy forcing off the laz-
arctic hatch.
What was the course thew meant