The St. Charles herald., 1922-05-06
Man To His Mate
BY J. ALLEN DUNN
CHAPTER xli-Continued.

CHAPTER xli-continued.
-1A
Lund took swift inventory, lining
them up as they came timorously out
of the water or struggled against the
cliff at his order. Tamada had come
down from the fires. Peggy had told
of his share, and Sandy's timely
shout Lund nodded at him In
friendly manner.
you're white man, Tamada," he
said. 'You, too. Sandy. I'll not for
get it. Rainey, round up these dere-
licts an help Tamada fix 'em up. I'll
settle with 'em later. Hansen. put the
rest Of 'em to work, an keep 'em
to It! Do you hear? They got to do
the work Of the whole bunch"
Lund turned to the two hunters
who had stood apart.
"Wal, you yellow-bellied neutrals,"
he said, his voice cold and his eyes
hard. Thought I might lose, and
hoped so, didn't you? Pick up that
skunk Beale an tote him aboard.
Then come back an 60 to work.
You'll git yore shares. but you'll not
cit what's comm to those who stood
BY. Now git out Of my sight. You
can bury That when you come back"
He nodded at the sodden corpse Of
Deming, flung up on the grit. "You
can take yore pay as grave diggers
out Of what you owe him at poker.
He amt goin' to collect, this trip"
Rainey, lame and sore. helped Ia
mada patch up the wounded, turning
the hunters quarters into a sick bay,
using the table for operation. Beale
was the worst of, but Tamada pro
nounced him not vitality damaged.
After he had finished with them he
insisted upon Rainey's lying. face
down, on the table, stripped to the
waist, while he rubbed him with oil
and then kneaded him. Once he gave
a sudden, twisting wrench, and Rainey
saw a blur Of stars as something
snapped into place with a click.
II think you soon all right, now
said Tamada.
"You and Miss Simms turned the
tide" said Rainey. "If they'd got
these tools first they'd have finished
Ms in short order"
"Fools!" said Tamada. "Suppos'
they kill Lund, how they get away
No one to navigate. Presently the
gunboat would find them. I think
Mr.. Lund will maybe trust me now.'
he said quietly.
"What do you mean?
.Mr. Lund think in the back Of hi
head I arrange for that gunboat t
come. He cannot understand hov
they know the schooner at island. H
think to come JUS this time too mucl
curious. think"
| 'Tt was q bit Of q coincidence"
Tamada shrugged his shoulder
slightly.
II think japanese government know
all that goes on in North Polar re
Rion," he said. '1There is wireless sta
ton on Wrangell island. We pass b.
that pretty close"
Rainey chewed that information a
he put on his clothes, wondering
they had seen the last Of the gunboa1
They would have to pass south throug
Bering strait. It would be easy t
overhaul them. halt them, search tn
schooner, confiscate the gold. The
were not out Of trouble yet.
| When he went into the cabin to n
place his torn coat-he had hardly
button intact above the waist, froa
Jacket to undershirt-he found tn
girl there with Lund. Apparentl!
they had Just come in. Peggy Simm
with face agiow with the excitemer
that had not subsidized. was pronerin
Lund her pistol.
keep it." he said. "You may nee
II. I've got mine"
'But you threw It into the water.
saw you"
.No," He laughed. THAT WASH
my gun. They thought 1t was.
wanted to bring the thing to grip
But wasn't fool enough to chuc
away my gun. That was a wrench
was usin' this mornin' to fix the cabi
stove looks Jest like an ottermat
I stuck It In my inside pocket. WI
haf mind to shoot when they Shove
their knives, but / didn't want to nj
my gun on that mess Of hash"
He stood tall and broad above he
looking down at the face that WI
raised to his. Rainey, unnoticed
yet. saw her eyes bright with admir-
ton.
You are 4 wonderful fighter" d
said softly.
sWonderfull What about you?
mans womani You saved the da
Comm to me with them drills. An
licked 'em. We. God!"
He swept her up into his arms, II
ing her In his big hands. making
more Of her than II she had been
feather pillow. up till her face was I
level with his, pressing her clos
! while in swift, indignant rage 9
. fought back at him. striking futile
while he held her. kissed her. and s
her down as Rainey sprang forward.