The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-12-21
"A KNIGHT OF
 TODAY"
By Baanister NIerwin-
tcontinued from yegterday.>
CHAPTER x, Tlan GhaGo

had good start. Morton's Point Ias
 becoming a mere blur in the distance.
 was clearly visible, in it's Iony sweep,
 and we could look beyond across the
 Intervening bay, to the darkness of
 the distant hills of Southport. with
 here and there light twinkling. For
 the hrst time, too, Cape Weatherwise
 was in sight, and the perspective of
 ehe Long Island shore to the west
 Out in the sound no boat was in
 sight It was too late for pleasure
 craft, and the night steamers between
 New York and New England ports
 must 1ocg since have passed A glance at my watch was still running
 despite its wetting showed the hour
 hand close to three.
 It had not failed to occur to me that Banks might follow. But I doubted whether he could catch uA
 we had the larger boat and, as sup posed. the faster. He was armed vering on water. was not afraid of
 Ranks or any one else. In any event
 our position was stronger than at Morton's Point.
 l looked back. The other boat clung to our wake at about the same dis eance. And then, while I was strain ing my eyes toward the Connecticut hills, which were as yet indistinguish- able in that soft light, Marcia ex- claimed, g. sound-faint. but unmis- Sakeble-came over the water. It was like the distant firing of a ma other boat was creeping nearer in feptte of our speed Banks had given her more power. She must be a fast iSacer.
 remembered how the woman had herded us into the larger boat. Had she trtcked me after all? Her story had sounded convincing, and I had believed in her desire to get away from Banks control-from the neces- stty of dividing up with him. I look ed at her, there in the stern She had just thrown a backward glance at our pursuers, and her face showed mild anriety-
 "Mrs Buckingham I called, "did kou know that boat was a racer "
 "z knew she was faster than this Dns, but I didn't think she would hold us all" With that answer I had to be content. Co do now?" asked her.
 He wants his ransom He won't Exust you to send it later.
 This was in accord with what I Knew of Banks, but I remmebered what he had said about sinking Mar cia's boat after he had got the money and I did not feel treasured. The bottom of the sound would be safe hiding for his crime.
 The other boat was now no more than quarter of mile behind. and coming on swiftly. We were well out 1
 
 The waves were higher, and our boat rose and fell quite noticeably.
 We could not run away The only | thing I could think of was to try l to disable the enemy, If, by luck, 1 could put a bullet into her gaso- l inc tank
 Marcia, can you take the wheel?"
 She got to her knees and seized the l
 Keep at the bottom I cautioned, | ''and don't show even your head, un- i less you have to. Hold her steady. l It's a straight course
 Leaving her, I crawled to the stern | and examined our motor. It was working well, but l gave it a quick | oiling. Then I drew my revolver.
 To shoot from T tossing, vibrating l boat and hit the mark is an accom- l plishment l do not pretend to pos eess. I laid my arm along the aft l decking, and waited to cover the | white bow of our pursuer- Twice | the target crossed my sights; the third l time I fired.
 There was no evidence that I had | struck her, but there was little dot | of flame from her deck and e. faint report like the echo of my own shot, and a bullet sang over us. l realized that had wasted a cartridge Banks was quite willing to draw my fire |. He was now not more than a hun dred yards behind us Suddenly ne | port. Had I frightened him? took the two empty shells from my re- | Making my way forward I took the wheel from Marcia. who, at my Sug- 1 gestion, resumed her former place.
 Banks was sweeping in a wide CurVe. Now he was parallel with us, 1 nn even terms. two hundred yards away; and now he edged in toward
 saw his purpose-to drive his 1 bow into our side. This possibility ( had not occurred to me before. for are fragile as a rule. | He must be strongly built. When at last he swung towards us, as if to cross our bows, I waited until his course was establishe ed. then swung my own wheel over and headed ng our heavier boat would crush his.
 There was sCArcely fifty feet be- Q port followed him as best >ould, but his speed took him safely | across our bows by a narrow margin could not hut admire the daring way in which he handled his narrow loat.
 As we passed his stern we rose on he swell, and I saw him plainly at he wheel. He turned, and shouted omething which l could not under tand Away he raced in another ,trcle. Meantime l kept on the Itraight course toward the Connectt-
 It was ticIlIish business. this sharp urning in such sea The beam of ,ur own beat was broad enough for afety. but his was narrow hull. with fine lines. AS we passed him I Salight the black letters on the stern .'tSwordfiSh.' Then our boat might | yell be called the Whale. Our only protection was our bulk-that and ny ability to keep him from striking h ,ur flank. z He was again parallel with us. on . 'ur starboard, and closer than be ore Again he darted at us Again
 headed toward him. He repeated r lis former naneuveIr crossing our 'ows. . This time. anticipating his move, lad drawn and cooked my revolver nd as we rose on the swell, l fired . rTto his boat. From the scream that pierced the ir I knew that I had hit someone 'mith. I judged. for & glance showed hat Banks was still at the wheel. V The man could not have been hurt cry badly. however. for his curses