, 1923-02-15

breast. He was for immediate &C.
ton.
Come on let's START he ex.
claimed.
Ere, old on exclaimed the boat.
swain. "swiggle nc. We don't want
them comm down ere to find we've
did the wanishin' stunt"
Some thin points of light. sudden.
~ shooting into Their dark prison.
from round the cJgcs of the trap.
door over their Leads, stopped the
boatswain's ok. Some one was
about to come down to them.
It was the Japanese. Icm.
He spoke t" Martin. MY lear
Mr.. Blake, We muchly desire your
presence in the cabin. Can you
trnve; there without a~sslstance?'
Martin received a sharp. meaning
glance from the b~ohtswain. "Ycs-I
can make it," he old Ichi.
He promptly scrambled to his feet
and stumbled toward the ladder.
"Goodby, bos!' he called. Good
luck!'
The big fellows hoarse srowl.
reached him:
"Goofby' lad. Good lucky'
Daylight, dazzling to Martins
groom-accustomed eyes, filled the
Cohasset's cabin.
The table was Uttered with the de-
bris OF a meal. which Charley DO Zip
was phlegmatically and deity clear
ing away, and Martin stared across
the hnar I'g IEau -, . :. a. NAHF1I Doh 30
rew's d%isdalntul face. Martin was
again surprised with the incongruity
OF Wild Bob's appearance contrast.
ed with his activities. Wa this
splendid figure of a man the vicious
outlaw OF wit,e and evil repute? The
renegade thief? The prosecutor of
women? TIE pitiless butcher of a
defenseless men?
Ichi's a voice broke an un.
easy silence.
Mr.. Blake, we have brought you
up here for a little chat" said 1chi
And before we commence. l beg
Please TO inform you I am your very
dear friend. and / think of you no
Ill. So-will you not be seated?"
Martin seated himself ~gingerly
upon the edge of a chair. 1t was an
uncomfortable position. and his arms
ached keenly from being constrained
in the unnatural position tho hand
cuffs, demanded, but he dare not sir
out a hand.
II am not mistaken in assuming
you would with rellshhness accept
refreshment? You would talk with
more easiness?" Ichi went on,
TT. 49,, ,y,.A,ab1v ,,,r,,rtaaI tNy 81.
question. He was again very, very
dry. and his sore throat panied him
and made speaking dicicult. He
was hungry. too, his supper the night
before having been his last meal.
The JAPANESE barked an order tC
the Chinaman.
Zip filled n cup with black coffee
and held it to Martins lips.
Martin drank eagerly, fitting back
his head and staring upward into
Yip's face. He half expected to sci
some sign of friendship there. q
Gleeting smile. or the flutter OF ar
oyelid. But III was disappointed.
, There was not the hint of an emotion
in Charley DO Yio's moonlike face
! When Zip turned away with the
empty cup. Martin heaved n satisfied
sigh.
That is better" he said TO Ichi
Fire away. l can talk now"
Ichi started off on n rambling and
fIowcry appreciation OF Martins i'm
piled thanks. Martin noticed, while
| DR.. Ichi talked or with Oriental iudi
rectness,. that there vas a large cup
board affixed 10 the cabins forward
bulkhead. It stood open and empty,
1t haG contained four high.powercd
rifles, two shotguns, and four heavy
navy revolvers, with n plentiful sup.
| ply OF ammunition for all arms.
They were all one. He reflected
they must be in the hands OF Ca
rcw's men. Not a pleasant reflec
ton in view OF the boatswain's
scheme.
Carcw, breaking roughly into
Icliis speech. commanded his attcn.
ton.
Meyer mind all that. Ichl! By