, 1924-10-15
CHAPTER XVI-Continued

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George. They're going in three diff
ferent directions. And they're pulling
fast. Listen to them. They're By
Jove, Archman. I've guessed 1t. Some
body's escaped and they're after him..
Maybe It's your daughter and Bunker.
Bunker has found a way"
The sound Of the oars did indeed
show that the boats had separated
widely. To right and to left the freak
ing had grown fainter. But directly in
front 1t had grown louder.
Lord George noticed 1t and jumped.
zone Of them's coming herer" he
cried. We've got to do something.
quick. Hello! What's that?"
From Immediately behind a rattle
of oars had sounded. simultaneously
Olaf spoke. "Our boat. She come |"
he said.
A boat. with q lantern and a reflec
tor at the bow, had shot into sight be-
hind the three men.
Archman sprang toward 1t with an
exclamation. Just in time" he cried.
Lord George, call your party down.
Don't lose a minute. We must get the
women to safety" He turned again
to the boat. Turn around, quick" he
ordered. Come along the bank and
wait" Once more he faced toward
the slope, up which Lord George was
hurrying. "Quicki For heavens sake.
quick !" he called.
But Lord George was already at the
49, .s-fr- fha alarm md tho nnxt mr.
ment the party came plunging down.
ward.
Lord George himself led the way.
guiding Miss Denslow's footsteps and
preventing her topping over every
precipitous break In the path. Behind
her came Harry Archmar, steadying
his mother as well as he could on the
narrow pathway. The poor lady was
only half aroused from sleep and was
t~ottering from WEAKNESS, but she did
her best, melted by the news that her
husband was waiting her and by Lord
Georges perhaps overoptimistic asser-
tons thai her troubles were over.
Behind her came Bess, and the rear
was brought up by Collins. who had
come up. painting, just In time to join
the rest. As he took the first step OF
the descent. the moon, slipping above
the last screening peak. Illuminated
the mountaInside and all Of the water
except n narrow band close to the
shore. In the refulgence the bon from
the Ell rio stood plainly out. The ra-
vine itself escaped the direct rays, but
H. lxs.tr. hx,,A fatntly ytGthla nv
the reflected light.
At the bottom Of the slope. beside
the fiat rock where Lord George had
frst halted, lay n broad, shallow boat,
beside which Archman stood waiting.
Mrs. Archman tottered into his arms.
Henry Henry y she sobbed.
Archmnn patted her on the back.
That's all right. mother!" he said.
"Aii right Everything's all right"
His breath caught as he remembered
Nellie, but he went on bravely. Get
into the boat" he begged. We've got
no time to lose. Quick. quickT"
Lord George glanced about him. TAX
Ing in details which had before been
invisible In the gloom. The rnvine
was not a real ravine. II was merely
n recess or inlet between high. rocky
slopes. It ended abruptly half n dozen
feet back from where he stood. In a
precipitous wall of rock In which
gnped the black face OF n cave. The
rescuing boat had come out OF this
and was going back into II.
Lord George glanced Mt his compnn-
Ions. Obviously they were more than
the boat would hold. And the mutt
neers were very near. He spun
around.
Here, boys-whntever your names
are-comei Wen hold the entrance
He started toward the sea.
'wait, wniti" Archman's call was
muck. well hold them, but not just
here. Come. I will show your He
pushed the boat of and the two oars
men, polling with their oars, drove 1t
beneath the black archway Of the cav
ern. Then he turned. "Follow me-"
he ordered. and stepped into n narrow.
Utmost unnotlcenble ledge OF rock that
ran along the side of the entrance to
the nve
Half out OF sight he turned and
bcckoned. "Comel" he urged; and
vanished into the blnckness. With n
shrug OF his shoulders Lord George
followed.
A moment Inter, looking out of the
darkness, he saw the mutineers' boat
shoot Into the mouth of the outlet.
simultaneously n pistol cracked be
hind him and one OF the rowers Jumped
convulslveiy and then fell sideways
into the boat {; and the others. without
orders, backed water desperately.
Then Archman spoke. "Thnt Will
hold them for n WHILE" he rnsped,
It'll daylight. anyway. l think. 1t ID