, 1926-06-02
CHAPTER XV-Continued

AN' Du1hHhlllS ltlL. 20 easy WI tnFN
Jameses. Naught for We to fight about.
James ladsl Wen divide square
with ye."
Men swlrled toward US from all
sides of the stockade, the James crew
mingled with the Walrus', and where
u people fought at all twas faint
heartedly and to no purpose. We were
pressed back, and presently were put
to II to avoid being surrounded.
w go to der house, Bob" squeaked
Peter. Der James men don't fight
for us no more
He had Murray's limp body slung
over n shoulder and still retained
the iron barrel Of his musket-the
stock had been demolished but he
ran easily beside me through the sand.
We reached the blockhouse alone
on the side opposite the door, and
clrcled It cautiously, no little con
cerned for Moira's safety, for pistols
were popping and ~cutlasses clashlng
in several directions close at hand.
With the moon obscured we could not
see a musket's length ahead. and as
turned In toward the black oblong of
the doorway l tripped over a corpse.
TITS on your own head your death
will be, my man." said a cool voice. 81
n hear you fine, n If you're not
after
"AIoira :" ! exclaimed.
"And is 1t you. Bob? Oh, blessed
saints, but I'm that glad. 1 thought
you we're Is that Peter?'
ia" said Peter.
And what will We have on your
shoulder? A dead man? Is 1t him |
shot a few minutes back?r
Ills Captain Murray" I answered.
making way for Peter.
"Oh, Queen OF Heavenl Sure, we're
in bad case"
1--WE are I assented grlmly as l
followed Peter inside. Have you a
light?"
She took n lanthorn from under n
cloth, and its scanty rays played hide
and-seek with the shadows over the
rude log walls and the piles of rum bar,
rels and kegs Of bareback and the
clumsy stack OF treasure.
Peter laid my g~reat-uncle gently
upon the earthen fiuor-there was no
softer bed-and began cutting away
the garments from around the hilt Of
the knife, which was still fixed in his
right side.
And why didn't you go with themT'
] asked. She gave me an indignant
look.
And be leaving the two Of vel !
am not that kind Of friend. Bob"
Peter looked up from his task.
"You got to watch dot door. Bob.
Andt, MORA. you bring me some rum.
Maybe Murray gets back his sense be.
fore"
| suddenly found myself unwilling
to believe it could be so.
"He can't Peteri"
"Ja.' replied the Dutchman patient
ly. Pretty soon he goes. He bleeds
inside"
| stumbled to the doorway with my
head in a whirl. Murray dying?
Twas Incredible That tremendous
personality. so masterful. 50 aloof.
dominating all with whom he came In
contact, saltlly compounded Of wick
edness. greatness, wisdom and naive
vanity, And explain II how you will.
] suddenly discovered an admiration
for him which had been growing for
months beneath my surface resent.
ment. Up to this momtnt l had de.
tested him. But l choked now at the
thought Of his death. Whatever he
was. he was no coward. And there
was about his end In this sordld, hap.
hazard fashion, stabbed by a blind
man In the dark. "A redeeming touch
of high tragedy. He. whose ambitions
had vaulted the stars. to perish by
the hand Of Pew And in a moment
when apparently he had snatched vie.
tory from defeat
Mechanically ! carried chests Of
gold and silver ingots from the heap
OF treasure and built q bnrrlcade
across the doorway. But Pothlng came.
Feet shusg- shushed in the sand all
around M b~lOckhuuse voices called.
questioned and argued an occasional
shot was tired-no more. Fllnt's
triumph had been too amazingly com
plete for him to grasp. and evidently
there were dlssehsions In the pirates
ranks as to what the next step should
be.
The hour glass we had fetched from
the Royal James stood by the door, and
j remember that ! turned II twice be-
fore Peter tapped my shoulder.
Tie wants you" he said.
Murray lay with his head In Moira's
lap. on his face was stamped a wnxy
pailor. His nnstrils were sunken aud
plnched In. A crimson froth showed
at the corner Of his mouth. But his
tnwny eyes blnzed with the uncon.
querable IRE OF his spirit As / stopped
over him n hooking CLEAN rldlated
from their black depths, and lis lips
M we'd IN almost voiceless speech.
nSnrrr oh ~ nnhhnh md In