, 1926-04-28
Porto BellO Gold

any "aNtDs u
quiet 1t is nice"
My great-uncle smiled in the dwln.
ding light.
Il should be a h%ypocrite as well as
a fool, did refuse your offer, gentle
men," he said. "'Tis moi only our
w lives are at stake, but Mistress
NIoira's too
A groan came from O'DonneIl.
"Ah, didn't | tell We the way we
would be left to the mercy of your
cutthroats and latch-drawers, Murray?
n now It's yourself must admit 1t
a sorry business 1t is, and wish to
God I'd never heard your name or
gone forth of Spain"
Murray himself blew out the last
candle.
We'll. well. %chevalier." he answered
a little tartly, forth of Spain you
went. ana aboard the Royal james
you are, and the one hope of life you
have is that you stay aboard the Royal
James-and this is saying naught Of
the obligations we owe to your friends
on the other side"
Peters great bulk glided by us.
Il go get n rope he squeaked.
"A rope" hiccuped O'Donnell. "And
If we don't end in the moose of n
rope, well likely be walking the plank.
| care little for myself. I'll nave seen
my life and had my fling. But 1t was
an i'll day. Murray, you prevailed on
me to fetch MORA along. | cant think
what was in your mind-a young maid
in a pirate hold! 'Tis wicked past
belief"
Tut, tut" demonstrated my great
uncle. MY reasons were of the best,
and nave been indicated by events.
But here is Peter. You found the
rope?"
ia" answered Peter, and knotted
an end around n leg of the table as
| had done the night of our surrep-
titious entry.
O'Donnell sought solace in a glass
of brandy. Murray assisted Peter and
me to undress, and accompanied us
to the stern windows.
mo needless risks, remember he
whispered as | crawled over the sill.
And above all, avoid discovery. Bet
ter learn nothing than be found out"
| had wrapped my ankles around
the pendent rope and was prepared
for a cautious slide into the water
when a faint chuckIe escaped him.
what is it," l asked.
81 was but thinking what a sturdy
pirate you are become"
He Withdrew his head before
could answer, and | dropped into the
tepid water, with care that there
should be no splash. An instant later
Peter was beside me, and we began
TO swim with long. slow strokes in
the direction Of the Walrus, so i'm
palpable was the texture of that
breathless night. There was not even
a star in the sky-and the sky itself
was invisible.
The hull of the pirate ship did not
take shape until we were under the
sheer of the stern. A single. gutter
ing lanthorn seemed to burn in the
main cabin, which was tenantless.
And we paralleled the sta'b'd side,
attracted by n hum of voices for'ard.
Peters hand on my shoulder de-
tanned me as we swan beneath the
heel of the bowsprit.
Here you climb oop." he breathed
In my ear. 'They are all on her
deck. | t'ink dey smoke der pipe In
council, jal"
/ trod water. and explored with both
arms above my head.
There's no rope within reach" /
told him.
"Dot's all right. / lift you"
He was c|lutchlng the cutwater with
both hands and bracing his feet
against the swell OF the bow.
Come on" he urged. 'Oop on to
my shoulders. I hold you. ia"
but II we splash?"
1--WE don't splash. You 20 oop; |
go down under der water. Dots ALL"
l forged alongside of him and GIN
gerly climbed his immense shoulders,
using n grip on his hair for haulage.
Then ! reached overhead again. and
this time got my hands upon "A stay
of the bowsprit which ran from mid
way OF the spar to "A |turnbuckle ON
the bow