Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1930-04-18
CHAPTER XII-Continued

"rhat would be useless, she Salu
more codly. He knew she was re-
Iieyed to see Mary coming toward her.
He sighed. So there must be little
more sailing under the skull and cross
bones.
AS the yacht neared its destination
Hammer became less certain of his fu-
ture. His efforts to stir Todd and
Bob Unwin into active insubordina-
ton had not come to fruitage. His
aim was to awaken certain proper
pride In the breast of the late Cap
tain Hallett's nephew. Was he, an
officer. to allow the vessel he should
control by right, to be taken into New
York by murderous william like An
drew Orme?
'aThey'll say" said Hammer, with
resigned sadness, that you was afraid
of him; they won't believe it was
caution. I'll say he was bigger and
stronger and you was wise to wait.
What's it matter II they do laugh at
you a bit, sir?"
"Shut up" Crosby Todd said an
grily. He resented these implications
of cowardice. 1t happened that he
was courageous and had long felt his
inaction was unmanly. And it seemed
that Bob, who had a spell off duty,
expected him to betray more leader
like qualities.
"What do you think we ought to
do?" Bob asked.
Hammer sprang instantly into &C.
ton.
"Seize him. he said; there's three
to one and he don't suspect thing.
Tie him up, the swine, and then wire
less for help. That'll put us in good.
It's my belief" the tempter went on,
that him and Metzger plan to get
away. What's to stop them going
overheard just after we get through
the Bridge and escaping or lowering
boat in the dark?'
ave mustn't lie. him get away from
the police" Todd said, wavering. land
yet 1t seems hardly playing the game
to get him now?'
IF you're afraid, just say So" Ham
ner's manner was less polite. But
don't expect me to want to give
bloody murderer fair play same as I'd
give you" A happy thought struck
him. IF the judge says to you, Why
didn't you do what Albert Hammer
said? what'll you answer? I'll have
to tell him everything"
At the wheel Bettington was fight
ing against the desire to sleep. Never
\ had he gone so long with so little
rest There was a great deal of ship
ping and he had not much confidence
in TOdd's seamanship.
The dawn was breaking chill and
gray when he passed Fort Hancock.
1t was there that the three flung them
selves upon him. There was little
opportunity to struggle. Hammer
brought down Delaying pin on his
head with enough force to render him
unconscious. He was awakened by
the harsh splitting of the wireless. He
realized that the Albatross was an
chored. He was lying on the floor of
the wheelhouse. He was bound and
gagged as neatly as ever Metzger and
Pereira had been. The pain in his
side was now very severe. And with
it all was a racking headache.
Mrs. Railway came on deck at about
eight o'clock. She thought that Cros-
by Todd and Bob looked at her with
certain degree of embarrassment.
And Hammer, the ill-omened, was with
them.
"The New York Yacht club is send
ing out some one to take US in" Todd
told her. "They ought to be here any
minute now"
II thought the doctor capable of
that" she said, frowning.
Hes capable of anything" Ham,
ner cried. You don't know what
we've done for you, ma'am."
what does the man mean?" she
asked of Todd.
II had to seize the ship" he said.
There was no question of evading
what he had done or declining re-
sponsibility. 1--WE found that Orme
had planned to escape and we are
holding him for the police. You re-
member he wouldn't let me use the
wireless? That was because he didn't
want to be caught. It's easier for a
crook to escape in New York than 1t
would be in Limon."
where is the doctorr Mrs. Rad
way asked. m-sa
She followed them to the bridge.
The attack had been made in the
dawn, and Todd had no idea that
Hammers blow had been so severe or
that so much blood had flowed from
the wound. He tried to prevent Mrs.
Railway from seeing the man. She
knelt down at his side and removed
the gag. .t.ts
"Are you very much hurtr' she
asked Her heart was beating wildly.
After all, they had betrayed him.
There were tears in his eyes. She
could see that he did not associate
her from those who had made the as
SAINT