Evening star., 1935-01-02
CHAPTER XXXIV.

ened her to death"
"Well, YOU shall have first CO." said
he. If that's no good I'll see how
my sex appeal works"
But supposing she has nothing TO
tell" persisted Molly. What are we
going to do them"
"N:ck and I were talking 1t over
last night. We decided that unless
something turns up here our best
plan will be to get into touch with
Avon and let him know how things
stand. He can pull any amount OF
strings we can't, and he'll probably
find some way of putting stopper on
Mr.. Orloff."
"I suppose you're right" agreed
Molly reluctantly. though 1t would
be ever so much nicer II we couio
manage by ourselves"
Southend Pier, with its rapidly pal
ing lights, was by this time well astern
of us. We were heading northeast
and away on our left the Essex coast
Law desolate and gray in the carry
morning light.
To seaward the Maplin Sands were
already covered by the rising toe.
Along their treacherous edge a sue
cession of big black conical buoys
dipped and swung among the tosS-
ing water, while overhead the guns
shrieked and circled as though re-
senting our intrusion into their prlVate
hunting grounds
Keeping we'll inside. and taking the
precaution of sounding occasionally
with the boat hook, We BOWED along
briskly in the fresh offshore wind.
Bevond Shoeburyness, with its two
posts marking the measured aomlralty
mile there was little to be seen but
dreary eXpanSe of marShland. NOW
and then a clump of trees rose above
the roof of some isolated farm house,
but their Weatherbeaten foliage, stand
ing up against the somber sky, only
seemed to intensity the surrounding
desolation.
1t was an appropriate setting for
the queer and rather forlorn enter
prise upon which we were embarked.
We had covered about another two
miles when, with a sudden gesture,
Jerry pointed toward squat, clrcu-
lar-shaped object which had just be-
come visible round bend in the
coast.
That's the powder factory" he an
nounced. THAT elegant-looking place
with the fiat top; you'll see it better
as soon as we're past the point
Molly jumped to her feet and we
both stared eagerly across the inter-
vening water.
'It will be a dead beat in," he con-
hit NfT nj
There's strong current, and even II
we do touch. the tide will probably
take us over"
Il shall be very annoyed if 1t
doesn't" I said I'm beginning to
want my breakfast" .,
We held on steadily until a small
red buoy, which apparently marked
the channel, bobbed past on our port
side, and then, changing his course,
Jerry began to bear in toward the
shore.
AS we approached nearer, the en-
trance came into view-a narrow
opening between two mud fats on
each side of which the tide was beating
in a smother of dirty-looking froth.
It was an ugly enough place IN all
conscience.
"stand by for the jib sheet"
shouted Jerry.
AS he spoke he thrust over the
tiller and, swinging round on the other
tack, we headed straight for the CEN
ter. There was a swirl of broken
water on both sides of us, and blind
ing shower of surf splashed up into
my face.
At the same instant my foot trod
upon something soft, which, to Judge
by the protesting yelp that followed,
was evidently George. Then the plung-
ing deck suddenly steadied itself and,
wiping the spray from my eyes, I
stood UP and took first survey OF
our new surroundings.
We were in wide estuary, bounded
on either shore by black and cherries
saltings. To the south low-lying fields
stretched away into the distance, with
here and there a few cattle cropping
diligently at the long grass.
On the north bank stood the fac
tory-a squat, hideous building shut
in behind a high barbed-Wire fence.
From an iron gate in front roughly
constructed track led down to a half
submerged jetty.
Broken barrels and scraps of old
iron lay about on the foreshore, while
sunken lighter, with its bows still
jutting out of the water, rotted dis
mally in it's bed of slime. The whole
place had an air of unutterable de-
preston.
well, we've arrived" remarked
Jerry. What do you think of it, now
you've seen it?"
I'm beginning to sympathize with
Osborne" I said. "If I'd been cooped
up here for month, I should GER
tainly feel like going abroad"
"Oh, it's not SO bad on a fine day"
he objected PLENTY of fresh air, no
tourists"
who lives there?" demanded Molly,
pointing to a cluster of trees about
half a mile inland. Its house of
some sort; I can see smoke coming
from the Chimneys."
"That's where this farmer josser
hangs out" Jerry replied. "a pretty
lonely spot it is, too. walked over
to have look at it last time I was
here"
He came round again just in time
to avoid going aground, and we started
back in the direction of the jetty.
Where are you going to lie?" in
ouired.
Right in the middle, little higher
up. There's hard stretch over
there on the bank where we can get
ashore at low water. When the tides
out this place is mere drain"
I crawled forward into the bows,
where Jimmy was perched on the
fo'c'sle hatch, his round eyes alight