Evening star., 1939-03-12
~iIouCH he detested John Browning,
Matthew did not swing wildly at him be-

attempt TO VlndlCdte MS manhOOd ana prove
to himself that in rough-and- tumble world
even young archaeologist would not suffer
indignities without hitting back. In all a
scholarly life his first demonstration of the kind.
1t succeeded much too we'll. Amazingly, his
fist connected with Browning's chin. The big
man reeled before the punch and the sheer
surprise of it. His foot slipped in the scuppers,
the rail caught him in the small of the back,
and he somersaulted clumsily over into the
Mediterranean.
A breeze shouted over the ship, and the
water, rushing in surging fan from the bows,
sent up roar of sound. No cry came back out
of the noisy dark. Only the voices of wind
and sea.
"Oh. ye gods" gasped Matthew, hes over
board!'
The Veronica thrust on at sixteen knots.
hidden sea. Matthew ran wildly towards the
bridge, found the companion ladder, and
stumbled up it. A gate barred the way.
Hi! Hi" he called, clinging to the gate
with icy fingers. A shape loomed in the gloom.
What the devil 3"
MAN overheard! Man overboardv
Strong hands descended on his shoulders
and shook him. "How long?"
''Just now! Browning! Overheard"
The hands left his shoulders, but he still
clung there. A whistle sounded, shrill and
urgent, orders were shouted, the engine-room
telegraph changed, the wheel ratified, something
white hurtled through the air and, striking the
water, stabbed golden spearhead through the
pitch. Another followed. Lifebuoys. He should
have thought of that BEFORE ages before.
Heavy feet pounded up the ladder. A man
collided with him, swore, pushed him aside.
Others came, hurrying. They swept him on to
the bridge, which seethed with busy shadows.
He crouched in corner A blaze of light burst
out. The captain was there in pajamas He
gave gruff commands, shaping order out of
chaos in that bright box, sending the boats
away.
Matthew momentarily forgot Browning in
dismay at this upheaval he had caused in the
liners progress, which had seemed as fixed as
that of planet. He, mere passenger, had
checked her thousand horses.
Two boats were on the leaping waters,
moving in great pools of light scarlet as blood.
Men held aloft spluttering flares. The waves
smged into the fierce brightness and swept on.
The boats dipped and rose the crews straining
raggedly at the oars. The unholy carnival
spread to the ship. More flares flung out
showers of dancing sparks. The night was
bright with flaming eyes seeking Browning.
From the decks below came the Glamour of
excited passengers.
A new dismay swept through Matthew. He
was praying they wouldn't find Browning.
Praying? The very word was blasphemy.
How could he pray to be guilty of murder?
But if Browning came back, all dripping with
water like dead man the sea had given up on
Judgment Day, that would be the end of
everything.
Faint halls, a wilder agitation of the flares, 7
aroused him. Out on the tossing waves they
hauled limp shape into boat. So Browning
had won after all? Browning returned to the
Veronica to be avenged.
The siren gave ruthless scream which
seemed directed at him alone The red fires
went out Men mumbled on the bridge Mat
thew waited aware only of his life in ruins just
when it had really begun. The boat rose above