The evening world. Newspaper, November 13, 1915, Page 11

i (Copyrizht, 1918, by Doubleday, Page & Co.) SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS. James ‘Trenholm, an Acerican (who tells the ory), tance passage from Manila to Hongkong Trpfaht steamer, the Kuc ‘aptained by New ‘Englander. Ationg the pas. a fr irate known, a0 és * “eg on . ‘Thirkie os sie Ke) Sa ie ocr) carrying 8 consignment of gol Rong. minke 4 setanged that ule lorm the br crew, ‘the abi and « i own men, #hal At @ signal Thirkle sod his men Killing every one except ‘Trenholm, ive shee, hiding piace CHAPTER XI. (Continued), The Art of Thirkle. run for it; but it would have meant certain death, T HERE was a minute when I for the three of them stood was tempted to jump and over me, two of them loaded down , With pistols, and I would have had a poor chance of getting away. There was a promise of delay in the work to be done; and, not know- ing what had become of Capt. Riggs, there Was the bare possibility that he might come upon the pirates’ camp and attack them from ambush when he saw that 1 was a captive. If I made the slightest resistance to the hampering ropes they put on me, with the gunning knots known to seamen, I knew they would not hesitate to make an end of me, So I stood up and allowed Buckrow to lash my wrists to my knees in such & way that 1 was bent nearly double, but with my hands sufficiently free to grasp a burden, and my feet hob- bled for short steps. We began the work of putting the sacks of gold into the hole In the cliff, and Lt set at the task with » prayer that before it was finished and my life was of no further value to the pirates I might find an oppor- tunity to escape, CHAPTER XH. One Man Less. E can tet him work wen yo, Thirkle,” said Buck- row. “As ye and the writin’ chap seem to have a lot of chin, pair off with bim, and, the two of don't bear arms, can't get aws on @ gun or knife that way. ‘ou two work abead of me and Petrak, and then we can keep an oye on the both of yi “It strikes me you and the writin’ vhap is gettin’ thick—too oblasted thick to sult me, Thirkle, if ye want to know. Mind ye don't come none of yer smart tricks now, or I won't wait for ye to go explainin’ of what ye mean, Savvy tbat?” “Tut, tut, man!" said Thirkle. “How can you have any doubts about what will happen to Mr. Trenholm? I sup- pose you think I want to take him along with us so he can write this all up for the newspape: I'm surprised Bucky. Don't you know my all right,” growled Buck- row, who was in an ijl humor, "We ‘was to work even, and ye ain't bee: doin’ yer part, Thirkle. A bargain’s @ bargain I'd have ye know, and I'm to seo ye keep to yer part of it.” “Pipe down—pipe down, Bucky,” eaid Petrak, who seemed in glee after the brandy he had bad, “It's tho drink talkin’, Bucky. We're all good x No, 1, and we n't come no me,” retorted Buckrow savagely. "I ain't goin’ to stand for none such from ye, Red. Yer eldin’ with Thir- kie, and I know chat, and I'm as good a man as Thirkle, and I'm boss here, even or no even, nd that? Thirkle and ye can have yer votes if ye want; but I'm boss, and I'll drill the two of ye.” Petrak looked at Thirkle as If In doubt about Buckrow’s sanity, and ‘Thirkle gave him # look that seemed to me to be a message, and he made a furtive signal which I was not able Then without warning he sprang on Buckrow's back with a anarl like fn animal, and the two of them went yn in the narrow passage. dominighty!" screamed Buckrow with every bit of air in his lungs, and 1 beard Petrak strike again, “ited—he got_me—he"-— “Good!” said Thirkle into my ear, as if speaking to me, “I never thought the little chap had the innards for it, but Re did as long as he could strike from behind,” Tawra pulled the body out after him, and Vhirkle helped him carry tt inte the brush, where they dumped tt without ceremony, and Thirkle found Another, bottle of brandy and offered ir ta Poetrak. + “TIL just take @ pairof these pistols, Teddy We sald, relieving bin of the belt had taken from buckrow. “You don't need all som pistols, now t Bucky. is done for.” Te etral ‘and I resumed the work of the sacks into the crevice, le busied himself at digging soft sand near the place osited Buckrow’s body. man began to ro all tune softly, but Phirkly cautioned him against making Any unnecessary nojse. was im an agony from my cramped position, and tugging at the sacks served to increase my torture, The tangle of ropes which Buckrow had put_oo my ‘ankles caught tn loose ood came, and, my wrists, pulled own with tight knots, which I had. ‘to strain Against to keep my balance, ‘nts being numbed by the blood in the bound arteries, ‘ Petrak Kept before me,’ with the ~ “paeks between us, and his bloody knife The Tale of an American's Strange Adventures Aboard a Treasure Ship wit lessly hobbled. * second time we went in. sy tain fo interpret. But Petrak read tt easily enough. He was plodding along the cavern at Buckrow's a heels stones and chafed the flesh until the, throbhed and pained and tinged, my- pulled to the front of his belt. After he had stowed each sack he helped me back out, or assisted me to turn, which always a hard task for mo. If 1 let my end of the sack slip out of my fingers he was ready for me with @ knife or pistol, so there was no opportunity to take a pistol or knife from him, even if 1 had not been help- “Mind ye don’t try any monkey- business with me,” he warned the “If ye do, ive ye what Bucky got, and ye that. I'm no gent to fool with, as ye ought to savvy by this, and if ye think I be, try something, But, for all bis warning, I was ready to risk death if I saw the ebance to make a fight. I boped that Thirkle would give him more of the brandy, but Thirkle kept the bottle to himself. When we pressed into the crevice I wore the ropes on my wrists inst the stones as much as I could, trying to cut the bonds on the rough pointe of the walls. Once I umbled and fell and groped for a splinter of stone, but hé menaced me with his knife and kicked me until I got to my feet again. I had given up hope of being res- cuec by Capt. Riggs. Even if found the camp, | doubted that he would attack until it would be too late for me, as he would naturally suppose Buckrow and Long Jim to be near by. It was coming on toward twilight, and there were still seven sacks to be carried in’ Thirkle had finished bury- ing Buckrow, and set to dragging the sacks close to the entrance of the crevice, 80 We would not have to carry them so far, Petrak made several attempts to talk with him; but Thirkle made short answers, for when be took the pistols he had dropped his mask of affability and assumed his old comanding airs, “Ivll be dark before we get back to the boats,” suggested Petrak, as we stood over the five sacks which were left, “Mighty dark,” sald Thirkle gruftly, sitting vross-legged, counting a pack- et of English banknotes, “That's what ye want, ain't it?” asked Petrak, who noticed that Thirkla was not so friendly as he had been. “You keep to work and never mind #o much talk,” sald Thirkle, “If ye stand there that way it'll be morning before we get away. “I'm workin’, ain't I? Can't a man stop to breathe, himself, I'd like to know?" Thirkle made no reply, but went on running his thumb over the ends of the notes. I stood and watched them, waiting for Petrak to stoop and take a sack, Yer goin’ to ain't ye, Thirkle mu lay fair with me— whined Petrak, a trace of fear crossing his face. “We're in together, share and share alike now—ain't we, Thirkle? I can ask that, can't 1?" “Ye'll get yer share, Reddy,” said Thirkle, smiling. “That's haif—ain't it, Thirkle? Ye mind what I done for ye with Bucky, don't ye?" “aye, half of it, of course, Red, Reef that jaw of yours now, lad, and clap on, Don't stand there like a Jew and wrangle over the loot. Want to stop and count It now, lad?” “Ye told Long to do for me— didn't ye, Thirkle Petrak grinned, and his fingers twitched toward the butt of « pistol. I knew what was in his mind, “What's that?” demanded Thirkle, “Oh, run along now, Red, like a good chi and get the gold wed, Didn't 1 tell ye to get Long Jim, and didn’t ye get him? What more’s to be said? Run along now, Reddy, and pack it away.” “That's what Long Jim satd,” tn- sisted Petrak doggedly. There was murder in his eyes, while his face was livid with fear, “Then he lied, and ye ought to take my word against his. Don't be a fool now, Reddy, like the others, Ye'll get your share, bank on that. Yer a good sort, Petrak; and I need ye to help me get it away, and we'll share and share alike, as I told ye. Do you think I'd play dirt with ye after all we've been through together, Reddy?” “Course not, Y Thirkle, old chap, jon't mind my lip, No harm done, is if he thought I had been turning Petrak inst him, “No harm in what I say, Thirkle,” and Petrak took up the end of the sack. His mistrust of Thirkle gave me an idea, which I put into play as soon as we were well inside the crev- tee, “Petrak,” I whispered, dropping my end of the sack, and compelling him to let it down, “What's up now?" he whispered. “He'll kill you too, Reddy, He's planning tt out now; and if you let him, he'll kill both of us before he quits this island. Are you going to let him do it, Reddy?" He growled out something and fumbled at his belt, and it was touch and go with him whether he would knife me and then run out and tell Thirkle to gain credit with him, “His mind {s made up, Reddy, He may let us help him get a boat into water, but that's all. He'll murder both of us like dogs. “Old Thirkle’s all right,” he said akly, as if ho felt the truth of what d, but lacked courage to attack Thirkle, e “Reddy, he'll kill you!" J went on, seeing, that I was on the right track, and that fear of death at Thirkle's hands was uppermost in his mind, He had caught enough in Thirkle's manner since the death of Buckrow to see that he was not going to get a just division of the loot, at the very least, and, knowing the ruthlessness of his master, he had. doubts about aping with his life, Besides, I ed he had been tempted by the thought that he might kill Thirkle and then have It all to himself. w “He told Long Jim to kill you? Don't you_see the way the devil had it planned to get rid of you’ .He planned to kill you all, once he had this gold on the island, You should Can You Beat It? xxte ets: EXCUSE ANE I THINK SEE MY WIFE DARN TH ONIN CRE SCARFS ! \ THOUGHT You WERE MY SISTER _ never have come back after I shot Long Jim. Why did you come back? You know he'll kill you," “I wanted to see where they hide the gold, that’s what, Then, when I raised you there in the grass it come in my head to grab ye, and come in for my share of the gold, seeing Long Jim was done for.” His friendly mood encouraged me, but, if I let him ramble on with his own affairs, I would not be able to convince him that Thirkle was plot- ting to slay him, So 1 began with him again, “Thirkle will kill the both of us. You heard what he sald about being a gentleman, He has oven an officer in the navy, Reddy, and he won't want you or any other man to know he was a@ pirate when he goes back to London. He wouldn't feel safe if he let you live, He cares no more for you than he did for Buckrow or Long Jim—you ought to know that.” “Ob, Thirkle is all right,” he said in a way that exasperated me, “He wouldnt look at you twice in London or anywhere else, He'll rid himself of you as soon as he needs you no more, which will be as soon as the gold is stowed and he has a boat in the water. Now ts your chance if you ever had !t.” “Thirkle js all right.” “He had it planned to kill Buckrow. Then he argued the two of you in Jetting him go. Can't you see that he is playing the game @ have tt all for himself? Are you gomg to be a fool all your life, man?” “Then ye'd do for me after I done for him,” he sald. “Give me a gun and cut me loose and I'l shoot him myself and I'll see that you get your share of the gold, which you won't from him. You can have it all if you'll let me kill him, and if he kills me you can say I cut my hands loose and grabbed a gun. You don’t stand to lose anything— come on, Cut me loose and T’ll take the chance you don't dare to,’ “Thirkle’s all right," he droned, picking up the sack again, “T know your game—ye want to do for the both of us and have ft all for your- self, Fine job that would be! Nice I'd look givin’ you a gun, wouldn't I? Lay on that sack." He's all very pleasant now," I went on ns I stooped for the rope. “Wait until he has finished with us and the gold {s packed, and then see what will happen—you'll wish you had listened to me.” “Pipe down with that,” he growled, and I saw the usélessness of trying to make the lout see reason, I now began to fear that he would tell Thirkle what I had sald to him, When we went out for another wack Petrak looked over at Thirkle and hesitated as if he wanted to say something, but Thirkle was writing in a Httle book, with a pistol be- tween his feet. what is {t now?" he de- truculentiy, having — seen Aclous in Petrak'a “What's the lay now? What have ye got yer hand so close to that gun for? Take a xhot at me if you ant—go on, take a shot at old if yel're that gam: ‘Only a habit o mine, keeping’ my gun- well for'ard, Thirkle.” whim pered Petrak, shivering, “I have to keep a close eye on the writin’ chap, Thirkle, No offense, 1 hope.” “Look lively now, lad,” said Thirkle, turning amiable again, but only to reassure Petrak, “Here's the last of it and get it away and we'll get un- der way.” We carried another sack in and I waited until we were at the far end and had dumped it before I began again with Petrak, knew his nat~ ural treachery was near the surface, and it needed but little urging to bring him to the point where he would turn against Thirkle, “We might as welt say goodby now," I said as mournfully as L could, “You remember I treated you pretty well in Manila, and I'm sorry for you now, It doesn't matter much with me how 1 end now, because Thirkle has thi drop on me, but I'm sorry for you— you ought to have your share of it, and Thirkle ought to play fair with you, but he won't. That devil out there will kill minutes unless you give let me kill him, I’ him—give me a gun “Thirkle ain't bad,” he trying to convince himself was not afrald of Thirkle. me a gun and not afraid of “He ain't bad—he sald he'd play fair with me, and he will.” I laughed gently. “Yes, he'll play fair—with himself. He's out there now putting down di- rections for getting back here—alone. gun, and let me free, and Vl kill him for you, When I've set- tled him I'll call you, and If he gets me it's all the same—except that you'll lose in the end. “But with me you have a chance to win—can't you see that? You haven't a chance with Thirkle. If he gets me, don’t trust him—shoot him the minute you can get the muzzle of your pistol on him. If you let mo try you have two chanecs at him, and you can kill me if you choose after- ward—or give mo a knife !f you don't dare to let me have a gun,” “He'll do for ye. Not a chance for ye with Thirkle In gun-play.”” “But give me a chance to fight for y life,” I pleaded. “If I put him out of the way, ter for you; Geath for both of us if we go on this way, Give me a gun, and I swear I'll let you go free if we ever get off this island." “He'll kill you and then come and get me,” he whined, “There ain't a chance to get Thirkle as easy as that He'll do for, me if you take a shot at him.” “Of course he wil! if we stand here and argue about it until jt Js. too late!" I stormed at him “Pasa me a gun—don't be a fool, Reddy. Quick! Cut these ropes from my hands, and five me a pistol and let me show you how draw your Mr. Thirkle's teeth CHAPTER XIV, The Last. all this social chatter een you two?" de- manded Thirkle from the : entrance to the crevice, I did not know how niuch he had overheard, but I determined to th in the next ten / r of HELLO DEARIE! MY MOsT PROFOUND LOGIES, { THOUGHT You WERE CAN You BEAT iT | ‘ The Evening World Daily Magazine, Saturday, November 13, 1915 RR Rr ea _—_—_—_—_— ———————————— By Edgar Rice Burroughs, Autho Will Be Next Week’s Complete Novel in The Evening World It 13 a Stirring Romance of the African Jungle,and Has an American Hero and Heroine No One Who Liked “TARZAN” Can Afford to Miss This Newest Novel by “TARZAN’S” Author +é By Maurice Ketten ts THAT GUY ANNOYING You EAR DARN THAT NEW HIDE -THE-FACE STVLE | make one more effort to get the pistol. “Quick,” I whispered to “Hand me the gun and hands!" Petrak. free my in't me,” whined Petrak, “It's the writin’ chap here, Get along out,” and he struck me over the head and I knew I had Jost, although there was 4 doubt that Petrak would ever have given me the pistol, “What's he up to now, Reddy? ret the nice young man trying to do?” “Wanted to do for ye, that's what, Thirkie. Wanted a gun, but he got no gun from me. Said you would play falr with me, Thirkie, but I eaid ye would.” “So ye want to take a hand in things here, do you, Mr. Trenholm?" said Thirkle a6 L came out. "Still got an idea you can beat old Thirkle at his own game, Learning new tricks, ee. Before long ye'd be ready to boss the job, Didn't take ye long to forget what I told ye of the other smart chap who wanted to le me and take command himself, did it? “You stick to your pen and type- writer, Mr. Trenholm, and let me run my own crew—nice pirate ye'd make, with #ilk underwear and a type- writer,” and he and Petrak laughed loudly at the joke. “f{ told him you would Ill Bim, and ao you will,” I said, mustering as much defiance as I could under the circumstances, Ha, ha, ha! “Kill Mr. Petrak here! Why, he’ y, tner, Mr, Petrak is, and we’ ong to share this gol together, share and share alike, a: gentlemen do,” He wanted to do for ye, Thirkl id Petrak, flattered by his master Md unable to see the sly sarcasm of Thirkle in his joy at being assured of his position, and of getting his abare of the gold. “IL never give him the chance, Thirkle. Now if it was some say Buckrow or Long Jim, they might give him a qun, but not Potrak. w J ain't the kind to turn on rhirkle, and I say you stick to nd ll, stick to you, come what Ain't that right, Thirkie?” “Reddy, you're true blue,” and he took Petrak'g hand and shook it vig- orously, and patted the little rat on the back, “Stick to Thirkle and Thirkie will stick to you like a Dateh uncle, and never mind what Mr. Tren- holm ‘has to say. He's not in this, or won't be long, and it won't be many days before’ are counting out the gold between wu: “I've got enough fi pound notes here to buy the little yacht, and I'll take some of the gold, but not much. We'll be back here before the month is out, all slick id snug, and then for London, away stick like paint, Thirkle; lay to that,” said Petrak, grinning at me “] knew he was on the wrong course when he come that gun talk to me, and.L told him Thirkle was all right, and that TI knowed yo better than him, and so I do—hey, Thirkle?" y had better give me your pistols until you are done, Rodty. Ye can't trust these geutlemen who write-they have too much Imagina- tion, and they are too foxy for mon ke you and me, Reddy, There's no t w telling what he might do in there If you have guns and Pass ‘em over, Fi us yet.” knives on dy, or he'll do tor ye. Petrak gave up his weapons joy- fully, not realising that he was being disarmed for the very purpose I had warned him about—Thirkle was «get- ting ready to finish his job in earnest. “Now get along and dump the last of it in there, and move navy style or we'll be here diering, Petr: t dark. No more sol- , and see that ye keep yer jaw battened down, Mr. Tren- holm, or I'll take a hand in this that ye won't relish and ye won't fancy. Thirkle?” asked Petrak. “Falr as yo deserve. with that cargo.” end to ye in a ll play fair with me, won't ye, Move along Petrak began to whine to himself, and I sald nothing more until we went in with the last sack. “You fool, he'll kill you aa I told you he would, but you are too ie Be ‘Thirkie's “Oh, grumbled, but he seem since he had given up the pistols, he saw plainly enough that Thirk manner had changed tn no undecided way since Petrak bad surrendered his weapons. rolled up, remove: out a happen.” m and dead leaves scattered over our tracks, “Can I have my guns now, Thirkle? ‘q I don’t like to go down the trail with- gun—no knowin’ what might “Never would do yet, Reddy. Take this knife and cut the lines away from Mr, Trenholm's feet, and we'll fix him so he can navigate back to the boats, You take the lead back, Reddy, because you know the way better than I do, and I'll make Mr, Trenholm fast to ye, and follow on. We'll need to look sharp to make the beach before dark. “But I want my guns, ‘Thirkle, Fair play's fair play, and I want my gun “Never mind the guna, I say, Mr. ‘Trenholm will be right at your baci all the way down, and we can’t take any chances now, Reddy, him when the boats are then you won't have anythi Cut his febt loose. style of @ funeral would sult ked Petrak, busy with -the worry about. “Whi him?" cords a t my feet. 1 have the samo go-oft member Caldish? to select special for Mr. Trenholm. we gave Caldish? Re- Wanted to say his tL settle off, and tq something How about prayers. Quick and neat it was, and no meas.” tow out at Thirkie? about @ painter, He'll mu If he helps with the boats, how the end bf a ke good shark bait, only some skinny.” “That would do Reddy. for pull away and give bi line, That's a capital and we'll use dt." him m Pp idea, 2 nicaly, We'll let him push the boat well out, and, when ho has her cl Ar, len of Reddy, ‘They bound my arma to my aides, and t the end of the rope round Petrak's waist, 80 that I was about five foet behind him when Ht was taut, In this way we #ot out for the beach, with Petrakt-in-the lead and Thirkio, carting bis bundle and sincking & cigar, treading on my Deels, to make mo keep close up. Tao aun wae not quite down, but the juogie wi and, once the sua got below the hort- fon, night would close down on with the tropical swiftness that knows fo twilight, and t would go out like a candle under a enuffer, 4 ‘Thirkle hed ‘heen drinking of the brandy, and was in a jolly mood, and he had given Petrak od swig of a {t to Hm@bten the little raacal's feet, but T refused the bottle when It was offered to me, for, low as my spirits were, and racked as my body was, I could not come to accept their ghastly hospitality, If I ist the rope tighten between me ond Petrak, Thirkie prodded me with the point of a knife, and, as | was foint with hunger and thirst, and utterly worn out, I freqently stu bled and fell, when they both set upon me and beat «me to my fest. Potrak pulling me up with the rope, while Thirkle scourged me with a leather thong. We had been on the road about half an hour when [ recognized the spot where Capt. Riggs 4 crawled into the brush to rest and I began to com- plain loudly and made as much noise 4s possible, hoping that the captamn and Rajah might atill be concealed near by. “Keep close!" yelled Petrak, as I let the rope tighten and hung 3 “Get alone or Til flay ye alive!” thundered Thirkle, which was what I wanted him to do, “Then don't let those low limbs fly back on me," I cried as loudly as I dared without exciting their suspicion of my purpose, “They knock me off my. feet and that's why | can’t keep clone up.’ “Shut yer jaw,” said Thirkle, and I stumbled along again, wondering what had become of Capt. Riggs and won- dering if he had been lured into the jungle by the shots I had exchanged with Long Jim, and was lost. 1 kopt straining at the cords about me, but although I hurt the wounds on my wrists until 1 was weak from pain, I could not free myself, If noth- ing better offered | was determined to make a@ dash at Thirkle if he freed my hands to work at the boat, If I could not surprise him in the dark and get hold of a knife or pistol, I could at least give him a fight, even if 1 died in a last attempt to save myaolf. I much preferred to die fighting than at the end of @ rope in the water, as Petra’ umeented. I knew they would have to find the t ight case them r. dea! of trouble If they launched the boats without noticing their loss. T hoped that I might find fo chance of escape in the darkness if the boat filled with them got it into the water, Finely we came to level ground, and 1 knew we were close to the hea, for we could hear the rollers. ‘The brush was thicker in the marsh, and we got off the trail, but we could see patches of the moonlight on the water ahoad, and caught the white flash of the waves tumbling on the shingle. ru TI fell and setting up a swearing that bout my leg ani I had broken it, and begging Thirkle to help me. He struck at mo with his thong, and, although he missed, T screamed at the top of my voice, ax a marning to Capt. Riggs, in case he should be lurking about,’ Besides, T hoped my play that I had been badly erippled would give mo a better opportunity to excape or to attack them, an they would be more careleas if they thought 1 mas parectiy helpless, “Tl give ye something to yell racct wale a jomething to soon, irkte, ‘ul while and I'll give ye make real fuss about. Maybe ya think there's a ship near—maybe there is; but !t won't do ye much good, so let's not have any more of this bawling. I thought ye was gai than that, my fine Mr. Trenholm.” “Hera we are, Thirkle!” orled Pet- rak, pushing the wall of bushes aside and showing us the moonlit sea and the loom of the mainiand shoul- dering up into the stars. “It can't be far to the boats, Thirkle. Thirkle cut him free from me, and they bound me to a broken palm stump. I pleaded to bo put on the ground, complaining about my leg, an Petrak finally wrapped the rope about my legs and threw me to the ground, more to keep me quiet than to ease my supposed suffering, They ‘ rex Alling with shadows, ~, r tail, “Potrak!” .».. “aye,” said Petrak. “I'll give yea handrext minute, sir.” “Come here,” commanded Poienio with a hand on @ pistol... & cig to. his foot “Can't start, It mettiog to his feet. “Can hat's Wrong, Thirkle?™ ms i-% up here and haul ont of in this boat—move navy style, can't be wasting the whole Reach in there and clear that ean of halyard.” But Petrak did not move, He knew something was wrong Wot whether it was Thirkle he feared, uF hat Thirklo seemed afraid of, ‘atispobted know. thougat he treachery, “Whai's wrong, Thirkle?” ‘he qle- manded. 8 No funny “Come on up hore, can't. “What ve want, Thirkle? Speak out what ye t goin’ to do me dirt business for me, want. Ye ain‘ be ye, Thirkle—not Reddy?" © sé He was whining now, and he. in terror of Thirklé, j “Oh, shut up!" growl ative. “It's nothing, but it give me @ turm” “What' w it, Thirkle? What frightened ye?” 1 thought I put my hemd into « mess of hair and"—— “Ob, ho * iaukhed Retrabs Thats & ball of spun yarn, Bucky ‘8 naught but spun yarn, ‘rina: I minded it myself," and Petrak tupged to the block again, Thirkle moved toward the boat, say- ing something about how. he was géiting old and nervons, and bend over the gunwale, him closely, f hardly yn ‘ed tell if might rdly ir tell, Mmysel m al ay be true afcer the tral oe Wa. asters which had overtaken me since I went aboard the Kut Sang. © - I saw @ form spurt. up out of. the boat, and, as it arose, like the fountain that pops out of the sea after a shell strikes, there came a heavy blow.and a deep-throated grunt, followed by » hiss that was merged with.@ shrill death-cry. naillace devil! Black deveit®, aid rkle in a quiet, matter-of-fact Way, and then hy Boand to sob and rm, but the figure that had comesup, a Juck-in-the-box held — him — pinned across the gunwale, with his shoulders and arms Inside the boat, and his lew writhing and thrashing in the dead palm leaves. “What's wrong, ‘Thirkle? What's wrong?” wailed Petrak. He stood a second waiting for an answer, and then he started for the boat, but stopped at the edge of the shadows. - 7] “What's wrong, Thirkle? Sing out, can't ye? What's gone amiss?” * Thirkle’s legs were quiet now, but I could hear his heavv breathing, and it reminded me of the steam exhaust from an ice factory. In spite of the mystery about m, ‘1 set my brain to work i to re~ member what particular factory sounded just like Thirkle’s breathing. ir,” and tI lalay boy sprang fron the boat and léa) toward trak. The little red-headed man gave an in- coherent gurgle, and he took to his heels down the beach. Rajah lo. him , and ran to me, where | wis oss- ing about like a dying fii Hy to me and swiftly cut me f and ( rushed to the boats, with a tangle of Pupe ati clinging to my feet. “Capt. Riggs,” L cried, “it is I, Tren- holm!” and he lifted his hand in the shoulder of the. dying Thirkle and took min “al said calmly, “Glad r. Trenholm, I gave here ‘and to see yo alive, ye up, and we came went to sleep in the boat, but Rajah was on watch when he heard ye com- ing back, and I guess he’s made an end of this beauty. Here, strike a match and let's look at Bim.’ > I held the flame down te Thirkle’ face, and his clenched tee! be id at mo through snarling, open fre bo: his eyes were glazed wits death’ We stripped him of his arms and Taid him down In the palm leaves, quite dead. “Did that other rascal get on 4 0, a joa, Yo and asked Riggs. bit and eee If we can’t fi robably now where ye le! oars? That litte red-head can't do much harm, and if he away we'll find htm soine day. ck here in the shake of aJamb’ é nyhow.”” We rigged tho tackle and hauled.the boat into the sand with little trouble, and, while Rajah held het onan even keel, we tug at the painter and ee. had th ater lapping at her ows. The stock of provisions and water was restowed, and ” ed the extra boat and took the oars, We covered Thitkis with sand, but lags said he would carry hin back to Manila with the gold. Rajah was in the boat, and we were prying it off the shingle and waiting for a favoring wave when we were left me lying helpless in a thicket Startled with a hail from tha Jungle, of young hemiboor ahoots, with my “CEP ings» Oh fepin Yehese! head and shoulders In the wand. [ , ,W,no's there?” T shouted, although managed to wriggle on my side so “] iz “ L that T hada view of the boats, and, ., betrake—don't leave mo ere, what was better, I got my teeth Into ge a So aia it despots and began te good, only don't leave me-on ‘the “Which boat haa the stores, Reddy? I'm twisted all ardund,” “The nighest, Thirkle. The nighest has the stores and the other tho tackle," “You go round the other side for block, Reddy. We better take the spare boat with us and set adrift after we clear the channel or, joad It with stones and let it go down’ after we are clear of the island. Then we'll get the wind ‘and slip down tho coast to the first native town, That's better than waiting to be picked up and‘having to answer questions that wouldn't carry by. No Manila- hound, boat for us, to land about the time the Kut Sang was.reposted overdue,” “Right ya are, Thirkle,”” said Petrak, stumbling about in’ the fark. “Tt's black as a Kroo boy in on and presently he began to drag the block through the dead leaves and brambles. “No need for the tackle, sir, once we get clear of the sand, in my. mind We can akid ‘em with oars and Henten the stowed one—hey, Thirkle?. I ain't for leavin’ no marks hereabouts, dnd can drag some bushes over the 6 leave in the sand, #0"-— ‘ll sea about that when, wa. get clear,” said Thirkle gruffly, “Hold yer lip now.” Thirkte was busy pulling ‘the palm leaves from the boats apd. clearing the Httet with which they had cov- ered thelr cache * s U wo “Raddy he called cautionsly, "Ob, Petrak!” Something ja hig tenes--a. suggestion of suspicion ‘ that” every thing owas. not right—tbrilled me. Potrak, did not-hear him as be was fumblihg with the block in the gand and muttered about a jammed rope, * but the little cur never ha beach--I'll die afore mornin’, sir.” We took him. He came or "a out of the jungle, sniffing and wall- ing, and begging Not to be hanged, and saying, Thirkle ‘and Po others had done ft all. We bundled him into the bows, telling him he wad afdead man if he made a suspicious, move; } enough couraxe to fight unless hp could stab @ man in the back, ‘Once 1g the channét we fillyt omar to the south, acogting past the blac Upper-workd-of the Kut' Banke dat wo caught a stiff breeze from the north Then Capt. Riggs maud me sleep. It was lome after dayvlicht when ¢ho captain shook me, and right ower. was a square-rigked Ship. She, Wi henging . in, stays, and. a get as cbming to us from Nir Ol a over the gunwale. 8) ay oll- Sarrior from Hobe to Matias Fone men’ out, of the’ Ky) Mut Sang, ashore on @ reef,” said Cape . as we went ver nae sheer ero May put .the sed-headed. gentleman in irofis, if you pTense, ‘sir, “THank you.” And 90 ‘we went back to Manila, where Petrak was hanged, and the ofly tien Who: ever’ kalled with “the Devil's Admiral and lived to tell of tt, wero. Capt. Riggs and Rajah and myself, and the story was not writ- ten until after Capt. Riggs had fallen aaléep pune the poplarw of his Heine home an orgs: $0 it % write, the last, of th fe the wind howls enid chimney: ind the fleecy OK I couias oven) umetan Hu from sthe. Bacifio and ing tbe ships tin ae eee dee Hag, Suite he lant sshebls from my pén are, tethered try ‘Rajah, wearing in, his girdle kris that ‘killed ‘Thirkl a THE END, 2