Part 24 (1/2)

Then we set out in company with the warshi+p to search for the 'Clarinda,' as your Captain Sih a pirate junk just north of Luzon--he said he'd heard from the natives of a little out-of-the-way island near Forantine had been wrecked there in the recent typhoon, and his description of the vessel led us to believe that it ht be the 'Clarinda,' or Halfmoon

”We made the island, and after considerable search found the survivors

Each of 'em tried to lay the blareed that a man by the name of Theriere with a seaman called Byrne, had taken you into the interior, and that they had believed you dead until a few days since they had captured one of the natives and learned that you had all escaped, and andering in some part of the island unknown to them

”Then we set out with a company ofslowness of the officer in command, pushed ahead with Mr Mallory, Mr Poster, and ht along with us

”Three days ago ere attacked and your father and Mr Mallory taken prisoners The rest of us escaped, and endeavored to make our way back to theaimlessly about the island ever since until ere surprised by these natives a few ht and Mr

Foster and myself taken prisoners--the rest you know”

Byrne was on his feet now He found his sword and revolver and replaced them in his belt

”You ,” he said ”If I don't come back the marines will find you sooner or later, or you can make your way to the coast, and work around toward the cove

Good-bye, Miss Harding”

”Where are you going?” cried the girl

”To get your father--and Mr Mallory,” said the mucker

CHAPTER XVI THE SUPREME SACRIFICE

THROUGH the balance of the day and all during the long night Billy Byrne swung along his lonely way, retracing the fa and himself to the little island in the turbulent river

Just before dawn he ca of the late Oda Yorie he was sure that the two prisoners lay

During the long ain all that the success of his rash venture would ht conceivably stand between hied that she loved him--these two men were the most to be feared

Billy Byrne did not for awould look with favor upon the Grand Avenue mucker as a prospective son-in-law And then there was Mallory! He was sure that Barbara had loved this rave there seemed little doubt but that the old love would be aroused in the girl's breast The truth of the matter was that Billy Byrne could not conceive the truth of the testimony of his own ears--even now he scarce dared believe that the wonderful Miss Harding loved him--him, the despised irl, and the genuineness of his new-found character were proven beyond question by the relentless severity hich he put away every thought of himself and the consequences to him in the matter he had undertaken

FOR HER SAKE! had becoe death, or to a life of lonely misery, or to the arms of his beloved! In the face of duty the result was all the sa at the n of wakefulness or life, then with all the stealth of an Indian, and with the trained wariness of the thief that he had been, theto the shadows of the nearest hut

He listened beneath thethrough which he and Barbara and Theriere had made their escape a feeeks before There was no sound from within Cautiously he raised himself to the sill, and a moment later dropped into the inky darkness of the interior

With groping hands he felt about the room--it was unoccupied Then he passed to the door at the far end Cautiously he opened it until a narrow crack gave hihted chamber beyond Within all seemed asleep The mucker pushed the door still further open and stepped within--so e until he had found those he sought?

They were not there, and on silent feet that disturbed not even the lightly slu curs the man passed out by the front entrance into the street beyond

Through a second and third hut he made his precarious way In the fourth a man stirred as Byrne stood upon the opposite side of the room from the door--with a catlike bound the mucker was beside him Would the felloake? Billy scarce breathed The samurai turned restlessly, and then, with a start, sat up ide-open eyes At the sa sword of his dead daih his heart