Part 17 (2/2)

'Herr Dolledly 'He kindly offered to pilot one otherwise'

There was an aard little pause

'He led you well, it see

'Yes; there's a nasty surf there, though, isn't there? But it saves six miles--and the Scharhorn Not that I saved distance I was fool enough to run aground'

'Ah!' said the other, with interest

'It didn't matter, because I ell inside then Those sands are difficult at high water We've coround every day,' I renation)

'Is that where the 'Medusa' gave you the slip?' asked von Bruning, still studying Davies with a strange look, which I strove anxiously to analyze

'She wouldn't have noticed,' said Davies 'It was very thick and squally--and she had got soot off all right; the tide was rising still But, of course, I anchored there for the night'

'Where?'

'Inside there, under the Hohenhorn,' said Davies, simply

'Under the _what_?'

'The Hohenhorn'

'Go on--didn't they wait for you at Cuxhaven?'

'I don't know; I didn't go that way' The commander looked more and more puzzled

'Not by the shi+p canal, I ed my mind about it, because the next day the as easterly It would have been a dead beat across the sands to Cuxhaven, while it was a fair wind straight out to the Eider River So I sailed there, and reached the Baltic that way It was all the same'

There was another pause

'Well done, Davies,' I thought He had told his story well, using no subtlety I kneas exactly hoould have told it to anyone else, if he had not had irrefutable proof of foul play

The cohed, suddenly and heartily

'Another liqueur?' he said Then, to me: 'Upon my word, your friend amuses me It's impossible to make him spin a yarn I expect he had a bad ti to him,' I said; 'he prefers it He anchored ale of wind; said it was safer than a harbour, and ht It was a fair wind for England; and not very far'

'There was no pilot to follow, you see'

'With a charlared at ed the subject

'Besides,' I said, 'we've left our anchor and chain out there' And I made confession of my sin

'Well, as it's buoyed, I should advise you to pick it up as soon as you can,' said von Bruning, carelessly; 'or someone else will'