Part 28 (1/2)

”Would youme,” he inquired, ”what became of my crew? You bribed them, I suppose”

”There was only an anchor watch on deck e came on board,” said Mr

Siave us any trouble was your master We had to hit him over the head when he reached the deck”

My father nodded slowly, see deck, recovered himself, and set his feet a trifle wider apart

”I am sincerely sorry for you, Mr Sims,” he said

But if Mr Sims ever asked why, it was in another life than ours I recall his sudden bewilderment, but I never have understood exactly how it happened I reently over his coat It esture, suor left him, suddenly his lips curled back in a smile devoid of humor, and he leapt at the lantern

He leapt, and at the sah the whole reat bulk had streaked across the deck, crashi+ng towards Mr Sims like an unleashed fury The speed of it, the unexpectedness, the sheer audacity, held the men around us motionless Mr Si; but when he fired the deck was in darkness

”This way, Mademoiselle,” came my father's voice, and I ran towards it

”Hold the ”Ha! It is you, htly aft, and I followed Behindht, and so forward I tripped hiether, and then I felt a hand on ed me tohalf pulled, half carried through the black

And then I heard ain, close beside me, as slow and cold as ever

”Close the door, Brutus,” he said ”Listen to them They must think we are still there”

And then I knehat had happened Brutus had dragged me with hi about in the dark

”Ah,” he said, ”here is the powder Load these pistols, Brutus Gently, you fool! Do you want to kill me?”

”You are hurt, captain,” cried Made over,” said ht? I fear I handled you roughly I was afraid for a ht be inconvenienced”

”And now,” I said sarcastically, speaking into the darkness before me, ”I suppose our troubles are over”

”I think so,” replied my father ”Now that Brutus has thrown Mr Siht be different if he were still with us He seemed to be a determined and resourceful man We are in the after cabin, Henry, quite the pleasantest one on the shi+p, and not ten paces from the wheel”

Still out of breath, still confused, I tried to look, but could see nothing I could only sent odor of tarred rope and stale tobacco s, I could hearabout deliberately and ly well pleased at the place where we had been driven

”Yes,” he said again, ”not ten paces from the wheel, and noill finish it”

”Will you never be serious, sir?” I cried ”Do you suppose they are going to let you take charge of the shi+p?”

”I think so,” replied my father ”But first, Ilike a drink to rest one Open the port by the door, Brutus”

And I felt hi his way past me

”Brutus,” he said, ”pass the flask to ive me a pistol, and steady, me with your arm--so Ah, that is better--much better”

He fired, and the sound of his pistol in the closed roo, and then the shi+p lurched, so that I had nearly lost h of the sea, and outside the canvas was snapping like a dozen small arms, and then I knehat had happened

My father had shot the man at the helm--shot hirasp, so that the shi+p was out of control, and the as blowing it on shore Had he thought of the plan while he atching Mr Siht of the lantern? I half suspected that he had not, but I never knew