Part 13 (1/2)

Then they crept to the canoe which they had selected and loosened her

They eently down stream and under cover of the shore for a distance of about fifty yards Then he put about and the play began

”Now, you fool, where are you paddling to?” said Leonard in a loud voice to Otter, speaking in the bastard Arabic which passes current for a language on this coast ”You will have us into the bank, I tell you

Curse this wind and the darkness! Steady now, you ugly black dog; those ates the letter told of--are they not, woman? Hold on with the boat-hook, can't you?”

A wicket at the gate above rattled and the voice of the sentry challenged theuese; ”one who is a stranger and would pay his respects to your leader, Dom Antonio Pereira, with a view to business”

”What is your nauard suspiciously

”Pierre isis the name of the dwarf my servant, and as for the old wo you like”

”The password,” said the sentry; ”none come in here without the word”

”The word--Ah! what did the Dom Xavier say it was in his letter?

'Fiend!' No, I have it, 'Devil' is the word”

”Where do you hail frooods you have to supply are in some demand just now Coht and an to unbar the door, and stopped, struck by a fresh doubt

”You are not of our people,” he said; ”you speak Portuguese like a cursed Englishlishlish lord and a French creole, born in the Mauritius at your service, and let s are fierce”

Now at length the sentry opened one side of the gate, gruered up the steps followed by the other two Already they were through it, when suddenly he turned and struck Otter in the face

”Why, Dog,” he said angrily, ”you have forgotten to bring up the keg of brandy, my little present for the Dom Go and fetch it Quick, now”

”Pardon, Chief,” answered Otter, ”but I a is heavy for n to help me, for the old woman is too weak”

”Do you take nac up steps?

Here,the sentry, ”if you wish to earn a little present and a drink, perhaps you will give this fellow a hand with the cask There is a spigot in it, and you can try the quality afterwards”

”Right, Senor,” said the man briskly, and led the way down the steps

A look of dreadful intelligence passed between the dwarf and his master

Then Otter followed, his hand upon the hilt of the Arab sabre which he wore, while Leonard and Soa waited above They heard thedown the steps followed by Otter's naked footfall

”Where is your keg? I don't see it,” said the sentry presently

”Lean over, senor, lean over,” answered Otter; ”it is in the stern of the canoe Let me help you”