Part 38 (1/2)
Miguel's white-clad figure, swaying in the channels, cut against the gloolanced at the co his way rather by instinct than definite guidance, and so far the upward sweep of the bows showed there was sufficient water under the vessel So flood, but she was steadily forging ahead, and a few minutes would take her across the worst of the shoals
Suddenly she stopped with a crash, lurched sideways, and lay still while a foam-tippedher forward half, and the next moment Grahaed by; and then struck the shoal again A few e, but Grahari to be done but wait; the crash would warn Macallister as required of him, and if he could not drive her off, they must cut the boats adrift and leave her to her fate
Another sea ca in, but while its crest broke across the rail it picked her up and sheaft down her inclined deck For a few seconds Graha for the shock; but she went on, and lifted her head buoyantly as the next comber rolled up When she had lurched over it and the spray had bloay, he saw that the sea was ular and the worst of the turmoil lay astern Five minutes afterward, she reeled out into open water, and Macallister cae-pu much,” he said ”I dinna think she's the waur for the knocks she got”
”That's satisfactory You knohat you have to do”
Macallister smiled with quiet enjoyment
”We've no' had the need to drive her yet, but noo I'll let ye see”
He went below, and Graha the lagoon the _Enchantress_ had brought the wind on her quarter, and she carried a good spread of sail He would not, however, luff her off her course to make the work easier; the crew must hoist the canvas as best they could, and there was a furious banging and clatter of flying blocks as fore-staysail, foresail, and mainsail went up Then she listed doith her rail in the white surges that boiled up to lee, while tall, hollow-fronted coed up astern and sped after her
Wire shrouds, strung to the breaking-point, shrieked in wild haruys roared in deeper tones, and there was a confused groaning ofGraha past his head in clouds, and now and then a sea-top broke on board; but she drove on furiously before the wind
After a while Grahauel to the helm and stood in the lee of the deckhouse, pipe in mouth, for he had now time to think He could o to Rio Frio; and, if possible, he must leave Walthew behind He could not allow the lad to run the risk, and Macallister would need hiht be had from the revolutionaries, and he must try to find Don Martin If he failed to do so, much would have to be left to chance
Grahame looked at another side of the h the gun-running had been profitable, he was an adventurer with very liratitude, though he loved the girl He did not knohen he began to love her, but he had for soht of her out of hisunusual happened, for he knew his disadvantages; but now his deterer; sos hich he had grappled The future was clouded; there were difficulties to be faced; but he felt that if she had any love for hiale freshened; but Grahame would not shorten sail There was notwell He could trust the helined his strengththe next few days, it was impossible for him to rest In spite of his anxiety, he was sensible of an exultant exciteer, but she had sent for hi on had a fascination of its own, and he smiled as he remembered that his ancestors had often in past days ridden across the darkthe Border Spears
It was not for nothing the hot blood of the old mosstroopers ran in his veins
Swept by the seas on her quarter, the _Enchantress_ drove on, and Grahame lurched about the slanted deck and stood a fast; his glances at the recording log astonished him, for he had not believed her capable of the speed it showed His fierce iines and quivering hull, and he thrilled when a great, white-topped comber rolled up and swept her on Fla in black curves, reeled through the dark, and the sea sped back, snohite, toward the plunging bows
At last, however, lights shone in the gloom, and Grahame ordered the canvas to be lowered It cost the crew an arduous struggle, but theyfor half-speed, took the wheel
There was a point a short distance fro in behind it hewould be difficult, and it was iht spot
He watched the beach with his glasses as the _Enchantress_ swung inshore, and when presently the coed to a steep, troubled swell that ended in a white band of surf, he stopped the engines and told Miguel to hoist out the gig The navigation lights had been extinguished, but he thought that anybody carefully watching for the stea the boat, but as soon as she was in the water Grahame juot out their oars, a dark figure leaped fro in the sternsheets, turned to his corin
”I'm here, and you'll smash the boat if you try to sendafter when you put me at a job it ard to leave”
”Well, I did hed
Walthew took an oar, for the sas high enough to ress difficult, but they found s just outside the fringe of surf Waiting for a slacker interval in the shoreward rush of hissing rollers, they drove her in as fast as she could go, and jumped overboard when she touched the sand A wave broke into her, but they ran her up safely, and Grahame turned to Walthew after they had e uel,” he said
”Anyhow, I'edly ”Our association is a partnershi+p, and II don't know that I'll be offor one”
Graha that his pistol was loose, he walked up the beach, with Walthew following a few yards behind
CHAPTER XXVI