Part 44 (1/2)
Then he stood listening, for ”Ahoy!” came from quite a different direction, and then there was a reply from somewhere else, closely followed by a shrill whistle
”That's not frohere, after all? Well, I'm sorry for Eben, but that poor fellow must be rescued, and I shall have to--”
Aleck did not say what, but hurried along the shelf again, startled by the sound of falling stones, and the nextfeet, and then the fierce-looking fellow dropped lightly before hiht him by the arm
”They saw me,” he panted, breathlessly, ”and have been hot on e them anyhow--quite surrounded Look here, Master Aleck--you knohat it !
You don't want me to be took?”
”No, Eben; but--”
”Don't talk, entleman, and won't betray a poor fellow?”
”No, but I won't help to keep that poor young officer a prisoner”
”Ah, you've found out then--you knohere he is?”
”Then it is true that you've got him shut up somewhere?”
”Somewhere?” cried the man, sharply, in a hoarse whisper ”Then you haven't found the place?”
”No,” said Aleck, frankly, ”only guessed that he is so out”
”Look here, Master Aleck, it is true, and if I swear that as soon as all is safe I'll help you to set hiet back to his shi+p, will you swear, too, that you'll never tell where our stores are?”
”I', Eben”
The esture, and the lad felt that he was at the fellow's mercy, where a sharp thrust of the hand would send hi down, most likely to his death But he did not shrink
”I proivefellow free”
”Coler, hoarsely ”I can hear 'e to show you what all us chaps have sworn on our lives never to let out Quick! I know you've got plenty of ga to jue of the shelf as he spoke
”Are youthat the man must be to propose what seemed to be like a leap into the next world
”Not me, my lad Look! I trust you to come after me sharp--before the cutter'sthis way, I'll swear,” caain
Eben Megg seized Aleck's arers for a rip
”Jump just as I do I'll be ready to catch you”