Part 51 (2/2)

He had done the right thing that tie at speed would have turned the _Richard_ over Noas safe for a few seconds at least he reflected, as he watched the light traveling over his forain bent shoreward he saw a long point projecting out into the sea Beyond the jutting pro a course which would carry hiin he settled low in his seat and dashed forward

The fog-died boldly into the focus of its dripping beams As the launch veered to make the turn, the waters astern were splashed by the steel pellets frounner of the revenue cutter began to raise his sights Splinters flew fro was riddled as the deadly hail ton_ ceased grinding as the launch disappeared behind the point

”I could have got that bird in one more second,” he muttered ruefully

”If the old ory threw off the power and hurdled the seat

”Are you hurt?” he called to dickie as he hurried toward the stern

dickie Lang was not hurt Only cut by a flying splinter It was nothing

The girl made her way forward

”Let ave razed that reef off China Point”

As they inclined their ears into the gray ht the ory surrendered the wheel

The girl listened to the rapid-fire pulsations of the boat ahead

”He's headed out to sea,” she said ”And we're going to have to drive to catch him with this lead”

Her words were drowned in the thunder of the _Richard's_ motor and the speed-launch bounded away to overtake her hated rival

”The fog is lifting Soon it will be clear We runted a reply to Bandrist's observations Weather conditions meant very little to him at the present moment His mind was occupied with matters of far more importance

It would be well to know just where Bandrist stood concerning a division of his ood tiestion at once that the islander grant him an advance of funds until such tieles

”I have no money to spare,” Bandrist answered curtly ”You are foolish not to have been better prepared Our business is one which should have taught you that You will have a hard tiry retort welled to Mascola's lips but he choked it back Bandrist was speaking again

”Here is one hundred dollars You are welcome to that But no more”

Mascola's eyes flashed at the smallness of the su, even in Mexico Bandrist, he felt sure, possessed h for two, there would be plenty for one