Part 17 (2/2)
deck For some moments he paced the narrow confines between the life-boats, then stepped into the wheel-house
”How is she headed?”
An officer standing near theus to”--the nobleht?”
”Hardly, Excellency”
The prince stared hted any other vessels?”
”One or two sailing-craft that have paid no attention to us The only boat that seemed interested since we left port was the little naphtha”
The nobleman stood as if he had not heard this last remark About to move away, he suddenly lifted his head and listened ”What was that?” he said sharply
”What, your Highness?”
”I thought I heard a sound like a cry”
”I heard nothing, Excellency No doubt it was but the wind--it is loud here”
”No doubt” A moment the nobleman continued to listen, then his attention relaxed
”Shall I come to your excellency later for orders?” said the officer as the prince made as if to turn away
”It will not be necessary If I have any I can 'phone from the cabin--I do not wish to be disturbed,” he added and left
”His excellency see after,would surprise me--even if he commanded us to head for the pole next Eh, Fedor?” Thethe spokes mechanically Nor' west, or sou' east--it was all one to him
Prince Boris walked back; before a little cabin that stood out like an afterthought, he again paused
Click! click! The wireless! His excellency, stepping nearer, peered through ain upon the operator, a slender youngreceived Who were they that thus dared span space to reach out toward hi ar of the Siberian priests and theof the yacht was like the rhythrass beyond the Dnieper, in that wild land where conventionality and laere as naught
He saw the operator now lean forward to write The apparatus, which had becoain, spoke; the words came now fast, then slow Flame of flames! What an instrument that harnessed the sparks, chased destiny itself with them! They crackled like whips The operator thren his pen
”Excellency!” He ale--they want to establish communication with the _Nevski_--to learn if we picked up a es but to establish coht--”
”Your excellency, can depend upon me,” Francois protested ”Did not my father serve your illustrious mother, the Princess Alix, all his life at her palace at Biarritz? Did not--”
The prince esture ”I can depend upon you because it is to your advantage to serve me well,” he said dryly ”Also, because if you didn't--” He left the sentence unfinished but Francois understood; in that part of the Czar's kingdom where the prince came from, life was held cheap Besides, the lad had heard tales froarrulous Gascon--of his excellency's temper--those mad outbursts even when a child There was a trace of the fierce, or half-insane teareff line, so the story went Francois returned to his instrument; his excellency's look swept beyond He heard now only the sound of the sea--restless, in unending tumult The wind blew colder and he went below
But not to rest! He was in no mood for that What then? He hesitated, at ith hieinov! He helped himself liberally from a decanter on a Louis Quinze sideboard in the beautiful _salle a hts revealed hiure in that luxurious place--hts He could order his men, but he could not order that invisible host They made him their servant He took a few steps back and forth; then suddenly encountered his own ie reflected in a mirror