Part 55 (1/2)
A snarl of baffled fury came from the lips of the wounded sailor.
”The foul fiend protects you!” he cried. ”See if you can dodge this bullet!”
He would have fired again, but Gage leaped forward in the darkness, kicked swiftly and accurately, and sent the revolver spinning from the man's hand.
”You have settled your fate!” hissed the boy, madly. ”I did mean to have you taken away, and I was talking to torment you. Now you will stay here--and die like a dog!”
He turned from Jaggers, and hurried back to the boat, in which that m.u.f.fled figure silently sat.
”Are you ready, boys?” he called.
Captain Bellwood had been released from the tree, and marched to the other boat, in which he now sat, bound and helpless.
”All ready,” was the answer.
”All right; go ahead.”
They pushed off, settled into their seats, and began rowing.
Gage was not long in following, but he wondered at the silence of the girl who sat in the stern. It could not be that she had fainted, for she remained in an upright position.
”Which way, cap?” asked one of the men.
”Any way to get out of this,” was the answer. ”We will find another place to camp, but I want to get away from this spot.”
Not a sound came from beneath the m.u.f.fled coat.
”It must be close,” thought Gage. ”I wonder if she can breathe all right. I wish she would do something.”
At last, finding he could keep up with his companions without trouble, and knowing he would have very little difficulty in overtaking them, Gage drew in his oars and slipped back toward the m.u.f.fled figure in the stern.
”Elsie,” he said, softly.
No answer; no move.
”Miss Bellwood.”
Still no answer.
”You must not think too hard of me, Miss Bellwood,” he said, pleadingly.
”I would not harm you for anything. I love you far too much for that, Elsie.”
He could have sworn that the sound which came from the m.u.f.fling folds of the coat was like a smothered laugh, but he knew she was not laughing at him.
”I have been wicked and desperate,” he went on; ”but I was driven to the life I have led. Fate has been against me all along. When I s.h.i.+pped on your father's vessel it was because I had seen you and knew you were to be along on the cruise. I loved you at first sight, and I vowed that I would reform and do better if you loved me in return, Elsie.”
He was speaking swiftly in a low tone, and his voice betrayed his earnestness. He pa.s.sed an arm around the m.u.f.fled figure, feeling it quiver within his grasp, and then he continued:
”You did not take kindly to me, but I persisted. Then you repulsed me--told me you despised me, and that made me desperate. I swore I would have you, Elsie. Then came the mutiny and the burning of the vessel. Now we are here, and you are with me. Elsie, you know not how I love you! I have become an outcast, an outlaw--all for your sake! Elsie, dear Elsie!
can't you learn to love me? I will do anything for you--anything!”