Hurricane Island

ounde

I must have appeared to others. But after all they had not gone through the scene with Holgate, and were not witnesses to his astounding perfidy. I was angry with every one, with myself, with the captain, and, above all, with little Pye. In the universal surprise that came of the discovery of Mr. Morl

ou will about my own affairs, but I have my professional secrets to guard. What would be thought of me ha

id not allay my irritation; it merely directed it elsewhere

offence, doctor, that you are misinterpreting a somewhat elaborate joke. Mr. Holgate's explan

I said shortly, "a

glance at me, but

e of it, and so far as I know it went no further. This somewhat astonished me until I had some light thrown upon it later. But in the meantime I wondered, and insensibly that significant silence began to modify my attitude. Had he known me in t

he, "that Sco

tchman," I reto

avily, "I will admit i

n whom you know to be a prime ruffian, however impotent his aspirations may be. Since I had unveiled his plot, even though no credence was given it, st

do not see the j

ght of reason on it, no more do I," he said with a

s. "Think what a fool

ing over to me, "I give you my word I've held my tongue. I

ould have been the

I had. They make good salaries,

s boodle," I said lightly

ogise," I said. "I have suffe

vely, "I would not apologise to a

d, and I did not set eyes on him again until the abrupt

hole ship's company was agog with interest, an interest which increased during the next two days. Sir John Barraclough expressed to me his op

he said. "Does he suppose it was my doing? I happe

ut as the baronet's evidence of friendliness was thus betrayed in his con

ed together before I lost my money, and he gave me this chance. He's a good s

t they kept to themselves and the hurricane deck. Every morning and afternoon the prince and his sister took a prolonged walk together, and at times they were joined by my patient, who, however, in the better weather we were enjoying, reclined in her chair and

morganatic marriage. But what was to happen afterwards? We were chartered for twelve months. That bespoke a cruise, and guesses flew about the ship. Lane, the purser, was the

ere. We've no contracts aga

erested me in view of his professed opinions. He unfolded h

to think of it, that one man like that should upset the politics of Europe, and a man that does not achieve it, mind you, but gets it by mere birth and chance. The paper said he had a million of his own. A fool could be independ

engine-room. It was a thin-lipped, gaunt face, lacking eyebrows, which added to the gauntness, and the general complexion was red to the shade of crimson. When his jaw was i

id, in his abrupt voice. "Ther

llowed him, asking so

ly how it occurred,

fell on something and it

he was surrounded by a number

to be hampered," I said, "so clear out

not dangerous, but might well have been so. I sent for my bag and dressed it, the boatswain lookin

fe wound," I

down at Adams. "How did it come about

agen him," said the man, in a sullen voi

D'ye think I can go short of men for a lot of

lean there's not much harm done except that you

as politely as an

ater," I said. "Meanw

g. He gave tongue to a profusion of oaths, which seemed to be directed, in the main, against Gray, but also included the boatswain, raise

boatswain a dose to be given to the wounded man at once and another four hours later.

ght. I had had the man removed to a disused cabin, and when I got the

ck-room is locked. What on earth does

y. I asked one of the hands to keep an eye on him, a

s," I sai

wain. "I'll get the key for you

aking for the hatchway when I was ha

Phill

tle Pye emerged f

've got the most awful neuralgia. I wish

"I've got to see one of

. "If you tell me what, I'll get it myself. Lo

s to be his own doctor. Try it, and if it's only satisfact

ative repartee, "it's precisely because I don't

d I acknowledged the hit by prescri

oatswain was waiting. He co

, sir," he explained. "He

is pulse, and I took the temperature. As I moved to examine the glass, Pierce's thin crimson face, peeping over my shoulder, almost struck upon me. The jaw was sucked into its socket. The temperature was still high, too high to allow of that placid sle

ut I should like to see his temperature lower. However, the sleep will

that Adams was under the influence of a narcotic. Who had administered it and why? I recalled the man's delirium and his wandering statements to which at the time I had paid little heed, and I thought I began to get the clue. I looked at my watch and found it half-past

of the officer on the bridge, and no other sound in all that floating house. A figure like a statue stood out in th

, Ellison

s,

he forecastle," I said. "Please accomp

rofound, and Ellison struck a match and lit the lamp. Adams lay in his bunk groaning faintly. I turned up his sleeve and examined him. The wound was inflamed, as I h

ened his eyes, and struggl

d I, "you must ke

ed me to force him backwar

d?" said I firmly. "Gray

he growled sulkily. "Doctor, my hea

o, and he fell back with a sigh,

" I went on sternly, "I know a good deal about this, and what you quarrelled

lled from my pocket a syr

what that i

his head,

ve had a heavy dose. I want to know who did it." I caught up h

be silenced. That was how it was done. If they can't silence

and he was at any time a repulsive creatur

y wanted to cheat me of it, and I said I'

he prince's cash-box, we

"There's the treasure in the s

d I can undertake to make you well and so

urns like fir

hat," I said. "W

the knife," he said faintly. "But

ou that," I

e ere ever we get to Buenos Ayres. But I was no party to their plans," he continued feverishly, a

doubts of that, b

ovided you hold your tongue about this. They have given you a dose of morphia, and it's lu

When we reached it I happened to glance round at Ellison, and through that brooding darkness, lightened only by a dim swinging lamp, I thought I saw a flitting shadow. But the next swing of the boat threw the light clear into the corner, and the

eard?"

nd hesitated. "But he's w

I only want to know if you heard. That is all your pa

, sir, not exactly what I w

with them?" I in

e got me on. I've sa

ly, for I had begun to suspect every one

fficer in cha

d, sir," sa

lumined the figure of the second officer on the bridge, and I stood in a little gust of doubt which shook me. Should I sleep over the new discovery? I had Ellison, a Didymus, for witness, but I was still sore from the reception of my previous news. I took the length of the deck, and looked over the poop where a fai

as being torn through the water at the rate of from twelve to fourteen knots an hour, and in a very few minutes the chill which my immersion had inflicted on me passed away, giving place to a curious warmth that stole throughout my limbs, and enabled me to continue the onward struggle. I drew nearer foot by foot, the sea racing past me, and burying my face constantly in floods of salt water. But I was encouraged to observe the Sea Queen was now perceptibly closer, and I clung and hauled and hauled again. My danger now

d he look for his victim to complete his abominable job? As the thought struck me I was silent, and then I saw him stoop and

" I called.

to move. Gradually I reached the side of the ship, about a d

t is it?" asked Elli

g is near broken," I gasped. "Don'

as a man of leisurely British mind he was wonderful

u believe?"

mea

t stand staring, man. We don't know where we are, or what is afoot. Gi

, s

avail

without waking

we must chance it. At least we have stout fists. We made our way under the shelter of the saloon and smoking-room, and came to the steps of the bridge.

f you have weapons available, for I'm su

ou mean?" he

nd murder

e engineer's room, "Mr. McCrae, will you personally bring me a couple of pi

heart. I could have embrac

ow, do

y give us to work with, sir-the scum of Glasgow and London; and none of us to have a say in the matter. I'd sooner go to sea with Satan than

thing to be d

is fury gone as suddenly as it c

ed to order the engine-room about like pot-boys, but a few words put him in possession of the fact

" said he. Le