Hurricane Island

ure of t

s to the head of the ladder,

I asked the

ade to go down he cried out, "Where are you g

whatever occurs; and here, take my revolver. I'm on a mission of peace." I slipped down the ladder and found myself

"and come no earlier than you want him, I'll wager. Ther

ght. "Are you armed

I, and he clapped his

henson and Coyne are down in their bunks. But it's Mr. Holgate commands here. I'll call him." He went forwa

ng to be honoured by a visit, but, hang me! if I expected

he room in which the hands had their meals, which was lit by el

y to jump better. Isn't that how it goes? We jumped too soon, you see; and that was you. If it had not been for that fool Pi

as between man and m

ow, there was no need of blood in this little job, not if it had been

as if he would have torn out of me on that

your last," I sa

and key, you bet, my son. That's not going to be my mistake, at any ra

I. "But it's busin

r in the city, I've heard," he ans

an affair of mercy. You've got tw

hat that's what you've come for. Shall I tell you what, doctor? You've come like the gentlemen who went to the Holy Land, and came back carrying grapes, eh? I rem

ee these men,"

men. One was beyond hope; the other was but slightl

he said musingly. "I've no

s heartless criticism raised in me a feeling o

-handed, doctor, after all your ki

," said I. "Nay

"Granger, let Naylor up." He turned to me. "We don't starve 'e

presently a voice h

aylor?" as

es

fter your health. Any questions he puts

I called out, "Naylor, I only want to kn

r," said

nder h

s,

ur hearts. This is not

ghtly, "I find there are more honest m

ve got twelve," he said drily. "An

nd to-morrow you may find yourselves steaming cheerfu

rin. "But you also forget one thing doctor-that is, I

press of canvas on

ays he. "Can you?

"that we have a goo

nt-- By thunder, I'll play Old Harry and merry Hades to him for that. Lord, doctor!" he add

the ladies," said I. "It

ms, and generous terms, considering I've got the trumps. I'll drop the whole pack of you at the mouth of the river, ladies and all, and add all personal possessions of every on

men, but you appropriate the gingerbread, a

y marbles. It's a sure thing. I give you up there"-he made a movement of his thumb to the quarterdeck-"just this chance. Strik

frankly as you seem to desire. This spells for y

nted, despatched a deputation, and were fired on by the Prince.

et McCrae

m, and the second engineer can bear witness to it, as

wain turned unexpectedly the course of my blood. I had seemed somehow to have been dealing with Holgate, as a scoundrel, certainly, yet upon terms of fair warfare. But that shadow str

thoughts, it was a black prospect with which I must present them. But I did not wish t

there are six true men in the hold. Three

to his colder formal manner. "They have the engine-room and we

that is what th

w, thanks to Dr. Phillimore. You have your stations. I shall be ob

utineers can secure the control of their ship from their officers. It is inconceivable, I repeat. I shall be at your

Down below all was quiet, and the engines were moving slowly. It was now about one in the morning, and on our beams the wind was rising. The yacht was making about eight knots and no more, and we were still a day's s

re in the disintegrating darkness below. I called to Legrand under my breath, and I heard his "hist." He was at attention, his ears straining in the wind to get n

more?" screamed Legr

shouted back. One of the two men who

dered Legrand from the b

wide, and the next moment went down under a heavy blow from the figure in front. I discharged a shot, but missed the man as he made his rush. Barraclough simultaneously gave way, and I saw him being pushed backwards against the side of the saloon. I fired again at one of his assailants, who fell away with a curse, and just then the first flush of the coming dawn moved over the waters, and shed a little light on the scene. It disclosed the burly form of Holgate in grips with Legrand, who had descended from the bridge, and Barraclough still struggling with his opponent. I had just time to make this out when one of the mutineers struck at me with a heavy ba

continuity, inherited, as it were, from the earlier part of the struggle. Somehow I found myself in the shelter of the corridor that led to the apartments of the Prince, his sister and his guest, and, for some reason I could not with my dizzy head conjecture, I was alone. I looked down the

h to speak. Instead I lurched forward and was conscious of warm arms, the soft pressure of a human body, and the fragrance of a dress. There was a time when I seemed to sway alone in a cold and dreary vacancy, but soon there returned to my sense

I began

e have need of you. We cannot spare a ma

d with difficulty. "

with a patch of red. I rose and totteringly picked u

k, but my brother sent me down. There is nothing t

id vaguely. "Let us go ou

e," said s

guely I was paying her a necessary compliment, but that was all. Yet the corridor was c

rned to the door whi

suddenly in a low voice, "w

he saloon. They want other things,"

they--?"

l," said I. "

scream from the farther end of the corridor. "It is Mademoiselle," said s

rey as the sea, and the silhouette of the spars and funnel was ghost-like. The Sea Queen thundered on her course, heeling to the broad wash of the water. As I stood watching, my ears alert for any sound that would give me information, I s

whisper. "Oh, my God! I didn't k

ly; and he started a

"Come this way." I took his arm and stealthily w

he ship," he said with a whisper. "Oh

for me, and it seemed to pull him together. He blinked at me

how things st

s killed," he said falteringly.

little use to me in his present state, I said, "Look here, Pye, I'm going to

rridor. I explained to her the situation, and added that Pye would be

e doors at each end to the deck and the door that gives on the staircase to the saloon. Can

e said br

ficers' quarters, but everything was in order; and finally retraced my way towards the kitchens, which abutted on the engine-room, but were separated from it by a thick partition of steel and wood. As I went, the yacht rolled and sent me against a closed door with a heavy bump. From wi

imore. Who

o back and the door opened a lit

all done yet." He flung the door wide, and I cou

Prince?" I as

I was forced down the companion and fell. Lost my weapon, too, or I'd 'a' showed more figh

f you. We've got the ladies on our hands, and we've

his is our magazine, my boy-where the grub is. If we've got to stand a si

ed, "that is true. Well, let Jackson wait he

mewhere hidden about here

ember that, if we pull through, this means a

" he assen

ase, and I took the chance of closing the doors at the head that gave access to the deck. Then

land," I said cheerfully,

other!" sh

his whereabouts yet

hat he's--" She

ell the truth, I had my grave doubts. "I have unearthed Mr. L

were alive, why was

h Pye sat huddled. "That man's no use," she said cont

im. "The beggar's drun

ne door and Miss Morl

u--" Sh

tion. You must let me out and

e chart-house. I heard Holgate's voice raised wheezily in orders, and the replies of the men came back to me inarticulately. As I crouched under the shelter of the cabins on the lee side I became aware of a faint but continuous line just over the bulwarks, and then the explanation of the mysterious silence on the yacht dawned on me. It was the coast line, from wh

his hand, and he had something by his side, probably a cutlass. It was probable that he was placed guard over the prisoners. I drew two steps closer still. Holgate's voice still painfully dominated the wind and water, and I ventured yet a pace nearer. Did he turn now the man must see me, for I was in the gray light of the dawn, a deeper shadow than the wooden walls by which I lurked. My hands twitched, and I almost seemed to have sprung before I did spring. Then I knew I was on his back and had a leg twisted about his legs. He fell heavily, and I thrust a hand across his mouth. He struggled hard, writhing upon the deck under the weight of my body like a snake, and a choking sputter issued from his throat. Hastily I dragged a handkerchief from my pocket and pushed it into his mouth. The struggling increased. I glanced up and found that we had fallen under the door of the chart-house; also in

re," I gasped. "R

of whom I was conscious was Ellison. A shout sailed down to us from the bridge, and there was the noise of a revolver shot, but luckily it

I was able to recognise my companions. The Prince was there, safe and sca

ther, and was taken to his arms

e?" he

ss, withdrawing herself. "She

n German, a

It is no woman's work this, Al

a little coldly; and at that a door down the cor

raceful movements. "Ah, Frederic, it is cruel to leave me so. I wi

y vision. Her face had fallen dead and chill, and I thought that a little curl of her lips betrayed some impatience with these demonstrati

is Le

ied him forward, but I cou

y may attack at any moment, and we have

e this well enough

the saloon and the kitchens, and that means precautions.

d the Prince in his deep voice

plenty of woodwork to draw on-doors and trappings in the cabins. The portholes are useless to the mutineer

ce in his imperious voice. "The docto

s. The work took us a full hour or more, but at last it was decently accomplished. The windows of the saloon and music-room that gave on the deck were shuttered, as also the windows of the cabins. Nothing but the skylights remained unprotected, and these we could trust ourselves to