Hurricane Island

lag o

Pye could be accounted a man after his cowardly behaviour. There were six sailors in the hold at present useless, and the mutineers, even after their losses, were not far short of thirty. Of Legrand we knew nothing, but could only hope for the best. So long as we could hold the saloon we had plenty of food and water, and our stock of ammunition was ample. The outlook did not appear so bad. Onl

ut the Prince was present at our common t

said with spirit. "We must not make differen

to the yacht before, and Lane gave way to his native garrulity, enlivening t

g his flank. "They've not got what they foug

of us had thought of it; we had bee

u sure?

ll the keys, and I'll swear no one came down in the

s as the purser had said. The safes were u

ls!" he

e that," said I slowly. "It only

" he asked, and th

I never came upon a man with a cooler head. He's not in a hurry, that's a fac

rusalem!" said Lane. "What a sav

"He has waited, and can wait l

ew, sir," observed th

We've got to face things, and one of these things is that Holgate hasn't worried us s

," he exclaimed angrily, the Ge

our best, sir,"

of Pye in the background. He had been missing from breakfast, and he looked very sickly,

mean by leaving your quarters? I wil

Pye humbly. "I was feeling s

sir," declared the Prince severely. "

obviously so unwell, that I took pity on

," I said. "We'l

d. "But I disgraced myself, doctor. I'm not bu

lly. "You freeze on to your barker, boy. You'll need it before we fetch up at Alber

nd he had certainly drunk a good deal of brandy. Ellison and Jackson were on watch bel

ming along t

By Heaven, it's Holgate, damn him

or," said the

d the door fell ajar. Holgate's big form w

tlemen," he s

t the former had his revolver at the level. His finger was on the trigger. I leape

e thundered, turning on me

poke of discipline a little a

ship," he sa

here, who will tell you, perhaps, that it is against the laws

or is right, sir," he said. "We o

" said the Prince, with a scowl at me. But he let his arm fall

e said smoothly, "and you're quite done with your pistol pr

Sir John Barraclough," said the Prince

in," said Barr

aid he flatly, and looked about him. "I hope my men haven't knocked you

s, sir," said Ba

y voice. "I found her drifting on a lee shore when I took charge, and, by thunder, she'd have floundere

about these matters,"

is a duffing game for his Royal Highness there. He stands to make nothing out of it, as things go, and there's precious little in it for any of you. Here you are prisoners in these palatial rooms, outnumbered by more than two to one, and not a man of his hands among you, if I except t

nt," said Barraclough with exemplary

hat's the short of it-a deal that will suit bo

assed, and even with an expression of amiab

nder," broke in the

o am I. But I should like to know before starting whom I've got to deal with, just by way of encouragement, so to say." He paused. "I don't wa

ke fiercely out of Lane's throat. "You'll

s upon the purser, but said nothing nor otherwise

affair, not yours," he said abr

urry about the matter now the ship lays her course. But I should prefer a busin

ddress me," he said. "And you

s. Now you know what I want, and by this time you pretty well ought to know what you want also. You're in a tight fix. Well, if you'll hand over the contents of the strong-room we'll get out a proper contract, as thus: self to take the said contents, agreeing therewith

on. I was a little out of the group, and I could pick out the faces of the company. The Princess had moved forward and leaned now with her chin on her open palm, and one foot upon the sette

ng-room," he said, "it is suggested t

at solution of the little problem. But I'm dealing with you squarely when I say I'd rather not. For why? Because

e skylights Princess Alix's silhouette stood out, and the soft hair on her forehead was ruffled by the breeze. She was still gazing at Holgate. His bull-neck turned and he faced towards her, and their glances met. Neither gave way nor w

event you and the men under you," said Barraclough in a dry, formal voice. "But the m

had it not been for the doctor." He shook his head, wagging it at me. "Oh, doctor, doctor, to think what I lost in you! Why, we could have taken our time over the strong-room, barring your little intervention. You're a real daisy, and I won't forget it. But now it's in the hands of Pro

us all, landing at last upon the Princess. "May the Lord help you,"

lix had lifted her chin from her hand and set down her foot. She held on to the arm of the settee, and I could perceive her trembling. Her face had gone white like paper, and she stared at t

ul man I have ever seen,"

l as he thinks," I

. "If I might suggest, I would advise you to take

r, "I thought you were right when you spoke to-to my brother in regard to the revolver; but n

or less bound by them. At least, that is one's general notion. But who can tell? T

e shot him myself,"

ll hang him ye

f her blue lustrous ey

al on you, Dr. Phill

endent on one a

at man meant what

ing at. But this I know, that to make a compact with him would be to be at his mercy. He is ruthless; he would n

uld be wise. But my brother would never consent. Only I was afraid. But I

the door of the cabin. "I think I had better see t

with a start, and opened

under the electric light, engaged in a game of dominoes w

aid excitedly, and marked her board an

ken English. "I have won three times. Where is

lied the Princess with admirable restra

s abominable to mutiny. Ah, it is the doctor. Pardon, this light is not good, and they have boarded up the windows. We must

ely, Mademoiselle," I answered

ow, and you will only have to dispose of th

risoners," said the

t it is not so, Alix. Juliette, shuffle, or I wil

ff from the rest of the ship," I explai

retty laugh. "I am not afraid. It will be experience. Juliette,

ng me. "When I left her she was i

But at present she wants no help from

s; if we met on no other ground we met on a curious unde