Show 14 CHAPTER XVI continued 11 yee tea hold held mv hand h while I 1 guide yen yaa we I 1 can bit all h here live it as A ace I 1 a couch of some kind against the outer wall she did not release her bet grasp seemingly gaining con courage erms from this physical contact A 1 and ad fe mv if fin gers gem clodi closed e it warmly over her bar own now mow please breathlessly how is it possible you are am till this ves adi el A an liter of I 1 told her bar the strange story as ae swiftly suit simply as am possible ing scarcely above a whisper feeling u I 1 progressed that I 1 related a drem dream rather nine than a an series of cacti s it cae A deemed ad 1 to me a elie be could d scarcely be ex peeled to believe the truth of what I 1 ud md and yet she la fid did almost unquestioning ques this dioning maj the clap cla P of her fingers per par high tightening he I 1 as I 1 pro proceeded elded clog she eat it so cloae beside me I 1 that chati I 1 could feel her breath up upon my the cheek it ali in q if it ff Y you had not at told me a this fix yourself om melt I 1 could boldly believe men each a tale she we exclaimed claimed yet it must most be trite tnie oil ulra culous d ous as it seems but bat bint ht 1 is to be the ending hyon hyen have any plan of escape H adly a plan I 1 he have h e had no up an A even to 1 learn the true no na 7 tua tam or of the crew watkins atkin is an am lioni rat eat bailor and he has told me of oth th an on whom hem I 1 could rely there them are am those them a aboard bear but I 1 d do not know be hon bould anny would mutiny if they tied had a i leader and a reasonable chum chance I 1 a of same I 1 roust meet reach these and learn wh atio ariey are am feel fortunately A the borage ge prom pru able tsei to be long enough to enable act me to plin plan carefully Y you A A have discussed the voyage uh this Et atad tada ad he told me e what he be had bad decided aven not at to rat return to their TOOS will until off after at they had bad cap captured M red some V prizes A nud id could a go with sold gold embling in their pockets alfre I 1 ie ville their renders de on v AD D island 1 la the west was indies lily idy not met on the chart they call it porto grande grandc and they will sweep the we ocea be tween tero here and there them seeking victims blamed to rob and trac and y you yu you mil it be I compelled to in talo part in such scenes fauch ch acts of village pillage and ad perhaps order murder t f pre presume a I 1 must seem I 1 to be one an jf them 1 I to boid aid suspicion hickm be haie you any my bugge if ther then Is if conspiracy on board nl at cady she 1 a said mid quickly the that t you may oat cut L fonow move about able nin lou mean to depose Sanc sanchey br yes a you had auspicio ned it they them thou flit it me unconscious in the boat knit and talked among themselves the two at the stern stem estada and unit beast bandit kanuf I 1 dul did not at onan stace all they sold said but I 1 do not think they intend the cartel captain shall hall recover you yen think it best beat that he should on 01 I 1 do not know there them Is no test beat that I 1 can sea bee yet I 1 would he have more a fault alth 1 in being spared shared domine disgrace e if at the mercy of 8 ches than his hie flent enaut both may be mostly equally guilty equally des desperate P er a hut but they are an not net the gium ume A men I 1 may cly be wrong fop far I 1 judg as a woman yet art I 1 would old feel far with ill S it the he other merely de decaire raire with alie a fissions of a brute brate po ipp pacal I 1 would ream rem h him he would auto iddis at tam tears and ad find pleasure I 1 in suffering buffering baid and yet you would have ma m appe appear friendly with E estada led wo we I 1 cannot net permit hlin him to feel that either of at us sea are ea enemies stales he 1 la the power she aboard it our lives everything I 1 mrs n in his hands it if he means to be rid aid of the man Is doomed for he will find a way to accomplish his 9 purpose murder means nothing to thres niad n of course you are am right she me ac lem our nour case cam Is BO a despot deeper ata at we must murt resort meart to any ev weapons eop ton to bellove it will serve same the possibility of f escape Is U I 1 permit this monster to gasn that I 1 have some a interest I 1 in amor to do BO an might delay the cepla at fon ma I 1 replied gravely actively and ad just no bow any delay Is wit welcome icena I 1 doubt it if even batada tilde will resort to force on board latch form force will be the very last card be a will care cam to play I 1 an fn your em case you are mail english and nal all ALI the practical sea am boce mea on an board are from fro nor tu b and ad ts these them love are am not phil pirates tes I 1 from choice they bra am pr ioner who be have to taken I 1 am to som nave their a ova A ure with ill his bis battles and amidships be an compel them to ark but he dare dam bat 9 eu t too a far once th fellow in a mutiny they could take the ship A an assault A OB you would old be daige angerone A 11 1 Is ll 11 men A yen count ont or but bill for me to in gain their coad dance do 1 aej I leadership will mitt require time the slightest slip would mean maman failure and ad men liens pool it at beat the th situation 1 absolutely des dea versta but bat i see me no A other solution fail and moc IUT service 1 the fic act ins ing of a part to blind the eyes of eal it 1 sincerely believe your greater chance ot of security lies in this course the fellow Is a supreme walls egotist t opposition poil tion will anger amper him hale flattery tely will make him you have bes the wit and discretion to hold him within certain limits it Is I 1 a danger ous game I 1 admit and a disagreeable one but the case requires desperate dim remedies cities she lifted her eyes searching my face far through the dim ill light geoffry carlyle eha la said mid at last a tremor in the low law voice there Is no sacrifice ile I 1 would not at make to pre serve awas my it honor r i I 1 be hate this man an I 1 dread his touch bair Z shrink it from con tact met with him as am ifould I 1 would from a snake eske but I 1 am not going to refuse to do my part pact it if you yen say my this is right and ad justified awill I 1 will consent 1 I believe it I 1 is and you will not at lose less faith in me the he questioned earnestly it will dot lower your belief in my womanhood 1 nothing Nt bg could do that mistress dorothy I 1 want yon yen to reallie the depth of my interest and ana respect your friendliness has meant much to me a and 11 I 1 would never urge you to lower your ideals tie to but at we at must 1 I race face this is situation as it ts we possess but two weapons of defense e deceit or force A resort to t the he latter is at present im he possible I 1 cannot conceive that you yen are am lowering yourself I 1 in any w way my b jiing mg the power you possess to escape violence ido the power I 1 p possess esar yea best beauty uty and wit these are weapons and it most at eff effective a it ones you can play with estada and ad defeat him bire temporarily decarl y at le lel least L I 1 confess there them I 1 is danger in such a game he Is if a wild insist beat and his evil nature may overcome his discretion take this pistol keep it hidden about your per par son am but use it only when all else falls fails you retain meet faith 1 in nal me inep implicitly catly 11 Andu and pledge yourself to your part leaving in me to attend to mine feel her two hands bands clasped my fingers degree her bar eves uplifted geoffry carlyle I 1 haw have always believed eved in you yen and now DOW after the sac it she lifted he her eye you haw have made to serve a me a I 1 can refuse you nothing you as ask I 1 will statement endeavor to accomplish all 11 vou an require of an me god gad it knows we how bow I 1 hate the wait task but but 1 I mill 11 do my best beat out only y only ny her at voice bank it allf it i it the imala lay IY bands be its on a me an he he pay pays the me price I 1 could not at do other wise while geoffry county carlyle I 1 A am a fair damn tai Stia llod with my mission iela and conal dent bothin nothing more mom need bd be bald izai I 1 g arms to my feet then we can do nothing muting further until clearn I 1 learn the bisp disposition aitho of the crew isaid I 1 said qu quietly lefly emd E md Is not it likely to resort ramp to 0 ex extreme time co measures h at present that 1 id w why y I 1 believe you are comparatively bite now aw hla hi own w A position auh uh of como command unal I 1 la a in th the bal ance are 1 I will sec am you yon agidio P perhaps A lisp not at here hem it is too danger I 1 avs A hot but 1 I will 1 find in means to W comma am ideate with you yon good by we stood with hands clasped in 11 the dark darkness I 1 thought she he so nan going to in speak A gain again but the words full to come then than suddenly Budi lenly silently il ialy the file door opened a mere mem crack telling letting 1 in a 4 gleam ot of yellow light from the I main in cable cabin while the crouching hug figure of a man like a gliding eluding Qu quillow allow slipped through the aperture aier apar ture laire closing the don I 1 bellied behind him im as softly as aa he be laid opened I 1 it I 1 heard tire her cleb catch her breath anti anil felt if her or head gorosp my io I o but 1 I 1 never ase stirred at lifted who could ho he be what might be b the purpose of b Is initially entrance but bat one a anwer answer occurred to me pedro a estada driven by unbridled passions I 1 to attack the girl I 1 thrust her behind me I 1 mail and took a B step forward with body pat poised it for far sell I 1 was unarmed armed but cared called till little for that la in the gift desire to copie ew to hed hand grapa art with the brute I 1 could hear him now slowly and cautiously feeling hla his way toward us ui through the dc arkas CHAPTER A murder a on board to be certain 0 of t ft free sture space I 1 extend food ed it am one head hand and no my no fingers came late in unexpected espre t ad contact t with the back bach A 0 a chair without moving my body I 1 rapid rap cd this welcome arl econe weapon of defense and swung it above my head V whoever leave the file invader creeping upon apon us might p prove to be he was A cumle iv an enemy actuated by a some foul foot purpose put ose rod and DO a doubt armed to strike him down as quickly and an client silently a as possible was therefore the pill plain n duty of the moment ahad I 1 had no am other thought the 1 D with which he groped ila his way forward indicated unfamiliar it ty with the apartment although aIL hough hla his direct advance proclaimed some cal ial p purpose pose clearly he had BO a fear of if attack I 1 could determine almost his i is exact of position fositt po sitt as am hla his advancing ad eing oot foot felt cautiously ule clone n a the deck he ie mine came forward inch by inch I 1 the distance as indicated I 1 by faint I 1 shuffling sounds I 1 could not see but I 1 knew with all 11 my force I 1 struck ct I 1 blindly as it had been delivered the blow hit fair there was a t thud had no an inarticulate or groan A and ad the he fall or of a body up upon the floor ant beyond and that nothing I 1 waited breathlessly listening tor for the slightest move 0 ment I 1 felt dorothy touch my shoulder and caught the sound of b her at voice trembling at my ear car what Is it what did you yon do dor 1 I s track struck him with a chair he lies there 0 on the deck walt wait where you do anre D o I 1 bent over and touched him the fir fellow tans toy lay in a heap beep with no a perceptible tible heart beat bant no do semblance Bem blance of breathing my fingers ought bought his face Is and I 1 could scarcely suppress sup prias pross a cry of he be was not katada naiads who then was am he what coald ld b have been bee his purpose in thus invading this stateroom all I 1 could grasp was the in fact t that the fellow was waa not the pot por he possessed a smooth fee face long hair balt and was a much smaller man I 1 dragged the body where the light 11 illumination 1 from the after affair port fell dir directly e etly on the upturned vand fee face th the features feature revealed were unfamiliar those theme unquestionably of a half breed indian dorothy crossed to my side her foot striking a knife ife which came A glimmering into the narrow rings range of light she stared shared in horror borror at the ugly weapon and then at the ghastly countenance he carbet came to an murder anderl derl 1 see his knife n lies I 1 there them why should he be have sought to ki kill mel dier qt it Is all mystery 0 I 1 admitted WI aliat at shall be done a alth ith the bodi it cannot at be left art lying exposed here I 1 no one would believe you killed him and my presence must not be suspected pact dt coald co A id it if able suggested be dropped d through the port she shrank break back from touching the I 1 inanimate ite figure yet it required the combined efforts of both to force the stuff stiffening ening badr through the porthole we c could old distinguish footsteps on ane deck bi above but these them wee we vw e A and ad undisturbed the slow promenade train from rail fail to rail call of the officer a on watch clearly nothing had been heard or seen to awaken suspicion I 1 it f you should old be questioned tomor row w you he had it best beat know nothing I 1 qaid old merely 1 I do not at think you will be for far surely rarely an at attack act can be no plan of ekada estidas a it could gain no adon tage the ine fellow w was as pillaging on his own account it if he Is missed it will be im supposed he fell fall overla overboard d and ad no one w III care you are am not at afraid to remain ui u I h here A alone amr no I 1 ware am not greatly frightened but shall it try and bar the door with a chair I 1 have no key then in i it leave yon yen hall buff of my watch below must mast be g gone by now mow 1 ill II 11 take the a fellow I 1 A knife kif along as am it must not at be found here hem we parted with a clasp clamp of head hands a I 1 opened the stateroom tater doad door and slipped out into the cabin to my I 1 surprise file light over ever the table had bee been extinguished rendering the cabin so black I 1 had to actually feel fee my way th the lat lantern must at have it be been put out since then by some mom canted rate erate after a moment of hesitation I 1 found my way across access to my own stateroom tate rown suit and fir pressed lood open arco th abe a it door TO bit BE |