Adventure, July 1, 1928 — page 158: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

152 violent blow in the pit of the stomach, for he gasped and leaned back against the wall of the alleyway, breathing heavily. He mumbled a few words in his own language—oaths, probably—or invoca- tions to the saints. Then he realized that he would have to be practical, that some- thing would have to be done. eS “Madame!” he cried. “You say she gone?” “T left her.on the poop,” said the other, “where she said she was going to sleep. She isn’t there now; and so far as I can see she’s nowhere on board.” Quental, still leaning against the wall, began to gnaw his fingernails. “Liu Tang wouldn’t kill her!’ he shivered. “Scala not let him.” At the same time Eade could not fail to detect a want of confidence in his | voice. The man was not so much stating a fact, as asking himself a question. Suddenly Quental flew into a temper. The vital part of him revived. Straight- ening himself, trembling all over, he stamped with his bare feet like a bad tempered child. “Your fault, mister!’ he cried. “T lull Liu Tang, if you no stop me. Now I gotta pay for it. Liu Tang not miss another_time. Oh, mister, Ferfiao Quen- tal and dead man—all same _ thing, savvy?” His rage was snuffed out of him like a candle, and he was on the point of blubbering, when Eade again seized him by the shoulders. “Try to be a man!” he cried, “or as near to it as you can get. You're in com- mand of this ship, aren’t you? Well, get a move on! Have the boat searched from stem to stern. For all you or I know, the lady may still be somewhere on board. Yow don’t even know that that China- man himself isn’t hiding somewhere.” That startled Quental again; but a moment after, he slowly shook his head, half despondent, half relieved. “Damn’ sure thing him go,” he ob- served. “Liu Tang gone into jungle. Was madame dressed 2?” “Pajamas,” said Eade. ‘And silk slip- CHARLES GILSON pers. Old Gottheimer wasn’t far wrong when he called this thing a hell-boat!” Quental climbed up the companionway, sagging at the knees, as if all the strength had gone out of him, half pulling himself up by grasping the brass rail. On deck he found the serang and gave . him his orders. The whole crew was now on the main deck, several with lanterns, With the light on their faces they looked a strange collection—every cast of counte- nance the Malay States can produce; some evil, some fierce, many grinning, all curious. URING the next five minutes a systematic search was made from one end of the paddle-boat to the other. Even the engine room was not neglected. And then the serang returned to the main deck, saluted and reported that no trace of either the lady or the Chinese could be found. Quental looked at Eade, his jaw dropped, his eyes staring. As before, his first thought was for his own safety. “Mister,” said he, in a hushed, tremu- lous voice, “if we not getta the boat off the mud, perhaps Liu Tang come back again!” “Look here,” said the American, “‘it’s about time I knew the truth. And I’m going to get it! You knew this Liu Tang before ever he came on board this ship. Just you tell me where?” “In Singan,” said Quental, hanging his head. “And where’s that?” “Island, mister,” said the captain. “Macassar Straits, *tween Celebes and Borneo.” “And. did Madame Scala come from there?” The captain hesitated, shifting upon his feet, and again began to bite his finger- nails. “Come on!’ cried the American. “Speak out! Did Madame Scala come from this place, Singan? I have a sort of idea she did.” “That’s right, mister,’’ Quental con- fessed. comiicloooks.com