Adventure Magazine Cover, October 1911 — page 72: what you’re looking at

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

1018 ventured. ‘‘After all, we don’t want to spread around the news of the adjacent gold mine. Did it ever occur to you, Berwind, how wholly at the mercy of your crew you would be in this deserted and lawless sea?” “Oh, the crew is all right. I say, Stuart, you know, you almost succeed in prejudic- ing me against Healy and the rest of them without the slightest foundation of a charge against any one. You really have a beastly disposition.” Stuart grinned genially. “That’s all very well, but it doesn’t get you out of trouble when your crew gets the gold fever. Just consider,” he went on gravely, “here we are, the two of us alone. Mr. Lee could not be counted on in any emergency. Miss Nora and her maid would only be a graver anxiety than anything else. I never was a croaker or a prognosticator of disaster be- fore, my dear Berwind, but I have had a recent demonstration of what a very mutinous crew can do when it tries.” The Doctor put a hand on his shoulder. “That’s just it. You have become misan- thropic just because those tow-headed pagans left you in the lurch. You are for- getting that this crew was gathered in good old Manhattan!”’ ‘“‘How proudly yousay it!” laughed Stuart. T’ll lay you a wager, Berwind, that when you get back I will pick up a crew in New York that will make the pirates of the Caribbean look like an old ladies’ tatting circle. Have it yourown way. I still think one able sea- man quite enough totake intoourconfidence. But surely, if either Mr. Lee or his daughter need help we can give it.”’ Doctor Berwind’s hand dropped again to his side. ‘“‘I dare say you are right,” he said very slowly, “if they need help we can give it.” Nora came on deck with her father and almost immediately Captain Healy ap- peared laden with rugs and a basket of pro- visions. Berwind faced him with some hostility in his kindly face. ‘“What seaman have you detailed ——” he began, when Mr. Lee interrupted him. ‘“‘Captain Healy has offered to go with us himself,’ he said, rubbing his nose and coughing. “It is most kind of him.” As he and his daughter turned away, fol- lowed by the Captain, Berwind turned a smileless face to Stuart. ‘“‘ You have the most malign influence over me,” he said. “IT used to have an unsuspicious, open- Adventure hearted nature, but now I am sure that man has designs upon us!” They both laughed. CHAPTER XXI HOW MUCH DOES HEALY KNOW? [HERE was comparative silence among them during their brief trip tothe shore, Nora sitting beside her father and holding his arm in hers. Durkee, quartermaster, who was at the wheel, brought the boat alongside a jutting line of rock with a pre- cision so exact as to be unnoticed. He held her there while the passengers alighted. The Doctor, after helping Nora out, took occasion, as Mr. Lee availed himself of the same helping hand, to inquire softly: “How much, sir, have you told Captain Healy?” ‘‘Nothing, nothing at all,” answered Mr. Lee. ‘Simply that Mr. Stuart is going to make some geological surveys connected with his work here and to hunt possible fossils or things of that kind. I admitted to being ignorant of the exact nature of his research, never having gone in for geology. And I dare say Healy is no better off.” “T dare say not, indeed,” smiled Berwind. The boat pushed off, Captain Healy standing by to give certain last instructions. Berwind went over to Stuart who was look- ing about anxiously for the easiest ascent. ‘“Now, then, Stuart,” he said, ‘‘so far, Healy knows nothing. Mr. Lee has informed him that you are out on a little geological jaunt, accompanied by your loyal friends.” “That is what he has been officially told, but how much may he have overheard, my dear chap? We havebeen shrieking the word étreasure’ like a chorus of pirates in a comic opera.’ He was frowning at the prospect as he spoke. “It looks to me as if our best course would be to skirt the shore here until we reach the fissure where that faint steam comes out. The surface is so broken there that we may be able to climb.” ‘“‘Oh, easily,” said Berwind. He was un- coiling the rope that was to fasten them together. ‘‘I think I will go ahead, then you, then Miss Nora, then Mr. Lee, then the Captain. Healy will strap on the basket and you and I can each take a rug.” He helped Stuart girdle him with the rope and gave his aid in fastening the others. As Nora realized that she was being linked to Stuart, her old mood of resentment rose CO Gbooks ©