Adventure, August 1917 — page 141: what you’re looking at

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

Rotorua Rex the British Government. They’ll hunt you down and you know it.” ‘‘We’ll take our chances of that. Any- how if you don’t accept you'll be left to the tender mercies of Toruki. I don’t have to tell you, Loudon, to what lengths these na- tives will go once they are worked up. I'll leave that to your imagination with the stimulus that Toruki has set his heart on amusing himself with the women—the younger one in particular.”’ Loudon broke in sharply: ‘““We’ll leave them out of the discussion, Brewster. We can take care of ourselves. I wouldn’t advise them to accept your offer if I believed that-you would carry out your promises, which I do not. If Toruki is not to be trusted how can you offer us a safe conduct?” But Brewster was not to be trapped into any admission of plans or a confession that the forces were divided. “That is our affair. We can handle Toruki between now and the morning. I’ve given you your chance. If you think you can afford to decide for those who are, after all, most concerned, we’ve got no especial quarrel with you, outside of what you did with Tomi, and we'll let that slide. Better talk it over with the rest, since I am not to mention their names. ‘“‘You’re in the frying pan, all of you, and I’m offering you better than fire. Give us what we want and we’ll be out of this before dawn and leave Rotorua and Toruki to fight it out. You’re shy of ammunition, you haven’t got spears enough for a tenth of your men and we are four to one. Don’t be a fool, man.” There was a certain amount of logic in the gambler’s argument. Their lives were in jeopardy. If they gave up the gold, the pearls would have to stay where they were, it would mean a reprieve for the two women. He had thought shudderingly of what their capture by Toruki would mean. If they kept their arms they could insist upon fair treatment aboard the schooner and maroonment on an atoll, with or without the promised boat, might be better to face than the doubtful outcome of the pres- ent. Perhaps, Loudon thought, he should put the matter before Serena and Mrs. Gower. They could leave Rotorua some ammunition. He had plenty of other weapons. If... . A clear voice spoke across his shoulder. 139 “‘The man is wasting time, Mr. Loudon. You are perfectly right. The money be- longs to the British Government which will undoubtedly seek out and punish those who have abetted an insurrection against its regent and attempted to abduct its repre- sentative.” ‘Loudon has told you all he knows, ap- parently,” sneered Brewster. The girl took no notice of him. “YT would suggest, Mr. Loudon,” she went on, “that this person be given five minutes to retire beyond the narrow place in the ridge. I see you have a watch on your wrist.” Her tones were crisp and decisive. Lou-. don felt much as if he had been the sergeant. Evidently she felt her position supreme as the regulator of affairs on the island. Brew- ster sneered. | “Petticoat government, I see. Of course, if you have your orders, Loudon, there is nothing to say. I was offering you a way out of it. We'll get the money anyway.” “You'll get just five minutes to cross that firelight zone, Brewster,” said Loudon. “I should recommend you to hurry.” Brewster shrugged his shoulders. “You'll be sorry for this after Toruki get. his paws on you, young lady,” he said. Loudon raised his pistol and it’s blue metal flashed dully in the light of the fire. He was not anxious to raise the general alarm but he would gladly have seen Brew- ster rolling down the side of the ridge before he said anything further concerning Toru- ki’s desire to avenge his supposed insult on the women. ‘“‘Three and a half minutes now,” he said. ‘“‘And every word reduces that by half a minute, Brewster. That’s all.” The gambler sensed the determination behind the words and swagyered away, be- traying a furtive hurry as he crossed the knife-edge. The blackness swallowed him - up and Loudon turned to the girl. “Did you hear all he said?” he asked. ‘““You were talking when I came up. I could not sleep and I heard voices talking in English. You acted excellently, Mr. Lou- don, It must be time for your relief and I am sure you need some rest after your last night’s adventure. I shall go and wake the sergeant.” She turned and left him. The “divine right” had asserted itself once more. Ap- parently, thought Loudon, the whole world CoOmiclsoo CO 5}