Argosy All-Story Weekly — "Sea Marauders" — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

S... . ; a me * * “ io <o; = - = a _ a > “ee = ee 3¢ a 452 ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “It’s entirely your fault,” retorted Forbes. “It was insanity to provide no guards on this remote island. You did not even keep a watch.”’ “ But who would believe that such a thing was possible?’ groaned Lover- ing. “ Mildred darling, are you ter- ribly frightened ?” “No,” she replied sharply. “ Just disgusted at Franklin Forbes for mak- ing such a remark to you, dad, at this time.” “T’m sorry,” Forbes said sulkily. “Naturally I hate to think that, through inexcusable carelessness, we are likely to have our throats cut.” “For Heaven’s sake, don’t say such a thing,” whispered Lovering, greatly agitated. “These women are sufh- ciently terrified.” “T’m not,” said Mildred. “ Every- thing is going to be all right.” “Yes?” sneered Forbes. “I wish you'd tell me how.” She met his eyes squarely. “ Be- cause there was one real man on the island who was not caught napping— Steve Reardon. You heard them say he was at large with a gun. Well, he'll get us out of this.” “ Fividently Reardon met them and tried to stop them,” said Lovering. “Tt was the fight he put up which waked up the house. I’m glad to know they didn’t kill him.” “ Bah,” retorted Forbes. “ One man with a revolver against a score of scoundrels with machine guns! Our only hope is that they will be content with our property and let us live.” Mildred patted her father’s arm. “Steve is a man, dad. He’s been in shipwrecks and tough places. I’m bet- ting on him.” “You seem to know him pretty well,” said her father. ‘‘ How does it happen you are friendly with my wire- less man?” “Tf you really want to know,” said Forbes, “she has been meeting him secretly every day since we've been here.” “Indeed,” replied Lovering. In his situation this did not seem as important as it would have appeared at another time. “My dear Mrs. Balch, I sug- gest we all sit down and huddle to- gether. We cannot stand here all night.” * Let’s,” said the charming widow. * And, Franklin, I’d advise you to shut up. You haven’t played a heroic part in this adventure so far.”’ | Mildred passed her arm about the elder woman and hugged her. Then the party of guests squatted on the cement floor, and the servants followed their example. For a long time they talked, having divided into groups and obtained some comfort by leaning against one another. Finally some of them were able to sleep. CHAPTER VI. HIDE AND SEEK. I'TEVE, REARDON had pretty thoroughly explored the island during his brief sojourn there, and knew its advantages and disadvantages. While it was fairly well wooded for a coral island, and contained several patches of jungle, it was not an ideal place to. hide. It was a mile wide at the east sector of the coral circle, but it narrowed rapidly until it degenerated into a sandspit at the far side near the en- trance to the lagoon. Under cover of darkness he could avoid pursuit>but in daylight it would be a simple matter for a line of men stretched across the island to drive him before them until he was forced out upon the uncovered sandspit where he would be an easy target. In a few hours the sun would rise, and the moon was already coming up and dissipating the protecting murk. Reardon was an excellent revolver shot, but he had never fired at a human mark until to-night. If there was a possibility of the departure of the i eS ae small comicbooks.com