The Argosy, January 1907 — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

216. { told Billy of the guns, and his rage against fate was equal to my own. It did indeed seem fatal that he should have chanced on the weapons in the cabin of the schooner. We discussed José’s encounter with the man on the deck, and were mutually re- volted by it. Yet, as fate willed, it was doubtless José’s only course. ‘The man was in the way of our escape. The situation did not admit of niceties in conduct. None the less, the fate of that innocent man has been heavy on my conscience and on my brother’s through all the yéars. There was a good, favoring wind and we were soon out of the bay. The night shut in black, and it came on to blow. I hoped that we were not destined to face- another gale, but fate remained our foe. livery moment increased the severity of the wind, and in the course of three hours it was a raging storm. The sea grew very heavy and we were constantly drenched by spray. “We're in for more trouble,” Billy prophesied gloomily. ‘José must know these waters pretty well,” I answered. ‘“‘ He can guide his course by the wind.” “I can’t see my hand before my face,” Billy exclaimed; and it was true. ~The schooner went plunging through the sea in long leaps, measured by the height of the waves. * The wind was shrieking, and that with the pounding of the waters made an uproar so great that we were now obliged to shout to each other in order to be understood, though we crouched side by side. This din of the elements and the dark- ness gave me an idea. “fam going to try for those guns,” I said. “For the guns?” “ But how? Jos¢——” “If I’m lucky, José will know nothing about it until too late,” I replied. “Anyhow, I’m with you,” my brother declared. ‘“‘ What’s the plan?” | ‘No, you're not in this at all,” I said. Then; as Billy began objections: “You see, it’s better that only one should take the risk, so that, at the worst, one of us will be left. But I don’t pro- pose to get the worst of this. It is so dark, and there’s so much noise I think Billy exclaimed. THE ARGOSY. I can creep to the stern and get the guns without José’s knowing anything about it until it’s all over.”’ Seeing that my resolve was unalter- able, Billy ceased remonstrance and | forthwith began slowly crawling aft. In the pitchy blackness I was unable to keep precise track of my whereabouts, and as I advanced I went ever more cau- tiously, for I had no mind to bump into José and thus give him warning of my presence. It seemed to me fully a half-hour that { thus groped my way over the few yards of the boat’s length. It was nerve-rack- ing work at the best, for at any moment 1 believed I might tumble into the out- law, and all the time I was straining my ears to hear and my eyes to see, though either was an impossibility just then. Suddenly my extended right hand touched something that made me recoil. It was no part of the schooner that my fingers had lain on. I knew that I had at last reached José. I remained motionless, half-glad, half- fearful. Had he felt the contact? I held myself in readiness for an attack, but the seconds passed and none came. I began to be sure that he was unaware of my presence. With infinite care, 1 extended my hand again, and felt along the gunwale for the weapons. Here and there my fingers roved searchingly without result. The guns were not there. For a moment I was puzzled. I had observed the position of the guns before it grew dark, and they had been on the side where I now was. It was apparent, then, that José had moved them. They must be on the other side of him. He had doubtless altered their position in order better to suit his convenience at the helm. lt moved back a little, that I might run no risk of touching José again, and began crawling across to the other side. I had gone perhaps half-way, when without warning I was seized by the throat and dragged to my feet. I struck desperately at my enemy, but his reach was too great for me, and my blows fell short. I felt myself strangling, yet I retained my presence of mind, I remembered my purpose. For now, as I COPMICOOOKS stood, (E@)