The Argosy, Vol. 84 No. 1 — page 177: what you’re looking at

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

HIS zat. Listen, Monsieur Saville. When I left ze Gitana I left a message wis a - Sailor to be sent to a friend in New York. Mistare Jake Barstow. It will be telegraph immediately ze Gitana gets to land. Mistare Barstow will understand zat you Saville, ze thief for whom zere ees one big reward, ees here on zis island. I have give ze position. “He vill give information to ze po- leece. Zey will send at once and my friend and I divide ze reward, hein! I have not told you zis before, but you would not have got away in ze boat in any case. Ze motor would not work—l see to zat.” “Curse you for a treacherous hound! Old Andrew was right, after all,” mut- tered Saville. How long had he been lying there, he wondered. He did not know whether it was day or night. The entrance to the cave was closed, and Foularde, probably fearing that some slight chink in the rock might betray him, had switched off the electric light, and the spot where Saville lay was dimly illuminated by a candle. What a dull fool he had been to fall into the crude trap which Foularde had set for him! And just at the moment of - victory, too! The reflection was maddening, and Saville strained at his bonds in vain. Then his quick ear caught a faint, scraping sound. They were rearing a ladder against the cliff. Of course, they must have seen him even at that distance when he had signaled, and Ellen Lisle knew the secret of the cave. His hopes rose only to be immediately dashed by Foularde’s hateful voice:— “ Zey search,” said the Belgian in a low tone. “One leetle cry, monsieur, and { will choke you— so!” and the lean, bony fingers were at Saville’s throat. “TI have removed ze lever from wis- out,” continued Foularde in a whisper. ** Zey cannot come here, even if zey knew we are within.” Saville could not suppress a slight groan, though the fingers closed menae ISLE OF REFUGE. cingly. He heard the muffled sound of voices without, a woman’s among them. Ellen Lisle had acted as guide. was there—within a few yards of him. Saville ground his teeth in impotent fury. Foularde, without removing his hand, blew out the candle and they were in utter darkness. Then a gun boomed forth. Perhaps they thought he had not recognized the ship or suspected a trap and was hiding. The searchers had left the ledge, and Foularde removed his hand. “Zey are gone, monsieur,’ he whis- pered, “ but be silent. Not a word!” In a frenzy of sudden rage Saville She - 167 writhed violently as he lay, only to wince — with pain as his hands scraped against a sharp-edged rock. A gleam of hope flashed across him as he once more lay motionless, and he twisted his body so that the cord which bound his wrists rubbed against the edge of the stone. ‘Lie steel,” said Foularde sharply. Saville groaned. ‘My head is paining me terribly,” said he in a faint voice, “ and I am get- ting cramped. Can you not release my legs at least. You have the revolver and with my hands tied I can do nothing.” Foularde laughed callously. “Ven ze sheep ees gone, I will con- sider eet,’’ he replied. Saville made no further appeal, but — groaned and_ shuffled until Foularde cursed him in a low voice. His wrists were raw and bleeding and his whole body throbbed with pain, but it seemed to him that his efforts were not in vain and that the cord was nearly severed. Suddenly it parted and his mangled hands were free. “Vat ees it you do?” queried Foularde suspiciously, and Saville lay in an agony of fear lest the candle should be relit and his bonds examined. “ Go to the devil,” he replied sullenly. “T was only trying to ease the cramp in my legs. You are torturing me, you fiend!” ) Foularde laughed, GoOmicbooks (E©)