Argosy, Vol. 111, No. 1 — page 130: what you’re looking at

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

120 “ Water’s filling,” said McKay resigned- ly. “If you get enough of it, I don’t be- lieve they’ll worry us to-night. They figure they’ve got us cornered. ‘To-morrow they'll rush the schooner. I'll bet they are waiting for Ponda to get the crick out of his neck to-night.”’ The sun sank, the violet, transparent dusk deepened to a purple void in which the stars swam golden. Drums started to drone about the fires, and a deep chant arose. Two canoes, furnished with torches that were constantly renewed in the bows as they burned down, patrolled the reef near the entrance. The tide fell, and the breakers hissed and surged across the reef in streaks of phosphorescent foam and water. | Sime started to snore, but McKay kept vigil, With Parks sick and the schooner lacking a leader, they were all in a tight box. If only he had not shut up the dyna- mite in the safe, Tomi might think of it, (To be continued 66 -GUESS Ill turn in, Hank.” G The smaller gray man’s eyes flashed sidewise craftily at the big figure swaying in the upholstered seat of the Pullman smoker as the heavy train swayed round a curve. ‘“’N a minute,” he rejoined. ‘* Have an- other, Herb.” He passed a black bottle into the flaccid fingers, which tightened in- THE ARGOSY. but he was powerless to get it. To-morrow the savages would attack the schooner from all sides, and the odds were they would capture it. The odds were too great. He hoped and prayed, and, sailor-fashion, whistled softly for a wind that the schooner could take advantage of, though he some- how felt certain that the girl who would, with her father sick, be the dominant char- acter aboard, would not sail away on the slim chance of bringing rescue before he and Sime. were rushed, or perished of heat and starvation. Sime could not stand many hours of such exposure, he was sure. But he could not bring himself to leave him. Still, it might be their only chance. In the dark— His sense of danger thrilled through him, and he was up and alert. He felt, rather than possibly could he hear, the soft scuff of footsteps on the sand at the foot of the rocks. The drums and chant had been od started to cover an attack. NEXT WEEK.) stinctively about the glass. Straightening, he took another long pull, grunted, coughed, and handed back the bottle. He sat with hazel eyes staring dully across the compartment. Those of the smaller man, that chanced to be of similar hue, watched him steadily. The heavy chestnut hair of the big fellow hung, dis- ordered, nearly in his eves. He was im COMiIclooo i) SS (CO