The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 1 — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

THE BUNKEL MYSTERY. 79 as the skipper counted the reports. One ball went through the washboard, just forward of Andy’s head. A foot further aft would have sent the ball through his head after it had penetrated the board. Andy sprang to his feet. He glanced at the hole through the washboard. It made him boil over with indignation and anger. The keg of gunpowder in his composition exploded as he looked at it. Possibly he had not been able to believe that the threats of the hoodlum were anything more than talk till the boat was struck by a shot. ‘Tom’s actions meant ‘‘ business’’ to him now. Without saying a word to the fair skipper, he put the boat about, and headed her towards the craft of the hoodlums. Andy was mad from the sole of his shoe to the lining of his cap. The blackguard had come within one foot of putting a bullet through his head. The Diana had been headed to the southeast during Tom’s revolver prac- tice, and of course was now in the opposite direction, and she had the wind square onthe beam. She was doing her best, as she had not before, because the skipper’s attention had been diverted from his duty. ‘Did he hit you, Andy ?’’ asked Di, as soon as the skipper resumed lis place at the tiller, after he had changed the courseof the sloop. ‘‘ I know he has, for you have been changing the course of the boat.’’ ‘No, he did not hit me; but he came within just one foot of sending a bullet through my head,’’ answered Andy, much excited. ‘‘ You can see where the ball struck the washboard ;’’ and he pointed at the ragged hole. ‘* But he will kill you, Andy !’’ almost screamed Di, as she looked at the mark of the ball. ‘‘ No, he won't ; he has emptied all his barrels, and he can’t fire again till he loads them. There is not a bit of danger to you now, Miss Singerlay, and you had better come out of the cuddy,’’ said Andy, struggling to keep his wrath within bounds. His anger and indignation did not manifest themselves in outward expres- sions ; all the boiling was within his being, though it gave a decided sharp- ness to his actions. Di seemed to have unlimited confidence in her compan- ion, for she came out of the cuddy, and seated herself in the standing room. ‘“Why, Andy! you are headed directly towards the rascal’s boat !’’ she exclaimed, as soon as she had looked about her. ‘‘ITam; I can’t stand this thing any longer, and I’m going to put a stop to it in short meter,’’ replied he, with his teeth set. | The Diana was going at a furious rate; Tom Sawder was yelling. A minute later the sloop struck the row boat, and cut it in two. CHAPTER VI.--THE MysTrEeRiIous STRANGER ON BuNKEL ISLAND. Di SINGERLAY sent forth a scream when the sloop struck the row boat. A young lady could hardly have been expected to do less than this, for it was really a terrible scene. ‘The Diana actually went entirely over the craft and her living freight, carrying the four hoodlums. under water. Andy Lamb was thoroughly in earnest. He had varied the course of the 5 a LNOOLKS 5} (CO)