The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 1 — page 80: what you’re looking at

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

80 THE BUNKEL MYSTERY. sloop enough to enable him to hit the boat amidships, and as it was only lightly built, the sharp bow of the sailboat had cut entirely through her. The two ruffans who were at the oars had only time to abandon their posts, and one of them sprang into the bow, while the other tumbled into the stern sheets. Tom Sawder, who was yelling out his threats of vengeance as though he did not anticipate the impending disaster, was pitched from his standing position over the bow of the boat. The Diana was strongly built, and she dashed on her course, only a little shaken by the shock, as though nothing had happened. Of course ‘I'om and his companions were effectively silenced, and it was a relief to hear their noisy yells no more. Andy stood as stiff as a granite monument at the helm, and did not seem to be at all disturbed by the mischief he had done to the enemy. He looked calmly astern at the havoc he had made, and did not change the course of the sloop. The row boat contained no ballast, and it did not sink. What was left of it remained floating on the waves after the Diana had passed over it. None of the hoodlums had been injured by the collision, and all four of them were in condition to take care of themselves. All but Tom were in the boat, and they laid hold of the wreck. ‘The rower who had leaped into the stern gave his hand to the chief, and drew him to the boat, so that he got hold of it. Not one of them was in any danger. The wind had been increasing, and the lake now was lively with white caps. Although the boat had been practically cut in two, the parts did not separate, and it was evident that they were held together by the keel, which had not been broken. | As soon ‘as Andy had satisfied himself that the ruffians were in no danger of perishing in the lake, he directed his attention to the shore of the island. He expected to see there the mysterious individual who had called out to Tom, and who had probably supplied him with his stock of revolvers. But there was no one to be seen on the island. ‘There was certainly a man there, and as he had observed the actions of Tom when-he had the pistol in his hand, he must have seen the disaster to the boat. Andy ran directly for the landing rock, and watched with all his eyes for the appearance of the stranger. [he skipper was so much absorbed in this lookout that he failed to make any reply to the remarks of his fair companion. The mysterious man did not appear, and perhaps the proximity of the sloop was a sufficient excuse for his failure to do so, for it was plain enough that he intended to conceal himself. - Andy wondered that he had been so imprudent as to call out to Tom when he raised the revolver ; but probably he believed he could not be heard on board of the Diana. Even the wreck of the boat did not prove to be a sufficient inducement to the stranger to betray his presence, and Andy concluded that he had some very strong motive for concealment. ‘This conclusion made the matter all the more serious and important to him, and he was therefore all the more anxious to solve the mystery which surrounded the stranger. But he could do noth- ing while his movements were hampered by the presence of the fair skipper, and for the present he had to abandon the inquiry. COA MIICEL OKO) KS |