The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 169: what you’re looking at

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

THE MUTINY ON THE FLYING CLOUD. _ 553 So, taking one more keen glance around, to make quite sure that all was safe, Henderson went softly down the staircase leading to the courtyard, and quietly directed Manners and Nicholls to rejoin him at once upon the parapet. This done, he entered his own room. A lamp, turned low, was burning upon the table, and by its light he was just able to see that little Lucille was sleeping calmly where he had laid her; but his wife was absent, and he needed not to be told where she was. He stood fora moment looking with unspeakable fondness upon the sleeping child, and then, bending over her, he pressed one kiss upon her forehead. As he did so she smiled in her sleep, her rosebud lips quivered a moment, and then he heard her whisper, ‘‘ Dear Percy !”’ It was enough; had he felt the least lingering hesitation about the carrying out of his plan, that unconscious appeal made by his sleeping child would have efiectually banished it, and, dashing away the tears that rose to his eyes, the doctor quietly withdrew. There was a light burning in Mrs. Grant’s room; and, as he passed the door on tiptoe and stealthily, as though he had been engaged upon some un- lawful errand, he caught the low murmur of his wife’s voice, and a stifled sob. ‘That was another appeal not to be resisted ; and without venturing to disturb the two mourning watchers—though he never before yearned so hungrily for a parting word with his wife, or .a sight of her face—he passed noiselessly on, and so regained the parapet, where Manners and Nicholls already awaited hish. To them he fully unfolded his plan, minutely explaining not only his own but also their part in it ; after which he gave them his final instructions, and then taking both of Grant’s magazine rifles in his hand, and thrusting a brace of revolvers into his belt—having previously loaded each weapon carefully with his own hands—he quietly lowered the outer ladder, cautioning his com- panions to draw it up again after him, and stepped briskly but noiselessly out through the dew laden grass in the direction of the shipyard. CHAPTER XX XIV.—DOOMED TO DIE. THE story told by little Lucille relative to the first appearance of the Malays was so graphic and accurate up to the point of Grant’s capture, that _ little or no addition is needed to complete it. The shell #&therers had been most successful in their quest, and return- ing to Grant Island laden with their delicate and beautiful spoils, were about half way across the stream—which, it will be remembered, was of consider- able width at the point where they would have to cross—when the Malay proa suddenly hove in sight round a bend of the channel. There was only one possible explanation of the reason why Grant had not seen her in ample time to avoid capture, and that was that whilst he had been busy with the children on the eastern beach, the proa must have been ap- proaching from the westward, which would cause her to be hidden from view by the intervening high land. CONNICLOOKS. CO) Sy