The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

A SECRET OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC. 436 ‘An’ where do you go?’’ demanded Atwell, scowling at Jessop and his chum. _ : The two neutral sailors stepped forward and helped Thorne to his feet. ‘‘Seein’ as the Naida’s a wreck, an’ things are generally changed,”’ said Jessop slowly, ‘‘’Tom and me have signed articles with Mr. Thorne here.”’ Amid the silence of both parties they led him up the beach, and were quickly out of sight. Atwell gave a command in a low voice to his followers. They prepared at once to launch the long boat. They took the water cask and provisions out of the cutter and placed them in their craft. Then seizing an axe Atwell chopped a great hole in the cutter’s bottom. | ‘There, my hearties,’’ he said, with an evil smile, ‘“T guess you'll stay here for one while. We'll bid you good by-<for the present.’’ He motioned Monckton into the long boat which his men had already run down into the surf, and followed himself. The next moment they pushed off, and the little party of officers and the cook were deserted on the shore. - Sessions made another examination of the wounded captain. ‘He isn’t dead yet,’’ he assured his companions. ‘‘ The bullet took an upward course and lies under the skin on top of the shoulder. Lend me your knife, Pepper, and I’ll cut it out.”’ | ‘Tonio went for water and Sessions probed and cleansed the wound with his finger. ““Tt hasn’t rouictiea the lung,’’ he said. ‘‘ The old man’s hard hit all round, but I reckon he’ll come out of it.’’ “Ves but how will we come out of it?’’ queried Pepper gloomily. ‘We shan’t starve nor freeze,’’ returned the first officer. ‘‘ What we must do is to join forces with Thorne and his party.”’ But they did nothing toward this that day. They found a more sheltered place among the boulders and removed the captain to it. The compass and instruments which were in the locker of the small boat were also taken to their new camp. Pepper and the cook rescued a number of valuable articles from the wreck’, including casks of bread and meat, and a small chest of car- penters’ tools. They saw Jessop and Shields occupied in the same work on the other side of the inlet. ° But Atwell and his party had disappeared with their boat around the western point of the island. The next morning, however, Tom Shields ‘acts his appearance at the officers’ camp. ‘“Well, what is it?’’ demanded Sessions, who hardly ‘cute whether to look upon the sailor as a friend or an enemy. ‘Mr. Thorne sends to know ’ow the cap’n is, sir,’’ replied Tom, with a pull at his forelock. : ‘*He’s not badly hurt,’’ said Sessions, ‘‘an’ is doing as well as can be expected.’’ ‘‘ Well, sir,’’ went on the sailor, ‘‘ Mr. Thorne was sayin’ as ’ow you was welcome to bring ’im up to our place an’ come yourselves. We've found a nice, light, dry cave an’ made it comfortable.’’ , CONNICLOOKS.CO 3