The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 3 — page 109: what you’re looking at

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

THE VOYAGE OF THE PULO WAY. 493 ‘‘Well,’’ said he, ‘‘ what are you doing there? Saying your prayers ?.’’ ‘“No; listening to the rats.’’ ‘Rats, eh? Do you think they understand the signal ?”’ ‘*T think so,’’ | | ‘*Much good may it do them.’’ ‘They are intelligent rats,’’ I said. He smiled. ‘‘ But powerless.”’ Then, turning to the girl, he said, ‘‘T am sorry that you should be disturbed in this manner. I must see if I cannot get you another room.’’ ‘Vou are very good, Captain Macshiel.”’ His eyebrows came down with a jerk; he started as though he had been stung. ‘Then an ugly, suspicious look swept suddenly into his face. I some- times thought the man was not wholly bad, though he was bad enough to resent any imputation of goodness. What had he done for her that she should call him good? And yet I knew he would have liked to hug the delusion that she believed in him, only, having some sense of the fitness of things, he dared not. ‘Therefore his brows beetled, and his parrot beak took unto itself an ugly curve. The knowledge of what he was made him angry with what he could not be. : Just then, as if further to increase the awkwardness of the situation, the rapping below recommenced. The captain looked at me, and a cold, shivery sort of smile played round his hollow eyes. ‘Most remarkable rats,’’ he said. ‘‘ Upon my soul, I must let the cat loose in the storeroom.’’ 3 I followed him out into the saloon, giving the girl a reassuring squeeze of the hand as I went. He stopped when he saw me, and looked me up and down in a quizzing, impertinent way. ‘* Captain !”’ “Well?” ‘‘May I have a word or two with you?’’ ‘* A dozen if you like. Come this way.”’ He led me into his room, which was on the other side of the saloon, and pointing to a settee, bade me be seated. He himself lounged against his bunk, stuck his hands in his pockets, and surveyed me with an easy, inso- _ lent smile. ‘Of course you know the meaning of that knocking?’’ I began. ‘“Of course. As I said, I will not have Miss Waltham disturbed. ‘‘he cat shall be sent below.’’ 3 ‘But why not give the rat a chance to come out?”’ ‘‘ Because a rat is a most ungrateful bit of vermin, and has absolutely no conscience. ”’ : ‘* Tell me, Captain Macshiel,’’ said I, ‘‘ what has Hayling done that you should allow him to be treated in this fashion ?”’ | ‘“ Hayling !’’ he echoed, simulating wonder. ‘*‘ Why, he fell overboard two days ago!”’ ‘You know very well that he did nothing of the kind.’’ ‘Look here,’’ said he, a deep scowl knotting his ugly eyebrows, ‘‘ you Eomicbooks (S@)