The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 3 — page 89: what you’re looking at

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

a ee ae hme a o-"g is , &* THE VOYAGE OF THE PULO WAY. 473 ‘“No,’’ was the abrupt reply. But the face of the second mate grew harder than ever. ‘You wouldn’t. He was an honest man.’’ An ominous cloud darkened my companion’s face, but beyond a quick dilating of the nostrils he gave no other sign of being stung by the taunt. Yet why had he refused to admit his identity? Equivocal as was his posi- tion, it was none of his choosing. Against it he might have struggled in vain. But in the mean time the specie had been passed over the side till the whole ten boxes lay at our feet ; then, without more ado, the men got out their oars, and amid the jeers and execrations of those aboard the Australian liner, we put about for our ship. ‘*T suppose I can go now ?”’ yelled the captain. ** Not until we signal you permission,’’ said Hayling. : As I looked up I encountered a row of angry faces, but my eyes only rested on one—the white, scared face aft, with its nimbus of golden hair. As we rowed back to the Pulo Way my companion turned to me. ‘‘ What a strange little world this is! That fellow who spoke to me was once a shipmate of mine.”’ | ‘Then why did you deny your identity ?’’ ‘‘ Cussedness, I suppose—or some scruple as to letting my friends know that I have turned pirate.”’ ‘* All the same, it’s a pity we didn’t try to get aboard.’’ ‘There would then have been no hope for the Chung Tong. Look ahead,’’ On the fo’c’s’le head stood Mr. Gupp beside his gun, the gun itself trained upon the unfortunate liner. I saw and understood ; but all the same I deeply regretted having to return to the Pulo Way. ‘*Did you see that girl aft ?’’ I asked. “See her!’ he echoed. ‘I don’t think I shall ever beck her scared, white face ; her look of utter abhorrence. What unmitigated scoundrels she must think us!’’ ‘‘ What unmitigated scoundrels we are! But she was very lovely.’’ ‘Too lovely to die,’’ said he. ‘“ What do you mean ?”’ “Tf I hadn’t seen her I should have tried to get aboard the Chung Tong.’’ I followed the drift of his thoughts, and while I duly admired the self sacrifice, I could not help thinking him over scrupulous. Once on board the Chung Tong we might have got away, or offered such resistance as would have given Captain Macshiel a distaste for piracy of the more adventurous order ; but once back on the Pulo Way we should be entirely at the mercy of a crew of successful desperadoes. Well, it was too late now. ‘The chance, if chance it were, had gone, and we had to face the future. with what cheerfulness we could command. A few more strokes brought us alongside the old packet, and in an in- credibly short space of time the specie was transferred from our boat to the deck. As soon as all was clear I clambered up the side, and beheld the COMmmcoooxs (S@)