Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 2 — page 140: what you’re looking at

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Oe he seemed to slide under the bridge, but the fog was too thick to see him clearly. “ Stop that fellow!” shouted Durand as the fug)- tive disappeared in the muck. There came an answering cry from some- where forward, and an officer appeared. “ What’s the trouble, sir,” he asked, sa- luting the captain. ‘A thief, Mr. Peck. Ran from the sa- loon. Was in a passenger’s room. Looked like one of the crew,”’ panted Durand, and the words were hardly out of his mouth when a deck-hand appeared. “IT saw hin, sir,” he cried excitedly. “When I heard the hail I tried to stop him, but he gave me a clip on the jaw as he passed, then he leaped to the stabbard bul- wark an’ went up the shrouds like a monkey, sir. He’s aloft on the foremast now, sir.”’ “Good!” exclaimed Durand. “ We have him treed! Mr. Peck, station men at the port and starboard tiggings and pass the word for the bosun.” He drew me aside. ‘* Kent, will you go to my room and get my revolver? You'll find it under my pillow. Hurry.” I did hurry, but I did not go back through the saloon, not wanting to be tackled by the Zingaria. As I ran along the promenade toward the side passage near my room I saw that matters were rapidly coming to a head and that with the capture of Mr. Dare the whole matter of my false position would come out, Durand, with my- self being disgraced. It may be argued that no one would be- lieve any statement as made by a thief, but he could easily substantiate my share in the deception by producing my clothes. How- ever, I let all consideration of policy go with the wind, determined to do my duty, but I will admit that I wished I was in a position to keep Dare’s mouth shut, even at the price of protecting him. All this, and more, flashed through my mind as Iran. Finding the revelver, I hur- ried back with it, having been so quick on my errand that by the time I reached the group by the foremast the boatwain had only just appeared. Every man on deck was looking aloft trying to see the fugitive through fog and darkness. . my mind I saw my late tormentor strug- ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “ Bosun,” said Durand, “ there’s a thief . up the foremast. Stand by to. iron him. Mr. Peck, send a man aloft to bring the fellow down.” é¢ Aye, sir.” A moment later a stalwart deck-hand went up the shrouds and became invisible. Presently came his hail from above: ‘“ All clear aloft, sir.” . ‘What do you mean?” shouted Durand. “ He’s there. Overhaul the yard.” ‘Yard all clear, sir,”? came back the re- ply. “‘ Topmast clear to the truck, sir.” ‘“ Come down, you fool; you’re blind.” The man obeyed. Another was sent aloft, but the result was the same. Durand looked blank. ‘ The fellow knew he was hopeless, and has dropped into the sea from the end of the yard! Any one > hear the splash of his body?” Several thought they had, but no one was sure. And no one -could have been sure, for the noise of the ship’s way, the rolling wake, and the slap of the seas would have drowned the splash of a falling man. I was impressed, albeit I was also relieved. In gling far astern, hopeless if not already dead—a man not yet in his prime, probably as much in love with life as was I, and in no condition to meet his Maker. The thought of him sobered me and brought with it a wave ef regret. ‘Mr. Peck,” said Durand, ‘“‘ muster the crew and see what man is missing. From his appearance he came from forward. Re- port to me when done.” He spoke sharply and abruptly left the deck. I did not join him. I went to my own room. The saloon was quiet, the passengers not having been disturbed, but-I1 noticed that Mile..Zingaria’s room door was ajar and there was a light within. considerably upset by the tragic event of the night and even as I thought of it while sitting in my room it came to me that my clothing would be discovered in Dare’s cabin and that until I recovered it I was not clear of the woods. His room was but @ Step from mine. at once.. That there was a light showing through his transom did not surprise me, neither did COUMIUC Hoe SS) I determined to go there I had been | ww