Argosy, Vol. 118, No. 4 — page 88: what you’re looking at

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

558 ciated with sailing-vessels, and the word comes easily to my lips. Pray, pardon it.” “ Humph! Officer, be ye?” “T have the honor to be captain, sir.” “Captain Porter, eh? Why didn’t ye say so, straight off? Think ye can make it down-river in this dirty fog?” “The fog will not interfere with our sailing, sir. If you will kindly accompany me down these steps, I will help you into the small boat that is waiting.” “Well, them! Ye don’t need to be so edurn ceremonious over it,” grumbled Rob- inson. ‘ Doctor—consarn the fool! I be eve he’s asleep again! Hey, doctor, wake Vanamndl straightened with: a start, and this time actually roused enough to offer Leilah his assistance in descending the dozen wooden steps that led to a small float- ing platform at water-level. The small boat referred to was drawn up alongside. It was not the gasoline faumch Robinson had ex- pected, however, but an oar-propelled craft. ‘Fhree oarsmen could be faintly discerned occupying its thwarts, and a fourth waited on. the platform, holding a lantern. Without at all thinking about it, Vana- mam observed that the lantern was not the ‘common ship’s type, but of cubical shape with ornamental wrowght-iron framework forming a lattice tracery over side-panels ‘that might have been made of old-fashioned horn, not glass, so dim and yellow was the light transmitted from within. “Tf you will take your seat on that for- ward thwart, sir—” ‘ Ladies. first,” snapped Robinson fuss- ily. ‘ Git im, Leila. _ The tall captain made a sudden gesture, almost as though to prevent the girl from obeying. But Leilah was quick and deft in her motions, and already she had stepped in and taken the place indicated. The old hawk handed her the leather bag that con- tained his prey, and a moment later was seated beside his niece. When Vanaman would have followed, however, the captain caught his arm in that overpowerful grip of which Robinson had complained. ‘“‘T am sorry,” he said firmly. “ The boat will not carry so many, Mr. Robinson. When we have put yourself and the young THE ARGOSY. lady aboard, there will be time enough to return for this gentleman. I understand you are in great haste to reach the sea. But so small a delay will matter little, and moreover, once started we shall sail very swiftly, for the tide will carry us along— the outflowing tide.” “The outflowing tide,” gravely echoed the man with the lantern, And as if in sentiment confirmation of the words, the dark waters that raced gur- gling and seething past the piers jerked strongly at the prow of the boat, so that it swung suddenly outward, The man with the lantern stepped aboard in haste and dropped to the fourth oarsman’s seat. The tall captain gave Vanaman a push that sent him stumbling back against the steps, and himself made a flying leap across the half- dozen feet of racing water that already in- tervened between boat and platform. He landed neatly, standing in the stern sheets. Vanaman, staggering up, had a mo- mentary glimpse of him as a tall, gray figure, outlined vaguely against the dim lan- tern-glow and very wraithlike because of the fog that swirled between. The muffled but unmistakable cry of a frightened wo- man drifted back to him. And then he was alone in the dark on a little platform, beneath which unseen water seethed and raced. The tide—the outflow- ing tide— Like a riven veil, or as if with the pass- ing of the green casket some evil charm had been lifted from his brain, the stupid daze which had for hours possessed Vanaman cleared and was gone. ‘“ Leilah! Oh—Leilah!”’ Springing to the platform edge, he shout- ed the girl’s name again and again. There returned to him no responding cry, but close at hand, just behind him, in fact, he heard a noise as of smothered laughter. Wheeling, he collided heavily with the per- sor who had found cause for mirth in kis fear-stricken shouts. His hands elosed on lean shoulders. “ Sheer off there, matey! ‘ Blair!” gasped Vanaman. Though he had heard the man’s. voice only once before, that once had been under conditions to I ain’t huntin’ EO DOO > a SS (C(C)