The Blue Clipper — page 72: what you’re looking at

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

=; sae SN ee ae ee 74 THE BLUE CLIPPER. Tt was Boker, who, during the retreat from the rendezvous, had fallen and nearly broken his legs. He threw himself down, and wept like a child. At full length he Jay upon the grave, his face to the earth, sobbing and moaning. Suddenly a shadow fell upon the ground. The moon had emerged from behind a cloud, so that this shadow was sharply defined, Boker saw it not—saw not Watson, who now stood behind him. Se The captain touched him with his foot. The man turned round, beheld the intruder, and, with a howl, sprung to his feet. “See what you have done—see there!’ wailed Boker, pointing at the grave—‘“ the only being I ever loved on earth sleeps forever—murdered by your hand!” “TI feel sorry for you,’ answered Watson, “but say not | murdered. 1 fired at another, and the shot struck er.” : “Tt is all the same. You had no business to firein the © dark. It was brutal carelessness. You shall suffer for it. I will have my revenge.” “What do you mean? Be careful. In reality, Cuptain Wand was the main cause of the accident, as, had not .he been there, I would not have fired. Well, you have had your revenge. I captured Wand, and he is now a handcuffed prisoner aboard the frigate! He will be disgraced—he will die an ignoble death.” This allusion to the man whom Boker had deemed his fa- yored rival, was like putting fuel on fire. “ You fired the shot, you did the deed. I repeat, I will be revenged. You know what I mean /” Watson turned as pale as death. - “ Come with me aboard the cutter,” he said, sternly. “You are my prisoner!” : Weak and crippled though he was, Boker raised the staff he carried, aiming a furious blow at Watson. The latter easily dodging it, seized the mate by the throat, and drew him along, a short distance. Then, applying a whistle to his mouth, he was soon joined by several of his men, evidently come from his boat, lying alongside the beach, (Ue, y