CHAPTER XXXV.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13509, 26 August 1907, Page 6

CHAPTER XXXV.

AN OPEN VERDICT. Cathcart had saved tho situation just in time. Whatever happened now, >> would be impossible to get the % Lone Star ' afloat again without the aid oi powerful tugs. , Her bow was driven hard upon tho sands; with the exception of a silght list she »va.s periectly safe. The startled Lascars and polyglot engineers had crowded upon deck to .set what was the matter. They grinnod and chattered threateningly at the sight of their friend the doctor at the wheel, but fortunately they were more than predisposed in his favour. But Jordan was struggling to his teet again. Just for the momc-nc it looked like going hard with Cathcart. He wu.% alone amongst a hostile crowd that was far more likely to do the bidding of .)<>:- dan than anybody else. Powell we: worse than useless. "The ship is sinking!" Cathcart yelled. "Look to the boats! Look to yourselves!" He knew the men he had to deal with. He had been at sea long enough to have learned some of the Lascar language. Jordan would have said something oi a reassuring nature. He would have exerted' his authority by force, but his head was still heavy and dizzy from the effect of the recent blow. "It's you or I," Cathcart said between his teeth. "Try to get up, and I'll serve you as I did before ; or, if you like, you can go with the rest. Where is that paltry coward of a Powell?" " I'm not far off, sir," a shaky voice came from the darkness. " I'm all right, sjr ; I'm no coward. Only so dreadfully ill." . Oafchcart choked down his cpntemp*. It was mere waste of time to bo aii'jjrv with a creature like this. Jordan grovelled and swore freclv as the Lascan tumbled over one another to get ihr] boats out. They were nmU-r the full influence of the panic by this time. Fortunately there were boats enough and to spare, or the scare might have ended in a tragedy. "' Are you going to use those lights I gave you?" Cathcart demanded. Powell whined and coughed again. But he managed to retain sense enough to follow out Cat heart's instructions. A blue flare flamed over the grey waste j of waters. A moment later and there came an answering blaze from the direction in which Cathcart deemed the • Queen of the Mist ' and the ' Psyche ' to be. '• Waterloo!" Cathcart exclaimed with grim triumph. " Now, you can go if you like." He kicked Jordan contemptuously to his feet. At any qther tim* 1 the latter would have shown fight readily enough, but the last boat was being cut from the davits, and the pilot's experienced eye showed him that there was room and to spare. He had lost everything but his personal liberty, and to remain would be to imperil it for some considerable time to come. Ho stumbled across the deck and dropped into a boat, then it shot into the darkness. Jordan was wise in his^ day and generation. A moment later and Cathcort, with Powell, was alone with the ' Lone Star.' ' Yott , managed that very well, Powell gasped. " But I should have held on to Jordan. I don't forget that he was going to murder us both." Cathcart declined to discuss the point. After all. that had to be proved, and the more he came to consider the matter the less he could see against the sea pilot. The great thing now was to lay the facts before the authorities. Presently a dipping light began tc glow more steadily from the sea, :md tinwelcome voice of Brodie gave a hail. A little later and some of tae hands iror.i tho ' Queen of the Mist ' had followe 1 Brodie on board. Cathcart stood there with a smile of welcome to assist them. The task w.is finished. "Meanwhile tl:o ' Psyche ' had been standing off awaiting events*. Even Russet had been able to give a pretty shrewu guess as to what was happening, when it. became impossible to see anything further of the * Lone Star.' It was as if the sea had swallowed her up. She ' went down and called to Brown, He came on deck instantly. "What does itr mean?" she asked. " Mr. Brown, the ' Lone Star ' has vanished. I suppose she thinks that she is going to steal away and give us the slip in the darkness." " That's about the size of it," Browv was forced to confess. " They must be in pretty desperate condition to try that game on. Why, it's any odds they get run down before they are half-way across. Still, so long as Mr. Cathcart is aboard they ore not going to have everything their own way." Russet shuddered as she pictured George's danger. His very bravery would He a source oi danger. For a 'ong time Russet remained on deck. She declined to go down for dinner. She stood muffled up in a fur cloak, straining" her eyes in tho direction that ike 'Lone Star' had takon. Would fclie boat or George be seen again, she wondered? Something like a prayer rv.i, n to her lips, when A blue star appeared a mile or two away to (he north, followed by another rind another. Russet cried out joyfully. Brown came and stood by her side. T*'s all ri"ht," he yelled. "That's the signal. Mr. Cathcart has got tb- • )Ofst 01 them. All the same, the ' Lone Sir.r ' must be precious near the i"hA Spuds. Look there!" As Brown pointed, a light or two twinkled out on the ' Lone Star.' Thelights bobbed up and down for a little time, and then became perfectly still. " I should like to know what that means," Russet said anxiously. " Capital !" Brown cried. " Now it is all right. Mr. Cathcart has got possession of the boat, and steered her on to the Flat Sands. You see, she can't get away without a tug ; 'in any case the littlo conspiracy is defeated, Miss Rus-f-et, it has done away with all our troubles. I'll just go down and tell the news to Mr. Mostyn, if only to see his 1-i.r." lluw-et laid a detaining arm on her companion's arm.

'• you pormifc me?' 1 shf said. " I .su]>po»e >ou Avill make a :->i^;nal to tho • Queon of the Mi^t,' and j.'ot as close to the ' Lono Star ' as imssiblc. I'll go and see Mr. Mostyn." | Mo.st.vr;, conscious ot the excitement on hoitrd, was quivering with nervous anxiety. He said nothing v,hen Rus.'-ct told him tlie new.,, but his white iacc was expressive 1 enough. '• So this is the end ot it all S" he niuttored, ai'lcr a louts pauw. " Km.-ot, | bad as I have been, 1 have never been bad to you. Give me a chance — release j me. la the bustle and toniusion I can; get away. I've got my liiebell here. Ij can't stand the idea of gaol. It would; drive an active man like- me mad. Let! in° jio. . . You know where the keys of these infernal things are. Only release me, and 1 shall find a way of escape." I3y daylight the shores oi' the East Coast loomed up be'ore tiio:-." on board the ' Psycho,' inchnling Cathcart and llenton, to whom a good night's rest and eareiul nursing had done wonders. The •' Lone Star ' had been towed off. No kind of damage had resulted from her running on the Flat Sj"hls. There was nothing for it now but to wait patiently for the iHvA. There was one theme of general conversation — Mostyn had disappeared in the confusion, leaving no trace behind. Only llus:;ct said nothing. " You did it," dleorge said at the first opportunity. '"Russet, are you not the culprit?" " I admit it to you." Russet whispered. "It seemed to me that I owed the man something. Perhaps if I had given the matter due consideration I should have acted otherwise. But don't tell the others." Renton came up a little feebly, but smiling. Grace was still in the cabin. As yet she had not heard what Renton had to say in his behalf. " All over at last," ho said, pulling at what he termed a well-earned cigar. " We've only got to tell our story to the Customs people and Lloyds', and after that the ' Lone Star ' will have to be towed into port, and our story verified. Lew ton's Assizes will not see you again, Cathcart." All the same there was a deal more to do than Renton had anticipated. (To be concluded.)