VAGABOND VOYAGE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 219, 28 June 1938, Page 7

VAGABOND VOYAGE

By ALROY WEST.

(Copyright).

Exciting Story of Treasure, Love and Adventure.

CHAPTER IX

TRIP ASHORE. Captain 'Wicks joined him as lie was considering these tilings and making provisional plans. “Desolate place, isn’t it?” Wicks asked. Peter nodded his head. “It’s almost impossible to believe that people live here,” he declared. He realised that he must make Micks think that he had n,o intention of trying to get away. “People live most everywhere,” Wicks reminded him. “Perhaps the greatest wonder is how they manage to live all crowded together in a city. That isn’t natural, you know. It’s part of the artificial development which we call civilisation.” Drew smiled. “Evidently town life doesn’t appeal to you,” he commented. “Yes it does. I’pi like everybody else Why do you, think I’m taking this gold—only to have a good time and to give myself a. chance of leaning back and taking life easily. But I really came along to point out to you that travelling isn’t exactly a healthy pastime along this coast. The people who do live in these parts have some very nasty ideas of hospitality.” “I’ve heard a good many tales from some of my friends—and most of them were pretty grim. The Arabs frequently leave mutilated bodies lying on the sand so that others can get a better idea of what will probably happen to them. ’

“Maybe you’ll bear that in mind Mr Drew. If you do leave the ship I shall feel that it is my duty to follow you and bring you hack. I shouldn’t like to come across your body somewhere among the sand dunes —especially if the Arabs had been decorating it.” “Bear in mind what I’ve told you, anyway.” .

“I’ll do that,” Peter told him

The peril of falling in with Arabs, however, made no difference to his determination to escape from the trawler. He knew that Wicks would have no compunction about murdering him once the voyage was drawing to a close and his services were no longer required. On the other hand, Gallop was just as big a villain, and would treat him the same once they managed to get ashore.

After a time Peter went down to his cabin. The .dinghy was being launched and the men were going ashore. Gallop, glad of a rest, was lying in his bunk. He opened one eye sleepily as Peter entered the tiny cabin. “Don’t you feel like going ashore?” Peter asked.

The engineer shook his head. “I feel like sleeping,” ho grunted “That’s all I want.”

Realising that it was impossible to do anything so long as Gallop remained in the cabin, Peter went back on deck. “Do you feel like stretching your legs ashore?” Wicks asked him. He shook his head.

“I feel a. bit fagged,” he explained. “I’d prefer to stay on deck if it/s all the sqmo to you, sir.” “Suit yourself,” he said. “I’m going to see if there is any sign of water anywhere. I very much doubt it, all the same. However the search will keep the men quiet.” Peter watched the dinghy reach; the shore, and saw Howe jump out to pull it up the beach. For a few' minutes the men capered about. Then, with Wicks in charge, they set off for the dunes. “Fat lot of good looking for water thqre,” Peter thought. Then his eyes narrdwed. It was far more likely that Wicks was plotting some mischief or other. He hurried to his cabin and roused Gallop. “What do you want?” the engineer demanded.

Peter explained and Gallop slipped down from his hunk.

“He’s up to something right enough,” he said thoughtfully. “It’s just as well you told me. What about leaving them on shore? We could get the ship out of this, couldn’t we?” “I shouldn’t like to try it,” Peter said. “You’d have to he down below, and I couldn’t very w'ell be steering and heaving the lead. It’s a tricky inlet. I’m very much afraid that. we should only manage to run her aground. Gallop nodddd his head. " “It was only an idea which flashed into my mind,” he confessed. “Now that I’ve had a chance of thinking it over, I can quite see that we couldn’t manage it. For one thing, the engine wouldn’t stand much more, and we’re still some distance from a place where we could slip off with the gold.” “A considerable distance,” Peter remarked drily. “It wouldn’t be so far if you would consider handing it over and getting the reward. It should be fairly substantial.” Gallop shook his head.] “WHAT IS WICK’S CAME?” “Nothing doing,” he said firmly. “I want a good share. To he exact, I want half.” Hq stretched himself. “What about you swimming ashore and bringing the dinghy back? Then you can take me and we can have a look at those sand dunes and find out just what little game is attracting the dear captain at the. moment. He’s a changeable cuss!”

Peter did some quick thinking. “It wouldn’t do for us both to go ashore,” ho pointed out. “Suppose Wicks returned another way and missed us. He’d realise that we had trailed off on our own and might feel tempted to leave us Tiehind.” Gallop scratched his neck.

“I’m not so sure about that,” lie said. “There’s' the engine to he overhauled.” “Couldn’t Gordon do it? Or is he really ignorant about such matters?” Gallop’s eyes almost closed. He clenched his mighty fists.

“If that pasty-faced apology for a man is stringing mo I’ll strangle him,” lie said between his teeth. Then he shook liis head. “He’s not much good,” ho announced. “I’m sure of that. But Wicks might risk it. After all, he has to pay me a pretty good share. He’d

ho pretty confident that there wouldn’t he much risk so far as leaving us behind is concerned. But lie couldn’t get across without me.” He shook Tiis head again. Peter made one more effort. “He might lie pretty efficient with sail,” lit' suggested. Gallop whistled. “1 didn’t think of that,” lie said quickly. “It would lie possible to rig up a sail or two. He’s a wizard With sail, is the captain. Owned a schooner at one time. She was pretty fast, too. He certainly knew how to get everything he wanted out of her. Maybe you’re right. Can you slip ashore and get that dinghy? You’ll have to stay on board the ship until I get hack.” He took a step forward and grasped Peter bv the shoulders.

“I’m going to trust you,” he announced. “You’re going to got the boat and bring it for me. Then you’ll row it to the shore with me, and bring it back to the ship afterwards. Jt doesn’t matter if Wicks does turn up, you’ll keep the boat here until I arrive on the shore. Get the idea?” Peter nodded his head. “I understand,” he said slowly. “And I’ll follow out your directions.” “That’s all right,” said Gallop.

“It might not arouse so much suspicion if I stay in the dinghy and try my hand at fishing,” Peter suggested.

“It would be a good plan,” the engineer agreed. They put the scheme into action. Peter slipped off his clothes and dived over the side. He swam to the dinghy, launched it and rowed back to the trawler. Gallop helped him aboard. He quickly dressed, slipped down to his cabin—ostensibly for his pipe and tobacco—and then took his place in the thwarts.

As soon as the dinghy reached shallow water, Gallop jumped over the prow and splashed his way ashore. “I’ll find out what tittle game Wicks is playing,” were his last words before making for the dunes. Peter waited until the engineer was out of sight, and then" helped himself to some things which were in the locker. He filled the flask he had obtained from hiiv cabin from the small keg of water, and also had a refreshing drink. Then he pulled out the plugs, put them in his pocket, and jumped out of the boat. As the water began to pour in he pushed it out into deeper water. Then, after a quick glance about him, he set off to the north in the direction of the place where the Russian steamer had been wrecked. He was elated at the success of his plan. It was very probable that Wicks had taken the hands ashore in order to discuss something with them. And that something was quite likely to have reference to the engineer. Wicks obviously would like to cut down the number of people who had a share in the gold. Nevertheless, it was certain that he would not’ attempt any drastic action until the crossing had been made. Gallop was too good a man to be dispensed with, and should have realised that. His vulnerable point, however, was his distrust of the captain. Peter felt that he had played on that quite well. A GIRL! It was tiring plodding through the loose sand, and he started to bear towards the dunes in the hope of finding firmer ground. He wondered what Wicks would do when he returned to the ship. He would certainly be furious about losing the dinghy. Peter had taken the precaution of putting the spare plugs in his pocket. The crew would have to drag the boat out—quite a heavy task—and then cut some new plugs. It would certainly hold them up, because Wicks would not feel like.leaving the dinghy under water any longer than he could help. Wicks might take it for granted that his mate would! be killed by Arabs, or die of starvation. But on the other hand he might decide that it was far too risky leaving things in the air. Ho might want to make a further call, either, at the Canary Islands, or more probably at St. Louis on the way to Cape Verd. He would not he too comfortable if there was the slightest chance that his mate had'been able to get into touch with the authorities. It was always possible to encounter an outpost of the Foreign Legion. So Peter felt certain that Wicks would make some sort of an attempt at pursuit. . . The walk to the dunes was exquisite agony. The sand was too soft so that hfs feet sank down at every step, and the burden of the heat was almost intolerable. At last, however, ho came to the dunes and found that the ground was much firmer. He had a small compass with him, and carefully took his bearings before penetrating' this region. Hour after hour seemed to go past as he wound about at the base of the dunes. After a time he had a rest, munched a biscuit and drank a little Water. This refreshed him, and he continued on his way. There was never the slightest indication of pursuit, and at last ho began to foot more confident of his ability to reach the Russian steamer.

He was taking a considerable risk, but he felt that it was much to he preferred to the almost certain risk of being murdered by Wicks at the end of the voyage. He felt pretty sure that even if a pursuit of the trawler was started, Wicks would manage to slip away. Some of the things Gallop had told him helped to give him this impression.

By the time he took his second rest. Peter calculated that he had covered about five of the I*2 miles to the wreck.

There was some slight comfort in the thought that this was, if anything, a conservative estimate. He moved onwards again, and n curve in the coast brought him within sight of the sea once more. It was a welcome sight, if only for confirmation that he was going in the right direction. Ho wasted a few minutes in order to climb a dune ami look for any sign of either trawler or wreck. It was impossible to see either of them. Annoyed with himself for losing time in this way, ho moved on at a slightly increased pace.

ft was oppressively hot and Peter felt that he had been walking through

a perpetual oven. After a time he came to a low hill and sat down under the shadow cast by one of the boulders. He took another sip of water from his precious supply and then rested, glad to be out of the glare of the sun. Evidently he dozed through sheer fatigue, for he awakened with a start. His first thought was to jump up awj run, because lie heard sounds of talking. Then he realised that this would he futile, only serving to attract attention.

He crouched against the boulder 'and waited. Once 1 1 is head had cleared from the effects of sleep he knew that it could not be Wicks and his party, because the sounds wore coming from, the wrong direction.

Suddenly a camel came into sight iollowod by another, and then a third. They were being led by Arabs clad in dirty garments. Five more Arabs followed the baggage camels. After them came a few wretched blacks huddled together and with their hands fastened behind their hacks. Two Arabs brought up in the rear, and had another captive between them. Peter’s first thought was one of relief that lie had not boon detected. Then he was seized with a sudden fury, for the last prisoner was a girl—and a European girl! Fivon as lie watched, she stumbled and was jerked l cruelly to her feet by her captors. - (To bo continued).