THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18547, 3 November 1923, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS.

j , BY HILDA BRIDGES, ili . (Copyright.) '.'..',• x f . . V CHAPTER (Continued.) !;'"... It seemed to me that the light faded : V : ' from his eyes, leaving them dull and black- \'\' circled; his lips drooped wearily. "Then t-'.."• it was you—that brought them down upon ; : me," he .said. •; "No. "i knew nothing. I only wanted "''/ Dick." He had my hands, and was :; sitting staring out across the waters rising and falling in sullen swell. I lay jobbing in my weariness and misery. Suddenly he, stood up. " Put back, Lee Sin," lift cried hoarsely, "Turn in quickly —do you hear?" , Wit-U hope springing up in me I stared at hi,ai: he rose and looked over the little. cabin at the Chinaman. Lee Sin stood impassively in the stern of the launch ; ~ kt> took no heed of my uncle's order, but kept the boat running under the leo of the island.

"Do von hear me?" roared my uncle. J' Tut back. 1 say." Loo Sin took no notice still, and the boat ran on beneath the cliffs, catching more of the swell now, and tossing violently. And now my mind was torn with terror for the look upon my uncle's face. He stooped and caught up a piece of bent steel from the deck—the very piece I think, with which Ah Fong had menaced him earlier in the afternoon; he made towards the Chinaman in the stern of the boat.

The launch was still surging onwards —coming out from the shelter of the island, and, rising and falling in the full swell of open ocean. Stumbling, swaying, my uncle faced the Chinaman. " Turn back, do you hear?" ho shouted, and the steel quivered in his hand.

I was loaning against the little cabin, gripping the railing, watching in terror. Again my uncle cried out. I saw Lee S;n's hand glide suddenly beneath the linen tunic, and flash out, gripping a revolver. Before ho could fire I cried out, and, bending forward, with all my force I hurled the wine glasswhich, unconsciously, I had been holdinginto his yellow face. I saw the great steel spanner flash down- the face turned from yellow to crimson; before I sank back into my seat. The launch gave a sickening lurch, and a shower of spray broke over ner, drenching me to the skin; she seemed to cough and cough, as though she choked— she turned her bow towards the cliffs, and the regular phut-phut began once more. I was far too frightened to stand up p-d see what had happened beyond the lii-lo cabin. Shivering, I crouched in ray seat* while the grey cliffs seemed to fly past— faster——like vast wave follows vast wave; a wall of water arose on either side of the boat. Ones I heard a snatch of song, and I trembled afresh. My uncle's voice called to me, "Jane, Jane." "Yes, Uncle," I stammered. ''Come here, child." I crawled toward him, and started back at the sight of a blue heap lying beside him. " Don't be frightened, my. dear. Ho won't hurt you,*" lie laughed. "Is he dead?" fearfully. "Oh, the Lord knows! Child—— don't look so horrified. I had not thought —until lie pulled the revolver out. And then it- was a Chink or I " "I know — know.'V "You saved me again, Jane! We're going back." . "Yes." He laughed. He did not speak again. CHAPTER XIX. TH£ BOCK.

The boat raced on faster and faster beneath the shadow of the cliffs-growing dim as at the coming ox storm and the approach of night. Dimmer still they grew before we passed below the highest point; I made out through the flight of spray that the cava was already covered; and we turned in toward the break in the cliffs. "You'll put me ashore quietly." I cried, "and hurry out again. They'll uever catch vou, will they?" He shook his head. "Never," he laughed. I had tried not to look at the ghastly heap beside him, but a kind of fascination seemed ever to draw my eye back to it. We were sweeping in toward a low mus-sel-covered rock, close to the entrance to the cove, when, my unwilling eyes straying toward the body, I imagined that I saw it move. "Look," I screamed, starting up. •'Look, he's alive." , My uncle had been sitting, as though utterly weary, almost lolling over the steering gear" of the boat. At my cry he raised his haggard, dull-eyes—and turned to stare stupidly down on the Chinese. And on the instant the yellow hand had seized the revolver lying still beside it; had levelled it, and fired. I saw a reel flash; I heard ray uncle cry out "My God!" and saw him clap his hands to his breast, and fall backwards. The boat gave a lurch that threw me down; swerving then it rushed fall tilt upon the rock. I heard a crash, I saw a great wave rise like a monster from the deep and plunge upon us, and darkness fell about me. And I was struggling in the choking, drowning, and rising to {..he surface blindlv striking Out and swimming desperately, borne onwards, inwards, by trie brokers. I had a dull notion yet that the long, mussel-clad rocks were to the left of me. I sought to strike that way, and desperation giving me strength, thougn I was borne onwards, ever onwards, 1 think that I prevailed sufficiently. \t least I felt my booty grate presently upon the rock, rnd the waves momentarily receding I caught desperately at j the stout weeds and. drove my knees and. feet as firmly as I might into the beds of shells. The "shock of the next wave plunging on the rock almost drove my breath from my body. I clung still to my hold, and was left" gasping, yet momentarily secure Struggling up I managed to drag myself higher, to a sloping terrace, surf-swept, bin out of the full wash of the sea. There I lay exhausted, gasping. I .rose at last and "crawled to the highest point upon the n>ef. Recovering a little I sat up, swept my eves clear of salt, ano. looked around

I was on an islet of rock many feet from the-.shore. The launch had d«apj peared-broken against the reef, she must have filled and sunk immediately, and why she had not dragged me with her I could not understand and do not Know. A few broken pieces of wood floated shoreward, on the tide-* larger white .object a lifebelt I made it out to *>-**$* fur her off: and, as I leant over the water, staling at it, I saw that something was buoyed up bv it—l thought I made put a hand— a white face shoeing in the gathering dusk. I hesitated a moment, and then slipped out of my sodden skirts and swam to it. It was washing towards me; witb a little help from me it drifted to my rock; and, climbing up, I managed 4to drag my uncle's body partly out of the water Ido not know how he had ever managed to entangle himself m the ropes of the belt, which always hung at the stern of the launch; but there he was. Dead-I believed him dead. I flung myself down b.»pide him on the rock, chafed his cold hands; looked into-his face, that in the twilight was my fathers face, and ill mv agony believed it was indeed my father lying there, crushed by the bub locks, that the bkod «tainmg h"> breast was mv father's blood. "Father! I called him. "Father!" It wa« growing darker, and fresh terror came with the knowledge, t'rt the tide had not yet reached the full J that .maybe in an hour or less ray rock would be comnletelv covered. Twice I drew my uncle ■ body further ur the rock: but my strength was" not sufficient to allow me to rawe him to a higher shelf. There Main I Ml to trying to warm him, calling aim " Father!" . , ~ .i,,.f A weak, sighing breath told me hat life was still in hint. I bent over him. sobbing, chafing the cold hands c*ce more. His eves opened, leaden eyes;, and be looked up at me. not knowing me, 1 .ua sure. They closed again, and the, mgM was blacker, and the sea was wjshiljff my feet I cried aloud, "Help HstoS.VjjJ I knew that no help was likely to come for us. I felt him stir a little mmy arms, and his faint voice whispered: ,

tr.■■**. Janeit is Jane 0 " Yos, Uncle Ralph I sobbed. i -Jew little girl ! The lifebelt, is it— It is here." • 'X "Take it. Tie it on. I tried—to find you. ' The voice was so very faint that i had to bend low to hear it: his breath drew painfully. r "It's no use to me, child. Take it— now! And—it's better—this way, little Jane. It's better to go on—like this— than to lie in prison; or wander over the world—alonel" 1 could only sob and hold him to me. The things at the house! Yours, Jane, Jone3 knows about it." Ho lay still then for a while, and the water lapped higher and ever higher about him. Suddenly a shuddering seized him. He cried to me, "Good-bye,, Jane!"— then he slipped from my arms, and lay still upon the rock. .

I had tied on the lifebelt at his command. Seeing that I could do nothing further for him I climbed higher up the rock, and gazed at the cliff. The sky was clouded over; the air seemed thick and heavy. Thunder growled over the rolling seas, a flash of lightning lit the scene of horror, and all was terror to me. Great drops of rain pattered on the rock; the scud was borne up constantly upon me.

A sudden frenzy seized me. I shrieked for help, louder and louder in the very madness of terror. A wave came rolling in, leaped up as if it meant to tear me from the rock, rolled back, and leaped again. "Dick!" I cried out. " Dick ! Dick!" A flash of lightning, burning like a great lamp through the night, illuminated all things for me. I saw, momentarily, I saw come driving out through the break in the cliffs a boat with two rowers. Thunder and sea joined ntrUt in the one dread pound; lightning, played flash " on flash all about me. Still I stood crying out, "Dick! Dick!" Ever the waves leaped higher, yet higher, ever the boat drew nearer—nearer.

So when at last it seemed the sea would have me, the lightning showed the boat close beside the rock, and someone standing in the bow cried out to me, "Jump, Jean. Jump quickly!"

And I sprang out as far as I could through the spray, borne up by the lifebelt I floated; and presently was drawn into the boat.

CHAPTER XX. THE RIDDLE SOLVED. , Dick carried "me ashore, when we reached the jetty, for I felt too weak to walk. He urged me to stay with Mrs. Jones; and, indeed, I longed for her, stout and motherly and comforting, for one so wet, weary, and wretched. But passing the open door I saw Miss Tibbs sitting beside the fire, and I felt I could not face lier, so I begged to be taken back to the cliff house. Half led, half carried between the young constable who had helped to rescue me, and Dick, I made my weary way, for the last time, I hoped, up the long road towards the house of mystery.

It was the constable who, from the cliff top had seen the launch making back for the cove in the dusk. He had watched her curiously, had caught the flash of the pistol, had seen the boat swerve from her course and wreck herself against the reef. Hastening down from the .cliff he had found Dick, still searching for me in the scrub, where someone had seen me run, half mad for the thought that I must have fallen into the hands of the Chinese, for he had heard of my uncle's escape alone in the launch. Telling Dick of what he had seen, the policeman raced with him down the road to the covo, and put off in Mr. Jones's boat, reaching me only just in time.

Dick had to carry me again for the last part of the way, for my limbs refused any longer to bear my weight. Up through the- garden he bore me, across the verandah and hall, straight up the stairs to my own room. There he laid me gent'y down upon my bed. fetched me a candle, and hurried away, returning presently with a cup of hot soup, which he urged me to swallow. I sickened at the thought of food; yet, to please him, took a few sips from the cup, and felt the better for it.

Presently I was able to finish the soup, and when he left me to find a little refreshment for himself, to struggle from the bed to strip off my sodden garments, and to dress myself afresh and clip into a warm dressing gown. "Don't leave me here, Dick I begged, when he came back. Let me come with you for a little while." " Better go to bed, dear," he urged-

" No. Let me tome, please. I couldn't sleep. I'm frightened to be alone, Dick. I keep thinking, thinking." i shivered and grew faint, hearing still my uncle's laughter in the distant mutter of the thunder seeing ever the blue-clad figure lying beside him : the yellow hand groping for the' pistol. Dick, understanding what I was suffering, said no more, but aided me downstairs to my uncle'a parlour. The only light came from a big fire blazing on the hearth. Mr. Ferguson was lying on the coucn, drawn close up to the .warmth. I saw that they had wrapped him in my uncle's bath robe, and I shuddered, remembering that he had worn it only that morning. The/ invalid was asleep or in a stupor. Mr Branscombe sitting beside him, smiled kindly at me when I entered, and gave me a warm clasp of the hand; but motioned me to bo silent, lest the sick man should awake. Dick tucked me up in a big armchair, and rolled a rug about me, then sat beside me in si] nee.

The gleaming firelight fell upon the golden dragons—to my disordered mind making them writhe and squirm . as though they lived; the god on the shelf leered down at me malevolently until I imagined I could see a likeness to Chung Li in his yellow face and slits of eyes. And so we sjat until the soft warmth made me drowsy, and I lay' half sleeping, Mill see ing the writhing dragons, mixed with, a dream of the rock, and a blue clad figure reaching for a gun. .. I started up, stifling a scream, then fell back again into my chair; by degrees tho nervous strain relaxed in my weariness, and for a time i slept. «■ The invalid started up at last with a cry, and tried to struggle from his couch, his' friend bent over him, soothing him, and persuaded him to drink a little wine; soon he lay still watching the firelight. " How came you here?" he whispered. " Tell me !"

" Never mind to-night, old chap. Try to sleep," Mr. Branscombe bade, him, wrapping a rug closer about him. "No! Talk to me! Can't you see it was the silenceand the cold and darkness—were killing me? I want to hear you speak! Tell me—how' you came." Seeing that it would be best to humour him, tho lawyer told his tale, in a low, soothing tone; I lay listening quietly, eager as the invalid to know the story of oar rescue. . „ , , "It was Boyd's letter that first warned me there might have .been fool play." said Mr. Branscombe. " I'd had the telegram telling of your loss, old man; then the letter came with the full account of all Dick had been able to find out about your disappearance. Dick wrote, too, of his meeting with a Mr. Graham* and his daughter, and of the strange likeness between the two brothers— John Grahame and Mr. Ralph Grahame . . .

The low soft voice went -n, telling the story clearly, while I lay listening in the firelight. l' learnt that Dick had got to wondering about that dirty piece of paper, thinking perhaps it might be of more importance than we had imagined, and that my father had received it in mistake for my uncle. He had gone to Mrs. Tonka, and asked her to tell again what she had overheard between Mr Ferguson and my uncle. This he had reported to Mr. Branscombe. asking him. too, had my uncle ever been concerned in anv case managed by the firm. Ihe next day Dick had returned to Hobart, to await instructions and my letter?which never reached him. One day, sauntering about the wharves, Dick had come across a big jailing sr and had noticed the name " Cintra. That made him wonder. He had got into conversa tion with one of the crew, and learned from him that the vessel had been trad, ins about the China ports, and he had made out from the time of arrival at Hobart, that she roust have been somewhere off the coast, not far from Woody Island, about the sixth of the month. Dick at once wired to Mr. Bran&combe, and re.

ceived » telegram bidding him remam < in Hobart. li Mr. Branscombo was wing Sydney immediately, and would join him. On Ins arrival he told Dick that my undo had got into some scrape in Sydney about 10 ' years before — opium . smuggling case, in which the firm had been employed. He bad got out of it all right, although both the partners had suspected that he was less innocent than ho appeared to be. When "Dick had written of my uncle living in such a strange r *ot, with Chinese servants, and of Mr. Ferguson's conversation with him, Mr. Branscombe jumped to the conclusion that there might be some connection between him and his partner's disappearance the queer message, and the discovery of the G'intra confirmed his idea that something needed investigation. There was a man named Collier, staying at the hotel, who seemed almost to haunt Mr. Branscombe and Dick; ho was always turning up unexpectedly. At hist they put turn down for some iajo tourist, at a loss for companionship, until Dick happened to pick.up a. piece of paper he had dropped, and by accident read the names Laudon and Grahame. He took the paper •to Mr. Branscombe, and they came to the conclusion that Collier had been placed there to watch Dick, and was communicating with Grahame and his friend Landon.

Mr. Branscombe wasted no more time. He went directly to the police, and askea their assistance; he made out such a good case that a couple of men were placed at his disposal by the superintendent. They went aboard the yacht, then —it was waiting in the river, and they had given out their intention of sail: ing round the coast. But, as soon as they were out of sight; they slipped ashore, and came on by a motor-car which the police had secured for them, making all speed for Shark Bay. On their arrival they set to work to find out all they could about Uncle Ralph and about Woody Island, but learned very little ot importance. My uncle was known merely as a wealthy man, somewhat eccentric, people said; ho had no visitors,"with the exception of Landon, but lived quite alone with his Chinese servants, and did a little sheep farming with the aid of a shepherd. He was very fond of fishing; going away in the launch for that purpose, and sometimes remaining out ail night. He was generous with his fish when h«made a good catch, making presents to ill the islanders nearby, through Mr. Jones, his nearest neighbour.

The steamer had come in the night before, and was lying at the jetty waiting to go on to Hobart; Dick, worrying about me, and unable to understand' why 1 had not written, persuaded Mr. Branscombe to ask the captain if ho carried a letter for him. After some argument, the lawyer, with the aid of the two constables, managed to persuade the captain to admit there was such a letter directed to Richard Boyd, and finally to hand it over. Of course, my letter explained everything, and for the first time Mr. Branscombe and Dick grew hopeful that Mr.' Ferguson might still be alive—thai he was the prisoner in the cave. The.v collected together every constable in the district, and * engaged one of the ' big timber barges ■to ferry them across. Landon must nave ✓heard of it, and sailed across with a couple of fishermen early in the morning ; maybe Collier had sent him news that the game was up. My mention of the man Klint caused Mr. Branscombe to have him sought for. He was quite well known at the bay, and was easily found. He worked at timbercutting, away back in the bush. He was questioned, but at first denied all knowledge of, the letter, until, finding how much was known, he admitted handing the note to my father, under the impression that he was my uncle. He'd been frightened when he found out his mistake. He had watched us drive away; and, dreading thai we might"bo connected with the police, and were about to make use of the message, he resolved** to follow and watch us. He rode after us on his bicycle. He was sitting beside the road, he said, mending 1 a puncture, when he saw us returning, and caught sight of the bullocks bolting toward us. He was between us and the bullocks. He feared he would be crushed against the' stones. He jumped up as they came galloping down the hill, then, seeing what had happened, he ran away, believing no one had seen him; afraid lest he should be held responsible for the mishap.

I had started up. "'■" I don't believe him!" I cried. "I believe he saw his opportunity, and tried to murder us, so that his mistake should not be known

"Hush, dear!" said Dick, pressing mo back into my chair. " Hush !"

Mr. Branscombe looked pityingly at me. "We cannot say, dear child," he said, " Evidently the man is terrified of Lan. Don—goodness knows what the fellow holds over him. He's a poor creature, TT e'd been ordered to hand the slips ox paper to your uncle, when London sent them to him. He seemed to know nothing of their meaning. I doubt if he can read." M We sailed across this morning. While we waited, hidden behind the rocks, for the tide to run out, we saw the launch putting to sea. When she was out ofsight we made for the cave, and landed in the dinghy belonging to the barge Boyd and a- young v constable sought tho way up .tho cliff, while tho rest of us searched - the cave, discovering you, Ferguson. The fellow with Boyd caught Landon. Now, old chap, will you try to sleep?" ,_.'■■ Mr. Ferguson had lain quietly watching the flickering flames, a great peace and happiness in . his sunken eyes." No stay with me a little longer," he begged. His voice, although still hoarse and weak, had regained much of its fulness, He looked at us for a moment without speaking, and then said : " I should like to . tell you my story now. I foel quite strong enough. Wo saw that it war better to humour him, and listened attentively. . "After I had left the yacht in tho bo*t," ho began, his voice gaining strength as he proceeded. " I sailed round the island fill I came to a bay, above which, on a cliff, was a farmhouse. I was about to land, when I heard in the distance the ' phut-phut' of the launch. Anxious to avoid being seen, I pulled in till I was under the shadow of the cliff. The launch passed, and I followed it, till, reaching a point, I saw beyond it «a, cave. " As luck would have it, I spied tt" launch just leaving the cave; hid myself and the boat behind a spur of the cliff, and watched it out of sight, • Then, I landed and had a look round; and soon saw enough to tell me what game they were playing. I was getting into the boat when something hit me on the head—that devil Chung had come upon me. We fought, but the blow on my head had weakened me, and' he was able, fat as he was, to throw me against the cliff, so that 'was knocked senseless, I think I had concussion o* the brain. I remember lying, sick and burning with fever, in the darkness; sometimes I was delirious, sometimes cor,:.'ous. I heard the Chinese gabbling; I fancy I heard Landon talking. He came once and bent over me, and I heard him mutter my name. Chung was urging that I should be knocked on the head and thrown into the sea. He said that the tide had carried off my boat. Landon bade them keep mo securel think he was afraid to do actual murder. He warned them to keep my presence in the cave a secret from Grohame —calling him a soft fool. " I seemed to lie in the cave for months. Chung Li tended me after a fashion. I begged him to release me, promising silence, offering him any reward. H' refused. One day I escaped; gnawed through the rope that my hands were tied with, unfastened the cord about my ankles, but found I v»as unable to walk. I rubbed mv. feet and legs for an hour or more. At last I erect through the cave, only to find the tide high, and all escape cut off, I went back and lay down,

" At dusk when the tide ran out I crept round under the cliff, in a few inches of water;- 'ound a place where it seemed possible to climb, and. weak though I was, managed at last to reach the top. Exhausted, I lay hid in the ruins, intending to rest awhile. ,nd then to get away into the bush. That devil, Chung, must have gone down to the cave, and found me missing, for I heard his thistle calling his fellows. I made a break for it. I

stumbled, and my foot was hurt. ■ ■ All I could do - was to, drag myself behind a heap of rubble. They found me there and dragged me' back to the cave, .;,,.i ve been there ever, since—chained, growing weaker and sick for want of exercise; almost mad with the horror of darkness That devil, Chung, used to come and stand beside me, 'smiling down at me, making a soft purring noise, like some great evi. cat. His eyes would glint green behind his glasses. I would struggle for selfcontrol; try with all my strength to keep my eyes shut. I always failed. I would reach for him, trying to catch his throat: to squeeze his abominable life out. I would scream at him. I thought my mind was going. And he would laugh, laugh: gloating ever my agony. " A few days ago Landon came again; he stood beside me, flashing a light in my face. I heard the Chinese once more urge him to let them make an end of me. Ho swore at them savagely, ' Let him stay here— till he rots!' he said. He went away—and I became unconscious. I remember nothing more until the child found j me." - " You saw nothing of Grahame?'

" Nothing. He knew nothing of my captivity." > t ~ "Well, thank Cod, we've got you!" said Branscombe. *' Now try to rest awhile, old man."

"But what was it all about?" I asked, " What was hidden in the cave?"

" Opium," said Mr. Branscombe. "Where did it' come from? What did they do with it?"

"They got it from passing vessels; notified by Landon when to meet them. It was easy to slip out oh the plea of fishing —sometimes in answer to a signal from the ship herself. They would watch from the cliffs; it is possible to see miles out to sea from that height. The stuff was stowed in the cave. Other little lots evidently came through from _ Hobart; you had some experience of their methods in that box you found in the book."

" That treacly stuff!" I stared aghast.

" Yes. Evidently Chung had" overlooked that little "lot. And by your account of your uncle's queer moods, I should say that he knew more of the effects of the dope than he should— dently he was in the habit of taking more than was good for ium. Mind you, T don't think your unci© had much to do with the actual smuggling. He was put here as a blind, to hide the real purpose of the place. His appearance and manner were so good: ho was sufficiently reckless and sufficiently indolent, to leave the management of things to Landon and the Cr : - nese. It was easy to deceive the simp.e folk around here— his sheep, his love of reading and solitude. But for my partner's happening to stumble upon your uncle they might have gone 011 101 "years and years undiscovered. There must have been money in the gang, too. for them to buy this 'place and build the house. I suppose they had been looking for a suitable spot; discovered the cave below the high cliff, and found how easily a tunnel could be driven through from the underground cells. Landon carried the stuff away for distribution. He passed as a commercial traveller, indeed, he is employed by some small firm in that capacity. He could go backwards and forwards without the least suspicion."

I sat in silence, gazing' into the fire; the invalid had fallen asleep. " You'll go to bed'now, won't you, dear?" asked Dick gently.

- I assented, though still dreading to ir alone in the darkness ; and he led me up the stairs to my room, where, for very exhaustion, I fell asleep almost immediately. CHAPTER XXI. WE LEAVE THE ISLAND. I awakened next morning to golden sunshine—to a world washed clean, it seemed to me. For a moment I lay still, until remembrance came to me ; then ' started up, hating to be alone, dressed, and went downstairs. I found breakfast laid ready, one of the constables acting as cook, and not a. few remarks I heard wed' by the policemen upon ray uncle's taste for. fine living, and % the .dainties stowed away in Chung's kitchen. L We prepared to leave the cliff house soon after breakfast. A policeman was ieft in charge of the place; then, Dick carrying a small tease of mine, «vt stood on the verandah waiting for Mr. llranseomhe. Presently two men came from the parlour, bearing the invalid ill the hammock, and we set off down tLe road through the bush. We had not gone very far when we met three people, advancing slowly up the road—two constables, and between them Chung Li, handcuffed. Chung's fat countenance was uniftniling for once; over and over 'V.ain he was repeating, "Mo no saveo! Me no savce!" And if ever a Chinaman wore an expression of bewildered innocence Chung Li was that Chinaman They halted before us, and Chung caught sight of Mr. Ferguson in his hammock, propped with cushions, wrapped in rugs. Chung ceased to speak; it seemed to mo that' a change passed over his face ; leaving it expressionless; even his pigtail hung limp, and ceased to look like the Gorgon snake I had fancied it, since 1 had learned to loathe the man. Mr Ferguson had thrown himself up in inv hammock; his hollow eyes were flaming, his long, skinny claw of a hand pointed at his tormentor, all shaking. He said no word ; he fell back a;;ninst his pillows, as exhausted by his ettort. Chung Lstared straight before him.

" A , nice chase we've had, sir," the policeman explained to the big man who had caught Ah Fong. " The yeller devil dived for the hush, an' got away, though we dashed after 'im. Never caught sight of 'im till this momin', hidin' in the ruins there. When we pounded on 'm 'e fought an' clawed like a wild c:.t. Look at mo arms, an' Tompkins' face! Then 'e pretended 'e didn't know what we was after 'im for. 'Ere, get along, you."

They fell in behind the procession, heside Landon and Ah Fong. We made our way downwards toward the cove, across the bridge, and my heart was heavy when I saw kind Mrs. " Jones watching ub from her kitchen door. I left Dick's side, and ran no her.

" Don't think very badly of us—my undo and'l," I begged her. " I knew nothing. It was the Chinese !"

" There, there! Didn't I say so all along ? I knew them varmints was up 10 some devilment. Never you worry, my dear, I'm not.goin' to think nothin' at all, bo there. Your uncle well, he's gum, poor soul. An' I know you're innocent enough, you poor child." ■ - " I'll write and tell you all about it. I* must go -ow, good-bye. Than!-, you lor all your kindness to me." That's all right, my dear. You were very welcome. Who's "the young chap, eh?"

I called Dick, and presented him to her; she shook hands, and turned again jto me. " And where are youi goin,' my "|dear? To 'friends? You'd be welcome to stay with us. Jim and me'd like it real well."

" Jean's coming to my mother, Mrs Jones." said Dick. " Though we thank you very much, Jor your kind offer."

*' Well, now, I reckoned you was him '"' said Mrs, Jones, looking pleased. " b'/ the way you was watchin' her. I wish you good luck, both of you, mv dears." I nodded, pink-cheeked, cheered by her kindness; and kissing her walked on b» side Dick.

We embarked on a great - clujnsv wooden barge; the three prisoners sat in a dejected row beside the tiny cabin, their cap!pi's, guarding them. Mr. For guson, still lying in his hammock, found a comfortable couch on a pile of sail cloth. Dick and I sat together, away from the rest. Out in the bay the blue' waves shimmered and danced; as we drew near the little township Dick pointed out Mr. Ferguson's yacht, now decorated with flags, for the crew had learned of the owner's safety. The' rock was left far behind. I had hidden my face lit pick's shoulder as we passed it, not daring to look up. We were out of thv shadow, of the full sunlight; the island was fading into blue mist. Happy augury of new life beginning, I felt as sured. " We're going, home, Jean whispered Dick. THE EXD. S -