BREAKERS AHEAD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20175, 8 February 1929, Page 20

BREAKERS AHEAD.

A NEW ZEALAND ROMANCE.

Author of "Outer Darkness** and "The Te Kooti Trail." (COPYRIGHT.)

CHAPTER Xll.—(Continued). Molly smiled her appreciation, but continued her exposition of things as she saw them. "We'll go to the third ciimp first. Get there before the launches leave for the day to-morrow morning. And, colonel, if you'll agree, we'll take your launch as well as this one." She bent down and whispered earnestly. "So that, you see, we may be prepared for the very worst that can possibly happen. Will that bo imposing too much on your good nature ?" " Imposing!" the colonel snorted indignantly. "Imposing! I've 'listed for the duration in this war. I'm a partner, but damme, if I weren't, you couldn't keep inc out of this." lie turned to Harry. " Put her ashore soon as you like. And be ready to sail at four tomorrow morning."

Nearly all the other launches were in by this time and the camp presented a f mnch more animated appearance than when Molly had viewed it at midday. The colonel gravitated from group to group, then led Molly to the bank of the little stream, out of the main current of the camp. In very short order they were joined by all the launchmen, for the colonel's summons had brooked no excuses.

Bluntly and in the plainest words, the colonel explained his desires. " Can't tell you yet what we'll pay for them," ho barked in his best orderly-room manner. " May bo fivo shillings. May be five pounds. It will be the fair market value. But wo want 'em all. Understand. On a contract. You know me. All of you. I send as many people your way as the next one. Now for your reciprocity. I'm interested in this business—tho* I'll thank you to say nothing of that to any inquisitive stranger. It's up to you to put this thing my way." " Why, of course, colonel." Old Billy acted as spokesman. " The dead fish aren't no good to us. You're welcome to 'em, fur's I'm concerned." " That's so," the others assented. " That being tho case," the colonel went on confidently. " the thing's easily arranged. We'll see no large boats come here commercially—most of you know my sentiments about that. We'll leave all the; fish-catching to you. But we can't start our works unless you fellows sign a contract to let us have all your fish for say, three years, at fair market rates. Will you do that ?" I will," Billy answered quietly. ■" You're a tough customer, colonel, but you're square. An' that's a fac'." "For my part I'll do my best to see that more sportsmen come from the Old Country. It cuts both ways." Billy had been conferring with one or two more of the launch-owners. " Come Tip to my place, colonel." he offered, •" Yon can write out that contract an' •we'll sign her now." " That's that," Molly said happily, when they emerged. "If I'd searched the whole British Empire I couldn't have found a more capable chairman of directors than you're going to make, colonel." The colonel beamed. "We make a toam, there's no denying it," he admitted. " You for the staff work, Molly, m' dear. Me to lead the troops into action. Now we'll draw our rations and then I s ! pose you'll sleep in the boarding house. Make sure they call you at ten minutes to four."

When in the grey of the next morning, the Mako and old Billy's boat slipped ont to sea, no one was astir in the camp. There were thin wispy clouds in the sky and the sea was sullen and choppy. " Might squalls bimeby," Harry predicted. " But we get to the islan* before any come." They arrived off the Island Fishing Camp at five-thirty, passing Middle Camp, far out, some time, earlier. " They're stirring." The colonel pointed to smoking chimneys and men carrying cases to launches. " Get up on the hill Billy. You know that, what's his name, Moki's launch? If you see that, or any other stranger, coming up from the south, come down at once and let me know. Take your glasses with you." The colonel and Molly went ashore and the Englishman soon ■ had the launchmen assembled round him. Most of them he knew well; the others knew him. Within twenty minutes the document he had prepared was signed by each one of the launchmen. " Good enough. You'll none of you regret it." The coionel was jubilant. *' If we do well, so will you. Our interests are—hallo! Here comes Billy Running, too." " The worst has happened," Molly said gravely. " I had a feeling it would. Lenny's in sight. Give me that letter you wrote to Colonel Charteris at Middle Camp. Harry and I will be going." " Moki's tub." Billy, puffing hard, was brief. " Jsebuchednezzar's with him." Very rapidly Molly and Harry climbed into Billy's craft and started off. Those who have studied the elements of geography, will realise that, with no exceptions, there are two ways to leave an island by water. Molly, at the wheel of her new charge, did not select the more direct route, invariably chosen by boats approaching from the sea. Hugging the chore she steered an inland course that meant a complete circling of the island before she could head for the open sea and Middle Camp. For the moment let us leave her and return to the colonel and Billy in the Mako, which, by the way, still had a swordfish lashed to each quarter. " I think it's going to lie a dirty day, Billy," the colonel observed, after a careful inspection of the weather signs. "Bit thick outside, even now. Hallo! That's b queer craft. Like a coffin, dammit." The' stranger, which clearly had been roughly handled outside, crawled laboriously up the bay and circled round to come astern of the Mako. A big man, in damp oilskins, Mr. Lenny, as a matter of fact, focussed his glasses, first on the names scrolled on the launch's counter, then on the occupants of the boat. "Morning," the colonel said genially, when the other drew alongside. " Had a dusting, haven't you ?" Lenny ignored the greeting and the question. " Where's that girl ?" he demanded hotly. " What the devil are you talking about?" The colonel's face grew purple. " This is my launch. 1 don't keep gills aboard." " Beg your pardon. Colonel Chesterton, isn't it?" Lenny's tones were respectful, but desperately puzzled. " I chartered this launch for a week and a young lady stole it from Tainui." " You're talking nonsense, my man," the colonel retorted grufilv. " I had this launch all last season. 13een here tljee weeks this season, and caught my first fish from it yesterday. You've made a mistake." Lenny looked worried. He had acted With decision when he had realised the truth. 1 ailing to secure a craft of any sort nearer, he had learned of Moki's old boat, and had ridden down in the darkness. With difficulty and at considerable expense, he had persuaded that venerable manner Moki to leave his slumbers and voyage into the night. He had been most unhappy during a stormy passage, but had felt that all his tr'oublts were over when he recognised the Mako. And now, Colonel Chesterton, the most ■ tpfrX." 0 * - " is »• , j lt X i ?°. tjn e beaten," he muttered. "I bad this boat, and—" "Billy!" The colonel's orderly room voice made the launchman jump ' " I)i f i you T hu;e this launch to that man'" carefully not '" B ' lly Cl ' oSe his Wolds " You're positive?" uu a "\ Y °i l ou Shler know. iou been mo for three weeks now " i ■ •

By FRANK H. BODLE.

" You see, my man," the colonel summed up blandly, " you'vo mado a mistake." " There's a mistake somewhere," Lenny admitted sullenly. " But—Oh! I'll tell you the story." He had decided to make a clean breast of it to the colonel and endeavour to enlist his sympathy. At least, a fairly clean breast. So ho told his tale, such of it as he thought must be told. " Why," the colonel had grown excited, " there was a girl like the one you described in Harry's boat. She left some time before you came. I was talking to her myself." " That's the party. Harry's launch. 1 could have sworn—but, never mind. She's gone, you say?" " Yes. Cruising up North, I fancy." (Molly was speeding due south at tnat very moment.) The colonel lost interest in the subject. He yawned and- stretched himself. " Had some mad idea of getting a contract for all the fish we catch. From what I heard I judge she's running 'way up North to the cable station." " I must catch her." Lenny's excitement returned. Heaven only knew what mischief .slie'd be up to next. Cabling Australia to sell her contract to the shark company there, probably. She must be brought back and handed over to her parents. Lenny regretted his candour with Doctor West, and felt now that he should try to assist him. " Your tub won't catch her." The colonel snorted as he stared contemptuously at Moki's home-made clipper. " Coming on to blow, too." " Colonel Chesterton, can I appeal to your finer feelings?" Lenny pleaded. He was almost, tearful as he wrung his hands. " That girl must be caught and restored to her parents. They're broken-hearted. I saw her mother last night: it was pitiful. You will know how they feel. Perhaps vou are a father yourself?" "Thank God, no!" the colonel exclaimed with fervent piety. " Will you lend me that —I mean your launch —for to-day? I must catch her. It is my duty." "What about it, Billy ?" The colonel's tone was doubtful. "No fishin' to-day, colonel. Too dirty. I don' mind what you do." " All right. Breakfast first, then we'll start. You can pay Billy for the hire of his launch for the day. I'll come as a passenger. Matter of fact, I may send a cable myself. I've got a brother-in-law in Sydney I want to invite across."

CHAPTER XIII. THE DIRECTORS MEET. " We're back much more quickly than I expected, Harry," Molly remarked, as Billy's launch swung in through the rivermouth for Tainui. " We'll be there in time for lunch —just thirty hours after we set out. And we can sing 'Something accomplished, something done,' too. You'vo taught me how to handle a boat and to catch swordfish —and wo've done all we set out to do." " Too good!" Harry looked at his skipper with undisguised admiration. He had entirely forgotten his temporary doubts when the colonel, in ill-humour, had to be encountered. " What I say ? You do anything." " Squalls ahead, I expect, for me, anyway." Molly spoke her thoughts aloud. " I'll be—confined to barracks, I imagine. But not for long. The colonel's coming down, you know, and we'll soon be frantically busy." They slipped alongside the wharf and Harry explained how to find the office of L. H. Searle and Son. " I'll be back in about half an hour," Molly, promised. " Then you can take me home. The launch will be out of sight there, when our friend arrives." Five minutes later, the office boy entered Curly's room with an exceedingly apologetic air. " Clear out'!" Curly did not look up. " Tell whoever it is I'll be engaged up to five o'clock. Hook it!"

The boy backed, but he had been roughly handled outsido and risked one effort. " It's a young lady, Mr. Leonard," he explained, making ready to dodge hastily either book or inkpot—Curly was impartial in selection of missiles. " I told her you wasn't to be disturbed, but she wouldn't listen to me. She's—"

"Here!" Molly finished, as she came briskly into the room. Curly sprang hastily to his feet, his

facial expression changing from utter disgust to sunny joyousness, in one flashing second. " That's all right, Jimmy. Beat

it. Close the door and listen to me. If you let anyone in till I say, I'll—take you out into the yard and murder you by inches." He turned to Molly and anxiety crept into his voice. " There's nothing wrong, is there, Molly ? I didn't expect to see you back so soon, not for a day or two, as a matter of fact."

Molly unfolded three sheets of paper and handed them to Curly. " I finished the business more quickly than we imagined, that's all," she said, an uncontrol-

lable ring of triumph in her tones. " I think you'll find those papers satisfactory. We've got every launchman on the grounds signed up for three years."

"Jerusalem!" Curly stared at the papers with incredulous eyes. " Why, Molly, this is wonderful. You're a wizard, a raging cyclone." Emotion overcame him. He took three rapid strides toward the girl. Before Molly or even he himself quite realised what was happening, he had her in his arms. " You perfectly wonderful darling." he whispered tenderly.

Thero was nothing brotherly in the three swift kisses he took before Molly could decide what she ought to do. The young lady had proved herself a somewhat rapid worker; in some directions she found Curly rather .breathless-

" That will do, Curly." Molly pushed him away. Her checks were aflame, but she found herself quite unable to make up her mind whether to condone or condemn. She decided to temporise. "We're business partners, I admit, but that gives you no sort of right to do—this." She struggled free and sat down, rather breathlessly, on tho nearest chair.

Curly was explanatory, but not apologetic. He dragged another chair alongside Molly and seized her hands. " On. my dear," ho whispered happily, " I've been thinking of you so, all the time and—it had to come. You're a—"

" That will do, for the present, Curly." Molly drew her hand gently away. " Too much to be done to—waste time. How aro my people?"

" They're worried, frightfully." " Get them on the telephone, quick. Ask for Freddy, my dad, I mean." Thero was a short wait, then Molly took the recoiver and spoke into it. " Yes, Freddy, it is me, and I know

I'm dreadfully rtaughty, but really dear there was nothing else to do, as you'll see when I explain. Oh! I'm in Mr. Searlc's oflico now. I'll bo home in less than half an hour. No. Honestly! I won't run away again. Honest I will; you shall know all my movements from now on. We've got the company on a sound basis now, dear, and there's no more need for secrecy. Oh you'll understand when I've told you. Give my lovo to them all. Oh, and Freddy, I caught a four hundred pound swordfish, all by my little self —I'll tell you about that, too, later. And thank you ever so much for teaching ine always to think out the other fellow's chess moves, as well' as my own. No, dear, I can't now, but I'll bo with you very, very soon." (To bo continued daily.)