VAGABOND VOYAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 June 1938, Page 12

VAGABOND VOYAGE

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT COPYRIGHT

BY

ALROY WEST

(Author of “Stratosphere Express”)

CHAPTER XXVI. —Continued. “If they had a gun they’d have used it already,” Peter said quickly. “I’ll see what they want.” “I’ll keep you covered,” Alla told him. Peter stood up and moved forward from the shelter of the rocks. The bushes parted and Captain Wicks appeared. He hurried towards the rocks until Peter checked him. “That will be near enough, Captain Wicks,” Peter warned him. Wicks shrugged his shoulders. “As you please,” he commented. “Doesn’t it seem to you that this is a stalemate position? We can’t 'capture you because you are armed. Also, we can’t get the gold. On the other hand you can’t get away from the island. It should be possible to refloat the ship, especially if we jettison as much as possible. What about coming to terms?” Peter smiled. He realized that Wicks was not aware of the approaching ship. “I don’t have any guarantee,” he pointed out, playing for time. ■ “Neither do we,” Wicks retorted. “You might shoot us down. But in that case I doubt if you would get the trawler off the sandbank; it isn’t going to be easy.” ? “I realize that. I rather doubt if it can be done.” Wicks pulled at his beard which was becoming straggly for want of attention. ' “I can do it,” he declared. “We don’t feel disposed to come to terms with you,” he announced. “If. you care to surrender to me I will accept you as a prisoner, All I can promise you is a fair trial.” Wicks seemed about to burst into a torrest of abuse, but managed to keep control of his. temper. ‘Why should I do that?” he demanded. . “To save yourself from being murdered by one of your precious pals,” Peter explained. “Meaning Doyle?” Wicks asked, his voice much quieter. “Exactly. Doyle was responsible for the death of Howe. I, believe he killed Gallop . . ” “He did,” Wicks confirmed, evidently anxious that the guilt should not rest on his shoulders. “Doyle managed to get his hands free and to keep the rope round them. He waited until Gallop had freed his feet and then took him by surprise.” “And Doyle also killed Crockett.” “Yes. They both drank too much and started to quarrel. Doyle was in a tearing rage because of losing the gold.” . ■ “Do you tHink he will let you live once it is found?” Captain Wicks thrust his hands in his pockets. “I’ll deal with him,” he said grimly.

Peter hesitated. He felt certain that the two men would take the first opportunity of killing Wicks. There was not the slightest doubt that Wicks was a scoundrel, but Peter could not refrain from admiring his good points. Wicks commanded a certain respect because he was a splendid seaman. It had been no mean feat to bring the trawler right across the Atlantic. There had been days of strain, but Wicks had never shown any signs of the anxiety he must have felt so far as the navigation was concerned. He had been hampered all the time because of the friction on board his ship, and had really acted in a diplomatic way in order to avoid an open breach at a time when the ship might have been imperilled. “You’re running a big risk,” Peter said thoughtfully. “I have always run risks,” Wicks retorted. Peter decided to be perfectly open about the situation. “It’s too late to make terms on the lines you suggest,” he said briskly. “There is a ship on the way to the island. I suggest that you come over to me as a prisoner. I will do my best to see that your precious pals are not able to implicate you in the murders.” Wicks jerked as though he had been struck. “A ship on the way to the island,” he gasped. “Yes. That was why we lit the signal fire.” For a moment the captain hesitated then he spun round and raced back to the bushes. Peter waited for a minute and then returned to the shelter of the rocks, where Alla was waiting for him. “What happened?” she demanded. Peter explained what had taken place and she began to look worried. “Don’t you think it was advisable for me to let them know about the ship?” he asked her. “I think that was all right. But lam afraid that the news will make them desperate. Sinclair, I am certain, will not give up without a struggle.” “I doubt if they will have time to attack before the ship arrives. It’s a pity, though, that we can’t see her from here. I’m anxious to know what she is.” Alla suddenly caught his arm. “They’re back on the beach!” she cried. Sure enough, Wicks and his two companions were climbing into the dinghy in order to row across to the trawler. Peter frowned as they reached it and he saw Wicks race across the deck. “What on earth are they up to?” he asked. It was not long before they had some indication of the captain’s strategy. He appeared on deck after a brief interval. “He’s hoisting a signal!” Peter exclaimed. As soon as it was at the dip he was able to read it. He gave a cry of dismay, and made for the foremast. “QL” he exclaimed. “Ship infected! Why—that will keep them away!” The signal was now close up and the two flags fluttered in the slight breeze. The yellow was on top and immediate-

ly below it was the yellow and black quartered flag. Alla grasped Peter by the arm. “The ship which is coming to the island will exchange signals with him,” she said. “That means that he will be able to send her away. He’ll probably say that he has an outbreak of fever and would like some medical supplies. We must do something to check him.” “I know that,” Peter declared. “I’ll slip up to the top of the hill and try to send a semaphore message. It should be possible once she is near enough to the island.” “Very well. I will stay here and fire a shot if anything takes place by the beach. Sinclair may come ashore in the hope of taking us by surprise. He may reason .that we should notice the flag and try to make our way to the other side of the hill in the hope of attracting the ship’s attention.” “No need to warn me,” Peter told her. “I shall be able to see for myself.” Until he came near to the fire he' was not able to sight the approaching vessel. When he did see her, however, he dropped his hands to his side in a gesture of hopelessness. Their signal for help was being answered by the yacht! It was evident that she had managed to slide off the rocks once the tide was in. He raced back to tell Alla. Her face went pale when he explained what was happening. “And I lit the fire,” she cried in despair. “You’re not to blame. Evidently Nunez had a pretty shrewd idea of the direction in which we should set our course. He most probably communicated by radio with the destroyer and then set out in search of us. The signal fire would naturally attract his attention. The main point is what will happen. I think Wicks is going to have a very nasty surprise. I am wondering whether I ought to give him warning.” “I shouldn’t!” Alla exclaimed. “If we join him there will be no hope for us. Acting on our own we may be able to outwit both parties.” Peter shrugged his shoulders. “Perhaps,” he said slowly. “I can’t say that I have very great hopes, all the same. For the. moment we must play a waiting game.” It was not long before the yacht came into view. No sooner had Wicks observed it than he raced across the deck and jumped into the dinghy, followed by Sinclair and Doyle. They rowed for the shore as hard as they could go, pulled the boat up on the beach and raced for the shelter of the belt of trees. The yacht came in slowly, obviously using the lead, in order to avoid the sandbanks. At last she dropped her anchor,being in such a position that her gun was trained on the stricken trawler. Two launches left her. and circled round the sandbank. The absence of action on board the trawler evident emboldened the men, who finally brought the launches alongside and boarded the ship. From their place on the hill Alla and Drew were able to watch the tiny figures of the men from the yacht. There was great activity among them. Evidently some sort of signal was exchanged, for a third launch came from the yacht. ■' “They were pretty well equipped with launches,” Peter observed. Two hours went past and there were still people moving about the deck of the trawler. “I expect they’re searching for the gold,” Alla said. Peter smiled. “I’d like to see Nunez,” he said cheerfully. “I expect he’s feeling pretty sick about things. It will not be long before he realizes that it must have been taken ashore.” It was about half an hour later that the two launches moved towards the beach. The third, by far the smallest of the three, returned to the yacht. “Nunez has probably had enough!” Peter commented. “They will now search for Captain Wicks. This is where things are going to be exceedingly lively.” Two men were left on guard, and the rest moved cautiously in the direction of the trees. Some of them stopped to examine Crockett’s body, which was lying in exactly the place where it had fallen after the fight with Doyle. Peter watched the men string out into a line. Then ,he turned to the girl. “I believe we’ve got our chance!” he exclaimed. “Come along!” They made their way towards the beach as quickly as possible, taking advantage of every inch of cover which the bushes and rocks could offer. When they came near to the beach itself Peter signalled for the girl to stop in the shelter of the trees. His revolver ready for instant use, he moved forward. CHAPTER XXVII. The two men who were guarding the boats were looking along the narrow stretch of beach in the direction taken by their companions. This meant that they were facing a trifle away from Peter and were taken completely by surprise when he ran forward and shouted at them. They could not understand what he said, but the message conveyed by the revolver which he pointed at them rendered words superfluous. Both dropped their guns and raised their hands. Peter called to the girl who raced across to join him. She darted towards the men and took up the rifles which they had dropped. Then she hurried to the launch which was in the deeper water.

Peter, still keeping his revolver levelled on the men, moved to the other launch and jumped into it. It required only a matter of seconds for him to put the engine out of action. Alla placed the two rifles in the second launch and returned to the one in which Peter was standing. She remov-

ed the petrol tins and carried them over to place with the rifles. This time she stayed in the launch and Peter quickly joined her. The manoeuvre was carried out at a surprising speed. Each item was done neatly and efficiently. Before those on board the yacht realized what was taking place, the launch was heading out to sea. The shouts from the men on the beach attracted the attention of those who were searching the area covered by the trees. They came scampering back in confusion, and wasted time by firing wildly. None of the bullets came anywhere near the swiftly-moving launch. “It is well supplied with food and water!” Alla exclaimed. Peter smiled grimly. “No need to call at the trawler, then," he said. “We’ll get clear away before the yacht can get up steam in order to follow us." (To be Continued.)