VAGABOND VOYAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 June 1938, Page 10

VAGABOND VOYAGE

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT COPYRIGHT

BY

ALROY WEST

(Author of “Stratosphere Express”)

CHAPTER XXVlll.—(Continued) “I kept as near to the beach as I could, because of finding out what was happening. At night all the men returned to the yacht. They also took the dinghy with them. I made my way to this cave and had a good meal. Then I took some of the food away and concealed it in another place, foi' fear that a search of the island would result in everything being moved from here.

“By morning I was back in my hiding place near to the beach. An armed party came ashore and evidently searched the island. Then a sleeklooking, stout man came over in the small launch. He seemed to be in charge of everything, and he was in a fine rage. I heard him talking to some of the men, and I was able to get the drift of some of the things he was saying to them. “Presumably he realized that there had been some sort of trouble on board the trawler which had resulted in one or more deaths. He evidently felt that there wasn’t a soul left alive. He blamed the men who had shot down Sinclair and Doyle. He wanted them as prisoners, in order that he could question them —or have them questioned. Obviously he knew Sinclair, because he was saying that there was no doubt that Sinclair had murdered most of the crew —with the exception of the two who had escaped. “There was considerable trouble and argument. The fat man—l gathered that he was Nunez, kept on shouting out things which enabled me to keep track of how things were going.

“It was pretty clear that he had an idea there were several boxes of gold. He cursed practically everybody in turn—even heaping invectives on a Captain Delgado—presumably the man in charge of the destroyer—for not taking due care of his ship. So far as I could tell the destroyer had a lot of trouble with her-engines, which kept breaking down, so that Delgado was not able to assist. “After cursing everybody, Nunez started a hunt for the treasure. I knew that it was dangerous for me to be anywhere near the beach, so I slipped away. I came up to the cave—here — and obtained some supplies. Then I went in. search of a likely hiding place. I knew that I should be in for a lot of trouble if Nunez or his men discovered me.

“The far side of the island is exceedingly rocky. I managed to get to it. and made my way down to a ledge where there was a very small and uncomfortable crevice. I stayed there throughout the day and the night. The instant dawn broke the next day I returned to this cave in order to replenish my supplies. “The men had been 'to it and the things were strewn about all over the place, but few things had been taken away. • I stopped long enough to have a good feed and then, as it was getting about time for them to be searching again. I returned to my hiding-place among the rocks. It was getting down the treacherous slope that I slipped and broke my arm. The pain was so intense that I evidently fainted. It was late in the day when I next remember anything. I managed to get my arm tied up in a fashion, had a little food, and made my way up the cliffs. It was a slow- and agonizing task. I was so dejected that I felt like going to Nunez and offering to let him know where the gold was buried. But as I hadn’t the slightest idea -—except that it was among the trees. I felt that I was likely to land myself in for more trouble.

“I had a shock when I got to the cave, because I realized that the yacht bad gone. I couldn’t understand it. and for some time I just stood there and stared. Slowly it dawned upon me that I was more or less a castaway. I did not for a moment doubt that they had obtained the gold and cleared off. However, you tell me that it was still there. So I- do not understand what happened.”

Peter frowned. “I certainly can’t understand that,” he said thoughtfully. The affair remained a mystery for several days. Wicks was taken to Trinidad and put in hospital at Port of Spain. In due course he was to be taken to England to stand his trial for many offences in relation to the flaring attempt to steal the gold. Alla and Peter stayed at the Hotel Sand and it was while they were here that they heard of the fate of Raul Nunez, and the incident which had caused the yacht to leave the island. It came to light because Captain Delgado was arrested by his countrymen for his part in the affair, and several of the men who had been on the yacht gave evidence concerning what had taken place on the island. Owing to Nunez being an official and the country being in a restless state, very little was done in the matter, except that Delgado was relieved of his command. However, what had happened was briefly this: Delgado discovered that Alla and Peter had made their way to St George on the island of Grenada, and that a gunboat was going to secure the gold and to arrest Wicks. Delgado sent a radio message to Nunez, which was received by the captain of the yacht. Captain Galvez had no desire to come into conflict with the British and resolved to leave the island instantly. He gave instructions for the men to be recalled. These men. misunderstanding the position, thought ‘hat Nunez had betrayed them. He was on shore at the time, and they refused to let him get in the launch. Seeing that the yacht was preparing to leave, Nunez lost his head completely. Captain Galvez, realizing that there was some trouble, sent the smaller launch towards the shore. Nunez, in a panic, never noticed it. and tried- to swim after the launch containing the

men. He suddenly gave a scream and disappeared from sight. A patch of blood on the water explained what had taken place. Captain Galvez was horrified. The tragedy made him all the more anxious to leave the island. From the time he took the yacht back to the mainland nothing more was heard of him. It was assumed that he feared some action might be taken against him and so fled from the country. Alla and Peter learnt these things a few days before their departure for England. They also had news of a far more welcome nature inasmuch as they were both to receive a very generous reward for their work in the recovery of the gold. “I ’ think I’ve had enough of adventure for a time,” said Peter. “I think I will use my share to make a home and start a little business somewhere. That voyage in the launch decided me. I’ve had sufficient of the sea for quite a long time.” Alla gave a shy smile. “With my share added to it the business would have a better start, wouldn’t it?” she asked, in little more than a whisper. “I could only take it on one condition,” Peter said, reaching out to take her in his arms. “What is that?” she wanted to know. “That you accompany the share.” She smiled up a him. “What do you think?” she asked. (The End.)