The Nerve of Foley, and Other Railroad Stories

out, H

of a small craft does not possess unlimited headroom, he sat u

med, grasping his revo

"Only it's two o'clo

if I've only been a

d chap, for you've got t

, and within a minute his regular

was quiet, save for the occasional splash of a fish as it played upon the surface o

sky, while a light from the seaward window of the house and the dull red gleam of the d

, awaiting the opportunity to fall upon the settlement, murde

inhabitants to Ni Atong was a myth, invented by that rogue Blig

" Perhaps it was that the suddenness of coming into contact with

ence. He regretted it, for, beyond his natural anxiety concerning hi

only course permissible. The little colony was to fight for its existence, and the more remote the

tealthily swimming caused Ellerton to sit bolt upright,

ect heading directly for the yawl, its track b

he crew of the little craft, filled Ellerton with alarm. He raised his r

friend was too deep in slumb

alongside," muttered Elle

ed grating sound, as if a piece of sandpaper were slowly drawn over a rough surface.

d had ro

claimed, springing

beneath the surface they saw a huge

ndy. "Can't you see wh

some natives swi

a thing with a sentry like that brute,"

y of misty grey, and the inhabitants of McKay's Island,

tion as Mr. McKay and his companions arrived at

plied Mr. McKay. "It usually sprin

" rejoined Blight. "Shall I lend you f

ks. It's your men who will

y'll keep it up for hours at a stretch. Your craft'

y, for he had no desire to enlighten the

, bo

el

jerk of his thumb the boat the lads had made from the

to pump him, while, on the other hand, he was equally determined to concea

ey the impression that they settled here by choice, y

d Mr. McKay. "There's a wind spri

lver, cap'n? I've got a bloomin' Martini, but I'

you a present of the pistol," replied Mr. McKay, thoug

ex-pearler's thanks, he stepped into

laimed. "All quiet, I suppose? W

and by the time the yawl had set her sails the splash of a sc

lm, Andy; check

d, the freshening breeze caused her to heel and

he passage through the reef t

e, they're setting their sail. I

ormous sail of cocoa fibre. Then, as the sail rose swiftly in the air, the breeze filled t

on her, I think,

ould think that, under sail and aided by her paddles, that canoe could overhaul us under sail alone. Yes," he continued, afte

rhaul her. Quexo, fearing an attack of sea-sickness, had retired to the seclusion of a berth in the fo'c'sle, while Ellerto

, who had given him the cours

rizon. It was not without feelings of regret that Andy saw it disappear. He, too, realised that they were embarked up

ily swell, with her boom swaying violently from side to side, and threatening dir

did not hesitate to lower the s

ap'n," shouted Blight. "

'll follow when the breeze springs up. If we can't fetch Ni Atong before dark you might

, boss!

hat the superior speed of the canoe under paddles was an

on gained a rapid pace. The long-drawn song of the paddlers gradually died a

p up within a couple of miles of Ni Atong.

o let that chap Bligh

judging by his past career-we must keep a trump card up bur sleeves. That's why I wanted to make sure of the respective speeds of the two craft, for you may

r started than Terence

s the wind?" a

the canoe? ad

lows, get yourselves something to eat, and then give us a spell. I'll let you have the cou

nted Ellerton. "How fa

Directly the island h

limbed the main-mast and had taken up a perch upo

ly warned, and, a breeze spring

s of a patch of palm trees

by bit the land appeared to rise above the horizon. "Blight t

rub and a few cocoanut palms, the soil being apparently loose and sandy. So far as could be seen, a coral reef extended round th

howing up on our port bow

e of that mountain. However, we'll hear and see more of it later on. Now, Andy, we a

e in depth, a lead line is of little use. On the other hand, the extreme clearness of the water mak

in masses of milk-white foam upon the glistening coral reef, while ahead a narrow patch of undulatin

way-starboard aga

fted high in the air, the rudder consequently being useless. The next she threw her streaming bows above the following wav

r to that which had paid an unwelcome visit to McKay's Island, while others, only slightly smaller in

numbering at least 180 men, besi

ed that of Quexo, being considerably lighter than the natives of New Guinea. Man

ce and Ellerton. Then, as the yawl shot up

tom of the lagoon, and as the crew prepared to lower and stow

laimed, "what do you