Kit Musgrave's Luck

ar the mountain tops and cool shadow touched Santa Cruz. The houses on the hillside had faded to grey, but the lower town shone dazzlingly white, and the sea was like

rd end, and an African mail boat rolled upon the s

s and he saw the stones three or four fathoms down. A young clerk from a merchant house, half undressed, sat upon a lava block, and th

oined. "Weel, I alloo ye're soople and a bonny pink, bu

?" remarked another, and a

es, Mac. We'll let

win," Macallister replied and, stretching his arms above his head, balanced on his toes. "Thirty years sin' ye would

s, but I haven't seen Macallister in the water. S

edro," said the other. "Anyhow, I thin

song was English and, heard among the tall, white Spanish houses, had an extra charm, but Kit was moved by the music and thought the voice very fine. Entering the hotel, he found Macallister i

oaling sheds, I th

rturo heard him sing in a church choir

e he ca

on Arturo's reasoning isn't always obvious. You don'

His head was well poised on his sunburned neck, his figure was tall, finely-lined, and muscular. He looked hard and athletic but he was

d us off, but I don't see the launch

rgets how many bags of coal go to a ton, which leads to complications, since they d

he edge of the mole and the Campeador's mate seize him from behind. There was a struggle and the mate and Macallister fell, but next moment Kit heard his number and threw himself forward

o sea. Kit did not see the others; when one uses the overhand stroke one does not see much, and for the most part he was down in the hollow of the trough. He made the best possible speed he could, but after a time found the effort

and vanished; farther back, he saw a dot like a swimmer's head. He was too far out: the bathing house

d to land on the reefs would be awkward. In fact, it began to look as if he was not altogether swimming for sport. Perhaps he ought to

e said. "Are you t

. "I've had enough. Saw you we

alk without much effort, and

sh I was! Where

about the

is sinking lips. "Too far. I

got no

ant. Let's get o

has a crowd of tourists on board and don't see myse

p talking," Nel

easy, I can t

son. "You'll have to

"Brace up, go slow, an

e deck-houses of the African boat, sometimes nothing but sky and heaving w

ge," said Nelson. "S

ll, was now close in front. He saw her wet plates shine as she lifted them from the sea and the groups of passengers about her rail. Some had glasses and he thought they were watching him and his companion. The vessel was

ll the passengers on the saloon-deck came to the rail. Kit seized the ladder and when he had pulle

ut let's get up,

up. A steward who wore neat

got a ti

d Kit; "do I look

sitors sent off. We're only

d passengers were watching the dispute. The thing was ridiculous, and he was cold. He thought he knew one of the passengers and tried to signal, but the fellow w

on board? What do y

Anyhow, we have got on board and we'r

urned, Nelson pushed Kit, and they ran for the ladder. P

liner's mate has got to be dignified. If you want

n, wearing a stained blue jacket and greasy trouse

"Are ye going t

nything you've got," said Kit. "We had to give up a swi

h mailboat? Ye're

the match, although I

dryly. "Mack canna swim. But if ye are

at the man thoughtfully, added that

lied. "If ye're no fastidious, the second's aboot your si

es, and went off, remarking: "Ye'll be ready to go ashore w

til we were on the mole, I forgot to tell Felix they want

get rather easil

e post because I can sing." He paused and added

liked Nelson. "Where do y

they crawled out. Of course, the distance was too lon

eer declared h

beach. All the same, I don't think this would bother

exclaimed. "If you can't swim an

s that might be useful somewhere else, and, so far as I can see, a number have none, but we keep the business going and beat Spaniards, French a

he ship with a barge in tow. A few minutes afterward

id Kit, lookin

u on board the correillo. Come to th

thought Scot had not wanted to meet him, and was curious. The fello

up my bull

to give it you back, but I f

know what you

ve it him one evening when w

After all, perhaps, it doesn't matter.

d you g

are pretty cold-and dark serge doesn't melt into a back

tranger fire

tomatic pistol, but I reckoned the other fellows knew it wou

rom a smooth-bore, bu

. "Oh, well, I've had enough of Africa

o the gangway. The ladder was hauled up, but Kit and Nelson went down a rope to

e clothes when we co