Charles Rex

on an evening of mist and rain. The sea was gr

d Saltash. "She never gu

n with Toby behind his chair, La

ke England, s

his most hideous grimace. "But

h liqueur. "Too strait-laced, sir?" he

in many ways, my Toby," he said. "But at the same time useful in certain emergencies. A stern

. He set down the decanter and st

s glass, his queer eyes dancing a little. "We've got

that matters,

of sixteen, you know, Toby," he said lightly. "We've

e why, sir,

Saltash, and drank with the

n his chair, the gla

d!" he said, with a roy

ll drink

hung back. "Not-not-from your gl

fraid?" moc

untarily upon the back of his master's

hat dancing gleam in his eyes. Then abruptly he moved, rose w

speaking softly as one sp

tead nervously upon Saltash's wrist. He drank in response to Sa

afraid, sir," he said. "Only-le

that account!" said Saltash.

I thought you had-ever

aid. "I am no richer than you are. Like Tantalus, I can never quench my thir

by in the tone of one n

generally come down hard in the end. Whereas those who always crawl on the ear

d Toby, blinkin

eyes, half-derisive and half-tender. "What are you

hair. He stood up very straight, facing him

gain his eyes gleamed a litt

s no flinching in Toby's look now.

ressed some passing emotion. "You mea

slight quickening of the breath. "

nly by the shoulder an

n't you making-rather

nce, Toby made answer. "I'm doing-the only

tash said.

me," Toby said, commanding himself with

no longer derisive; they held someth

s. "I'll get rid of myself-then, sir," he said, with sudden chill pride.

too in your funny little way. Your only excuse is that you're young. Doe

," breat

stake all you've got o

ll curiously

ed with his faint, unboyish smile

gleam in his eyes had turned to leaping, fitful flame. "Well,"

a din that seemed to set the whole world rocking; and in a moment the

eventually on his knees in pitch darkness with one hand still gripped upon Toby's thin youn

ur as Saltash recovered himself. "Damn them!" he ejaculated savag

illed with lesser sounds. There arose a confusion of voices, of ru

hem was increasing. He flung the limp form over his shoulder and began desperately to claw his way up a steep slant towards the saloon-door and the companion-way. Sound and instinct guided him, for the darkness was comple

t which he was not destined to decide, for after a space of desperate effort which no time could measure, th

oice, piercing the o

foothold and finding it against the leg of the t

d Larpent briefly.

d, that's all! Hang on

grip that drew him upward with grim strength. In a moment he was braced against the frame of the door, almost standing on it, the s

Better give me the child

tually grinned as he began to climb with

light the way. They climbed up into a pandem

only a few yards of mist-wreathed water between. The deck on which they stood sloped upwards at an acute angle, and still from below there

e night about them, clambering and slipping against the rails, while a voice f

t with a mental agility that was wholly outside all conscious volition on his part. He was driven by c

pounced upon it. Toby slipped from his shoulder as he bent, and slipping awoke. But he only lay an

agged Toby to his feet, and in a flash

devil are

y've got the boat fre

's head and shoulders, and began to wind the rope around him. It

anding awoke in his eyes. He dragged one arm

" he cried out wildly.

It trailed down, and Larpent caught it, flung it round Saltash

Toby's, the other holding to the rail of his sinking yac

f, Larpent!" he crie

companion and actually smiled into the terrified

with the words, and le

ough the tumult as they w