Adventure, November 1915 — page 167: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Gold at Sea “Have you got it? Did he bring it?” he demanded in a shaking voice. In the gloom his face looked like a death’s head, and his glowing eyes gave me a most uncanny sensation. ! “Yes, yes, he has it,’’ remarked Dooin. Podd reached out and grasped me by the wrist. I was astonished at the strength and tenacity of his grip. “Now, now—give it now!” he begged. “Not till the job is finished,” said Dooin. As he spoke, Dooin pressed into my disen- gaged hand some paper. From the feel I instantly recognized the pellets of cocaine from Podd’s cigar box. I thrust the stuff into my pocket and wrested my other hand free from the dope fiend’s fingers. But he immediately trans- ferred his clutch to my coat-front. “Let me see!’ he pleaded. His voice was hoarse with desire. “Show him one,” said Dooin. I drew one of the pellets from my pocket and thrust my arm out of the shadow into the moonlight, so that the twisted paper dangled in plain sight before the poor devil’s eyes. With a hoarse, bestial gurgle he flung himself upon me, clutching at my out- stretched hand. The attack was so sudden and unex- pected that I gave ground. Silently we wrestled, and I was astounded by the man’s strength. It was the strength of madness, but there was no method in it. He merely _ clung to me and plucked frenziedly at the hand which held the powder. “Stop it, or we will dump it all into the sea,’ Dooin hissed commandingly. The words seemed to reach Podd’s intelli- gence, for he ceased the struggle as suddenly as he had begun it, and crouched back against the stack, panting and moaning. ‘“‘That’s why I needed you, Mac,’’ was Dooin’s low-voiced comment. ‘“I knew that I would be no match for that nut if he suspected I had the stuff. I had to pretend that it was in your possession. And you must stand by to manage him.” “Are you satisfied?” he added, turning to Podd. In answer, Podd ceased his low wailing and abruptly commenced to creep along the deck toward the bridge. We followed. “He knows just what is expected of him,” Dooin informed me. “You accompany him into the chart-room and dictate the message. Then hand him the dope and beat it quick. 165 They'll be after us as soon as they hear the noise. .We can only send one message, but that may be enough. - “But will Podd really do it?” Lasked. ““He’s playing traitor.”’ “You saw him. He’s crazy for the stuff. A dope fiend hasn’t any scruples—he will do anything to get the stuff and satisfy his yen.” - “But what will the message be?” “What can it be? We must take the chance. S.O.S. for Bodie Island. Say the Wasp, with the Mauresubia’s gold, is at Bodie Island. And then chuck him the dope and beat it quick.” “But what use—Podd will tell.” “Not he. Dacy would kill him, and he knows it. I have coached him; he will pre- tend he is crazed and irresponsible. He is in deadly fear of consequences, but his craving overmasters his fear.” “But what is to prevent him bulling the message?” : “T have told him you know the interna- tional code—can read messages being sent. Order him to use it. Oh, I know it is a long chance. The Oriole may pick up the message and take warning, but—szstl”’ ‘Our rapid interchange had brought us to the bridge ladder. The door of the fore- castle, just ahead of us, was closed, but the ports were open and the light streamed forth in thin shafts from them. We could hear the murmur of voices from within. ‘“‘They are all in there,’”’ whispered Dooin. We scurried silently up the ladder to the bridge, where Podd already was. The door of the chart-room was open, and the room was lighted, but the wing of the bridge where we stood was in shadow. A warning hiss from Dooin, and as one we dropped to our knees, out of sight behind the weather-cloth. The door of the forecastle below us had opened, and a broad beam of light had gushed forth. I peered beneath the bottom of the weather-cloth. Dacy and Henderson stepped out of the forecastle; and after a second Von Werner and Farley followed, the latter closing the door behind him. The quartet were conversing, and the voices reached us. “Tt is—strange,” remarked Dacy, “‘that only half of them are drunk and the rest cold sober.” “T suppose the bunch that found the stuff didn’t think there was enough to go around,” said Farley. Gomichbook GO) jm ae ria: fs “A t a Be s ah ke ibe ite pe