Adventure, November 1915 — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

VW oF “ be bade ae i 66 | Adventure Henley was profuse in his thanks and protestations of willingness and repentance. Addams cut him short, ordering him to lead the way across the promontory. The woman retreated to the shadow of the cliff, silent, uncompromising, as she had ad- vanced. é map THE tide was falling when they es ae gained the beach, the spur of the timber of Fellowes’ schooner awash on the surf. Presently the boat with the Chinese came around the cape and made a landing on the sand, the Orientals hauling _ her up a little way on the beach, close to the remnant of the wreck and the pool where they had left the treasure, its rocks already showing above the retreating tide. The men waded in to their knees, Henley helping with the rest, despite the handicap of his lame foot and a visible lack of strength in handling the heavy boxes as they re- trieved them from the weedy pool and set them one by one beside the boat. - Peggy watched the work for a while, then wandered to the caves to see what evidence she could find of the disappointing search by the men from the Lez Lehua. As the last box but one was set beside the rest and they halted for a brief respite, Hen- ley sat limply on the thwart of the boat. “A smart trick, Mr. Addams,” he said. “T might have known you was too smart for me at the beginning. And you’ve fooled Tuan Yuck too. It galled him and I’m glad of it.” He put his hand to his side, breathing — heavily. “Might I rest a bit?” he asked. as husky as I was a few years ago.” At Addams’ nod he limped up the beach to the cliff and lay prone on the sand.. Ah Sing and Foo Chin started to bring up the last box, Addams and Winton standing by the boat. Loo Chow, who had cut his bare foot on some coral, seated himself on a rock near Henley and examined his wound, bind- ing it up in his neckerchief. There was a sudden cry and Peggy came flying toward the boat from the caves, call- ing as she ran. A volley of shots sounded from behind her, the bullets sending up little spurts of sand. One thudded into a “T ain’t box, another hummed by Addams’ ear as he snatched a rifle from where they had placed them in the bottom of the boat, and com- menced firing from his hip at four men who \ came from the mouth of the caves, pumping their Winchesters as fast as they could work the mechanism. One of them fell sprawling on the aut “Get behind the boxes, Peggy,” cried Addams as he reached her. “I'll be with you right away.” He retreated slowly, firing at the men, who had halted before the fusillade that now came from Winton, Ah Sing and Foo Chin. A bullet flipped through the side of Addams’ shirt, and another plowed through the sand at his foot, ripping part of the sole from his shoe as he gained the barricade of the treasure chests in safety, and dropped down beside Peggy. “‘Henley’s done for Loo Chow, said Win- ton. ‘‘He knifed him!’ Addams glanced over his shoulder to where Loo Chow sat huddled against his rock, the bright blood showing against his blouse. A bullet struck one of the iron hoops of a box with a spang and fell spent in the midst of them, coming from the direction of Henley, who had snatched Loo Chow’s automatic from his belt and, hidden behind a boulder, was firing at them. A growl came from Foo Chin. He pointed his rifle upward at the cliff and fired. Some one in the act of dropping down a rifle to Henley shrieked and spun about, falling, saving a drop to the beach by Seohing at the edge of the precipice. “Tt’s Henley’s sister,” cried Peony. “He’s killed her.” “Ugh!” grunted the big Chinaman, re- filling his magazine. He spoke in rapid dialect to Ah Sing, who interpreted: “He say he no know she woman. She dress all same man. Now she ghost.” Foo Chin sighted rapidly and fired once more at Henley who was creeping out from the shelter of his rock to gain the rifle. The bullet hit the weapon as Henley’s hand was closing on the butt, and he swiftly sought cover again. For a moment there was a lull. Henley appeared to have exhausted his ammuni- tion. Peggy seized the pause to explain. “T went into the cave,” she said, “our — cave, and walked right-on to them. They hadn’t heard me and they were all on the sand crawling toward the entrance. Then I ran and they started firing.” ‘“You’ve probably saved the day,” said Addams. “That’s a return move of Tuan COMMICLIOOKS (C©)