The Trey o' Hearts/Chapter 16
CHAPTER XVI
Debacle
THE loneliness of Alan's vigil was eventually relieved by the appearance on deck of the woman he loved.
The tableau that greeted her—of one haggard wretch at the wheel and the other lying at his feet in the stupor of fatigue—instantly wrung from Rose a little cry of solicitude.
Warm food and hot coffee lent a little tone to Alan's spirits, and he was presently able to discuss their situation.
"There's only one way out of it I can see—flight. If we win safely in New York, the only thing is for us to marry with all haste and leave the country by the first boat."
By way of answer she nestled still more closely into the hollow of his arm, and he continued: "Otherwise, I can't see anything for it but to fight the enemy with their own weapons. What I'm most afraid of is that sometime I may forget it's a woman I'm defending myself against. When a fellow's fighting for his life he can't always stop to calculate the weight of his blows."
There was a little pause; then: "Death," the girl said slowly, "I'm not sure it wouldn't be merciful to Judith."
"But not by my hand!"
"Oh, no! Not that, not that! But she isn't responsible—not quite sane, I think. And even if you are spared, my dear one, there are lives of others to consider, presuming she stays at large."
"I've thought of that," he said gravely. "If only she could be put away some place and watched—restrained"
"You've my consent," Rose responded. "But even so, my father and his agents remain to be dealt with!"
The young man held her closer to him: "Don't fear, I'll find some way out without injuring either of them. I promise you that!"
He sealed the pledge upon her lips. …
And in that moment from some point forward a crash sounded simultaneously with the dull shock of collision with a smaller vessel; and a strange voice cried out in exultation. The decks rang loud with a crush of booted feet pounding aft. Alan sprang toward the companion-way to fetch the rifle. But his feet slipped. He went down, and an instant later two men fell heavily upon him—active, strong fellows in the dress of fishermen. He was suffered to rise only as a prisoner, helpless in the grasp of two pairs of powerful hands. Barcus was rudely jerked to his feet and held captive by two more fishermen. A fifth had taken charge of Rose, clamping her wrists in the vise of one big hand. The sixth and sole other member of the boarding party was—Judith Trine.
Down the side a heavy lifeboat ground its way astern, the loose end of its painter slipping over the rail even as Alan caught sight of it. Observing this, one of the men in charge of Alan addressed Judith for leave to retrieve the boat.
"No—let it go. Hold that man fast till I fetch a rope. We'll make sure of them both this time!"
Straining forward, Rose implored her sister: 'Judith, in pity's name, think what you are doing!"
"Hold your tongue!" Judith snapped. "Another whimper, and I'll have you gagged. "Yes, I'll"
The balance of her threat was drowned out by the sudden roar of a steamship fog-signal so close aboard that it seemed almost to emanate from the forepart of the schooner herself.
It was answered by cries of terror from a dozen throats and Alan found himself released as his captors sprang toward the taffrail. He caught a glimpse of the towering bows of a great steamer—sweeping swiftly toward them. Some one aboard the schooner bellowed a terrified appeal:
"Stop your engines! Shut off your propeller! Stop your"
Then, like the wrath of God, the steamship overwhelmed them, its bows sliced through the schooner as a knife through cheese. …
When Alan came up he struck out at random. Aware of several dark objects dotting the surface not far away, he swam for the nearest: the head was a woman's, the face turned toward him the face of Rose.
He gasped wildly: "Keep cool! Don't struggle! Put one hand on my shoulder and"
What happened then was never quite clear: he knew only that he was forced to fight for his life—that the woman flung herself upon him like some maddened animal, clutching his throat, winding her limbs around his, dragging him down and down. …
Primitive instinct alone saved him. He remembered freeing an arm, drawing it back, delivering a blow with all his strength, and that he was then free and struggling back to the air.
Then a boat-hook caught and dragged him some distance, until two strong hands caught him beneath the armpits and held his head above water. He looked up witlessly into the face of Barcus, and still bewildered, struggled feebly. But the other's voice brought him back to his senses: "Easy, old top! Take it easy! You're all right now—rest a minute, then help me get you aboard."
He obeyed, and presently, with considerable assistance from Barcus, contrived to scramble in over the gunwales of a boat which proved to be the stolen lifeboat. Aside from Barcus and himself it held one other person only—the woman he loved, crumpled up and unconscious, in the bow. He strove to rise and go to her, but Barcus restrained and quieted him.
"There! Easy, I say! She's all right—fainted—that's all! She and I took the water in practically the same spot, and luck threw this blessed boat my way. No trouble at all."
"But the others—Judith! I left her out there—unconscious—she'll drown, I tell you!"
"And I'll tell you something!" said Mr. Barcus severely. "You'll lie quiet and shut up or I'll dent your dome with an oar. Let her drown—and a good job, I say ! Don't you know the meaning of 'enough?' Merciful heavens, man, you're the most insatiable glutton for punishment ever!"
But Alan wasn't listening. There was a horror in his heart.
Dead! Judith dead! Back there, in the fog and the cold … dead by his hand!