"They're crossing the bridge," he shouted.
"Whip up!" I cried to the driver. "They are only four blocks behind
us."
"Are they in sight?" asked Mrs. Knapp.
"I can not see them," I replied, "and it may not be the ones we fear.
It is near daybreak, and we are not the only ones astir."
I peered out, but a rising mist from the lagoon and the bay hindered
the vision, and the sound of the rolling drum had ceased.
The hack swung around a few corners, and then halted.
"Here we are!" cried Dicky Nahl at the door. "You get aboard the tug
and push off. Jake and I will run up to the foot of the wharf. If they
come, we can keep 'em off long enough for you to get aboard." Dicky had
a revolver in each hand, and the determined ring of his voice, so
different from his usual light bantering tone, gave me assurance of his
sincerity. With the horseman he hastened to the entrance of the wharf,
where the two loomed through the mist like shadow-men.
The tug was where it lay when we left, and at my hail the captain and
his crew of three were astir. It was a moment's work to get Mrs. Knapp
and her charge aboard.
"Come on!" I cried to Dicky and his companion. And as the lines were
cast off they made a running jump on to the deck of the tug boat, and
the vessel backed out into the stream.
As the wharf faded away into the mist that hung over the waters I
thought I saw shapes of men and horses rushing frantically to the edge,
and a massive figure waving its arms like a madman, and shouting
impotent curses into the air.
Pages:
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321