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"I hope you will not compel me to do so harsh a thing as that. But no fooling! I have no time to spare. Jump on the rock, or I will fire before you are ten seconds older!" said Christy resolutely. "Come back into the boat, men!" shouted the officer. "The first one that comes any nearer the boat is a dead man!" added the prisoner, "Five seconds gone, Mr. Dawbin."
As you consider it no hardship to pass a few hours on that rock, I am going to trouble you to take my place there." "No nonsense! I am not to be trifled with!" "Neither am I," added the prisoner, as he drew out his weapon, and aimed it at the head of the mate. "You can take your choice between the rock and a ball from my revolver, Mr. Dawbin." "Do you mean to murder me?" demanded the mate.
That lighthouse on the Great Isaac is the only place to which you can convey me, and that is sixteen miles from this steamer. I can't believe you intend to pull me that distance." "No fooling there!" shouted the captain. "What are you waiting for, Mr. Dawbin? Why don't you obey my order?" "The fellow wants to talk," replied the mate.
"May I ask where I am to be taken in the boat, Mr. Dawbin?" asked the prisoner, suppressing as much as he could the excitement that disturbed him. "I give you leave to ask, but I cannot answer you," replied the mate. "If you intend to put me on board of that steamer, it can do no harm to say so, I think," added Christy. "If you will excuse me, Mr. Passford, I cannot answer any questions.
"Have you a revolver in your pocket?" "I have not a revolver in my pocket; and if I had I should not lend it to you to shoot yourself," replied the mate. Mr. Dawbin had no revolver in his pocket, and that was all the prisoner had been driving at.
Christy decided that he would not be left on the reef, or even on the top of the East Isaac, which might be a drier place, though hardly more comfortable. It must have been Mr. Dawbin who had suggested the idea of landing him on the reef, for there was no other place nearer than the Great Isaac light.
Dawbin, the mate, who is now on the ledge, and Percy Pierson. I am sure they were all in the carriage that conveyed me to the beach where I was put into the boat. The others were sailors, and I could not identify them." "I will hold the three you name as prisoners," added Captain Chantor, as he moved forward, followed by the executive officer.
I ask you again to get into the boat," said Mr. Dawbin. "Well, sir, suppose I decline to do so?" "Then I shall be compelled to use force, and tumble you into the boat in the best way I can, with the assistance of my men." "If you intend to murder me, why can't you do the deed here on deck?" demanded the prisoner. "I don't intend to murder you." "That is some consolation.
Passford, and he will keep his word," replied the mate with very ill grace. "I consider it worse than murder to leave me on that reef, or any of these rocks, Mr. Dawbin. Since I understand your intention, I might as well put a bullet through my own head, and save myself from all the suffering in store for me," said Christy, assuming the manner of one rendered desperate by his situation.
Passford; but you are a vigorous young man, and you can easily leap to the rock," said Mr. Dawbin. "Do you think you could leap to the ledge?" asked Christy, looking him sharp in the eye. "I know I could." "Let me see you try it, Mr. Dawbin," replied Christy, with his right hand on his revolver. "Come, come! Mr. Passford. No fooling. I have no time to spare," growled the mate. "I am not fooling.
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