Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 11, 2025
Something gleamed in Barry's eyes that warned against jesting on that subject, and Little stepped aside with a shrug and watched Vandersee as that stolid worthy piloted the ship up to the crazy wharf with consummate skill. An anchor dropped in mid-channel stopped her way, and the forward canvas was hauled down.
But Barry expected only sailorly qualities and loyalty from his officers; on the first count he was satisfied with Rolfe, and his doubts were few on the second. He inquired now about the other member of the afterguard, the burly Hollander who had superintended the washing-down. "Hendrik Vandersee 's his name; bo'sun, acting second mate's his rating," replied the mate in a plain, official tone.
"Pardon me, Captain Barry," interrupted Vandersee, with quiet yet utter authority, "I understand your business to be the care of your employer's best interests. Your interests concerning Miss Sheldon are not precisely business, although I am ready to admit without reservation that they do you credit.
Should it be Mrs. Gordon? Pardon me if I'm floundering." "Not Gordon, yet, Captain," she replied, and again the hint of pain in her eyes was banished by a resolute smile. "I am still Miss Vandersee. I have never been married. I took a married name after after well, there was a little one, you know," she murmured softly, "a tiny life to be guarded from the poison of tongues.
Not a hand was raised in Vandersee's vital peril. Then the utter confidence of the man was revealed. With his stumble Vandersee drew back from his antagonist three feet, and Leyden plunged forward, tripped by his own balked impetus.
Vandersee paused, gazed out at the silent, swift river, and said more seriously: "But why not let the event answer all questions, Barry? In a few hours the whole thing comes to a head, and there is not a chance on earth now for my plans to fail. Miss Sheldon will tell you what you want to know when you see her, and tell it far, far better than I can.
Gordon's face had cleared as the talk went on, and when Vandersee finished, he raised his eyes and met the gaze of all of them fearlessly, confident in his own recovery from a hateful bondage. "May I ask if there is anything more against Leyden than opium running?" inquired Little quietly. "No doubt you have heard there is," smiled Vandersee, but his smile was sad.
You could float a thousand-tonner in there now!" Vandersee had kept his word. The creek, which had been hidden behind a maze of swamp grass when the Barang entered the river, now lay fair and open, and a boat sent in to sound reported water enough for her full-load draft.
Besides these trifles of salvage, the vessel was swept bare of all semblance to a ship, and the black, pointed stumps of masts and stanchions stuck up in awful desolation. Into this black horror Vandersee waved six seamen, armed with rifles.
"There's your answer, Captain. He, or another of his tribe, is within knife-throw of Leyden every minute!" "Oh, good!" cried the skipper. "Then if I find gargoyle-face, I find Miss Sheldon too, eh?" "If she has joined Leyden, yes, Captain. I hope you find her and can bring her back. I will tell Mr. Vandersee where you have gone. I expected him before this. Good luck."
Word Of The Day
Others Looking