第55章

"Yes you will," replied the mucker."It's not any of us that counts--it's Miss Harding.As many as can have got to get back to her just as quick as the Lord'll let us.I can't, so you two'll have to.I'm done for--a blind man could see that.It wouldn't do a bit of good for you two to hang around here and get killed, waitin' for me to die; but it would do a lot of harm, for it might mean that Miss Harding would be lost too.""You say my daughter is on this island you speak of, with Norris and Foster--is she quite safe and well?" asked Harding.

"Perfectly," said Byrne; "and now beat it--you're wasting a lot of precious time.""For Barbara's sake it looks like the only way," said Anthony Harding, "but it seems wicked and cowardly to desert a noble fellow like you, sir.""It is wicked," said Billy Mallory."There must be some other way.By the way, old man, who are you anyhow, and how did you happen to be here?"Byrne turned his face upward so that the full moon lighted his features clearly.

"There is no other way, Mallory," he said."Now take a good look at me--don't you recognize me?"Mallory gazed intently at the strong face looking into his.

He shook his head.

"There is something familiar about your face," he said; "but I cannot place you.Nor does it make any difference who you are--you have risked your life to save ours and I shall not leave you.Let Mr.Harding go--it is not necessary for both to stay.""You will both go," insisted Byrne; "and you will find that it does make a big difference who I am.I hadn't intended telling you, but I see there is no other way.I'm the mucker that nearly killed you on board the Lotus, Mallory.I'm the fellow that man-handled Miss Harding until even that beast of a Simms made me quit, and Miss Harding has been alone with me on this island for weeks--now go!"He turned away so that they could no longer see his face, with the mental anguish that he knew must be writ large upon it, and commenced firing toward the natives once more.

Anthony Harding stood with white face and clinched hands during Byrne's recital of his identity.At its close he took a threatening step toward the prostrate man, raising his long sword, with a muffled oath.Billy Mallory sprang before him, catching his upraised arm.

"Don't!" he whispered."Think what we owe him now.

Come!" and the two men turned north into the jungle while Billy Byrne lay upon his belly in the tall grass firing from time to time into the direction from which came an occasional spear.

Anthony Harding and Billy Mallory kept on in silence along their dismal way.The crack of the mucker's revolver, growing fainter and fainter, as they drew away from the scene of conflict, apprised the men that their rescuer still lived.

After a time the distant reports ceased.The two walked on in silence for a few minutes.

"He's gone," whispered Mallory.

Anthony Harding made no response.They did not hear any further firing behind them.On and on they trudged.

Night turned to day.Day rolled slowly on into night once more.And still they staggered on, footsore and weary.Mallory suffered excruciating agony from his wound.There were times when it seemed that it would be impossible for him to continue another yard; but then the thought that Barbara Harding was somewhere ahead of them, and that in a short time now they must be with her once more kept him doggedly at his painful task.

They had reached the river and were following slowly down its bank.The moon, full and gorgeous, flooded the landscape with silvery light.

"Look!" exclaimed Mallory."The island!""Thank God!" whispered Harding, fervently.

On the bank opposite they stopped and hallooed.Almost instantly three figures rushed from the interior of the island to the shore before them--two men and a woman.

"Barbara!" cried Anthony Harding."O my daughter! My daughter!"Norris and Foster hastened through the river and brought the two men to the island.Barbara Harding threw herself into her father's arms.A moment later she had grasped Mallory's outstretched hands, and then she looked beyond them for another.

"Mr.Byrne?" she asked."Where is Mr.Byrne?""He is dead," said Anthony Harding.

The girl looked, wide-eyed and uncomprehending, at her father for a full minute.

"Dead!" she moaned, and fell unconscious at his feet.