been some smooth work somewhere. I grant you that. How the
devil did he get aboard here? He didn't come alone. If he did, what has
become of the boat? Speak up, _m'amie_."

"Do you think I'd tell you even if I knew?" she asked scornfully.

He laughed softly, with diabolical enjoyment.

"I think you would--and will. I have ways to force open closed mouths,
beloved."

"You would--torture me?"

"If it were necessary," he admitted coolly.

She answered in a blaze of defiance.

"Get out your iron cubes for my fingers, you black-hearted villain!"

"Not for your soft fingers, _ma cherie_. I kiss them one by one as a
lover should. Shall we say for your friend's fingers? If you won't talk,
perhaps he will."

"Are you all tiger, Boris? Isn't there somewhere in your heart a spark
of manhood?" she sobbed, her spirit melted at my danger.

"Rhetorical questions, Evie. Shall we come to business? How did your
soon-to-be-deceased lover come on board? Who brought him? What were his
plans?"

"If I tell you, will you spare him?" she begged.

"I'll promise this," he assured her maliciously. "If you don't tell I'll
not spare him."

She told all she knew except my plan of rescue. As soon as she mentioned
the boat in which I had come the fellow hurried up on deck to intercept
it.

I could hear a boat scraping against the side of the schooner as it was
being lowered. Fleming and two others got in and paddled back and forth
among the bushes. They found nothing.

My friends had managed to slip away unseen and were headed for the
_Argos_. You may believe that I wished them a safe and speedy voyage.

Bothwell came down the forecastle ladder swearing. He went straight to
Evelyn. Before he opened the door he was all suavity once more.

"They've got away this time. Just as well perhaps. We'll be able to
concentrate our attention on the wedding festivities. Can you be ready
in half an hour, dear heart?"

"Ready for what?" The words choked in her throat.

"To make your lover a happy man. This is our wedding night, my dear."

"Never! I'd rather lie at the bottom of the bay. I wouldn't marry you to
save my life."

"H-m! You exaggerate, as is the manner of your charming sex. Now I'll
wager that you'd marry me to save--why, to save even that meddling
Irishman who is listening to our talk."

She strangled a little cry of despair.

"Why do you hate him so? Is it because he is so much better and braver
than you?"

"I don't hate