at pulled up beside us and relieved us of one very frightened
Panama peon. We were very glad to be rid of him, for a dozen times the
waves had nearly swamped our overloaded skiff and I had been bailing
every second.

A few minutes later we reached the _Argos_.

From Blythe I learned that Gallagher had been responsible for the plan
by means of which he had rescued us. Moreover, he had insisted on taking
the stellar role in carrying it out, dangerous as the part had been. It
was his way of wiping out his share in the mutiny.

CHAPTER XXVI

THE LAST BRUSH

We resumed next morning the digging for the treasure. The shore party
was made up of Blythe, Yeager, Smith, Higgins and Barbados.

Those of us left on board had a lazy time of it. I arranged watches of
two to guard against any surprise on the part of the enemy either by an
attack upon the yacht or by a sally along the shore upon the treasure
diggers.

Having divided my men into watches, I discharged my mind of
responsibility. Evelyn and I had a thousand things to tell each other.
We sat on the upper deck under the tarpaulin and forgot everything
except that we were lovers reunited after dreadful peril.

Youth is resilient. One would scarce have believed that this girl
bubbling over with life and spirits was the same one who had been in
such hopeless despair a few hours earlier.

A night's good sleep had set her up wonderfully.

Last night I had looked into tired eyes that had not yet fully escaped
from the shadows of tragedy, into the sharp oval of a colorless face
from which waves of storm had washed the life.

This morning the sun shone for her.

Courage had flowed back into her heart. Swift love ran now and again
through her cheeks and tinted them.

She was herself, golden and delicate, elastic and vivid as a captured
nymph.

"When I left the old _Argos_ I thought I never wanted to see the yacht
again, but now I think I could be happy here all my life," she confided.

"Wouldn't you prefer to have your cousin just a few miles farther away?"

She fell grave for a moment.

"Do you think he'll try to do more mischief?"

"He'll try. That's a safe bet. But I think we have him checkmated. By
night we ought to have the bulk of the treasure on board. Once we get it
the _Argos_ will show him her heels."

Four bells sounded, six, eight. Dugan came down from the bridge to
report to me.

"Captain Blythe's party coming down to the beach, sir."

T