"THE GIRL WHO PLAYS AT FLIRTATION MAY FIND SHE HAS GRASPED A TWO-EDGED
SWORD," SAID THE HANDSOME YOUNG CAPTAIN, LOOKING FULL IN GERELDA'S
BEWITCHING, HAUGHTY FACE.
The captain who was passing, stopped short and looked at Hubert Varrick
in amazement as he cried out, wildly:
"Get me a life-boat, somebody--anybody! Half my fortune for a
life-boat!"
"What is the matter?" asked the captain, sharply. "Has some one fallen
overboard?"
When Varrick answered in the affirmative, the captain gave orders that a
life-boat be at once lowered by the crew, calling upon Varrick to point
out, as near as he could, where the drowning man was.
"I will go, too," Varrick answered, springing into the boat; and an
instant later the boat was flying over the waves in the direction which
Varrick indicated.
"Which way, sir?" asked the man at the oars.
"Straight toward that little island yonder," was the hoarse reply. "Make
for it quickly! Here, take this bank-note, and, in Heaven's name, row
sharp! No one is drowning, but there is a young and lovely girl at the
mercy of some fiend on that island yonder!"
The man dropped his oars.
"If you had told our captain that, he would never have sent out a
life-boat," declared the man. "He thought it was some one drowning near
at hand, for the story of Wau-Winet Island is no news to the people
hereabouts."
"What do you mean?" cried Varrick.
"I can tell you the story in a very few words, sir," returned the man;
"and surely there's no one more competent to relate it than myself. I
can relate it while we are rowing over to Wau-Winet Island:
"Some six months ago a stranger suddenly appeared in our midst. He
purchased Wau-Winet Island, and a few days later a score or more of
workmen appeared one night at Alexandria Bay, and boarded a tug that was
to take them out to the island.
"These workmen were all strangers to the inhabitants around Alexandria
Bay, and they spoke in a different language.
"They lived upon the island for a month or more, never once coming in
contact with the people hereabouts.
"All their food was brought to them. Soon their mysterious manners
became the talk of all the country round.
"In a month's time they had erected a grand stone house--almost a
castle--hidden from any one who might chance to pass the island, by a
net-work of trees.
"At length the gray-stone house was completed, and the strange, uncanny
workmen took their departure as silently as they had come.
"The people were warned to keep away from the place, for the workmen had
left behind them a large, ferocious dog who menaced the life of any one
who attempted to land on Wau-Winet Island.
"Only last night an event happened which I shall never forget if I live
to be the age of Methuselah. I was standing near the dock, when suddenly
some one laid a heavy hand on my shoulder.
"Glancing up with a little start, I saw the man who had so lately bought
Wau-Winet Island standing before me. By his side, leaning heavily upon
his arm, yet swaying strangely to and fro, as though she were scarcely
able to keep her feet, was a woman in a long black cloak, and her face
covered by a thick veil.
"Before I had a chance to speak, the gentleman bent down and whispered
hoarsely in my ear:
"I want you to row us as quickly as possible, to Wau-Winet Island. You
can name your own price.'
"I wish to God I had refused him. I started to help the lady into the
boat, but he thrust me aside and helped her in himself, lifting her by
main strength.
"For an instant she swayed to and fro, like a leaf in a strong wind; but
he steadied her by holding her down on her seat, both of her hands
caught in his.
"I had scarcely pushed out into midstream ere I fancied I heard a low,
choking cry. The woman had wrenched one of her hands free, and like a
flash she had torn off her thick veil, and then I saw a sight that made
the blood run cold in my veins, for over her mouth a thick scarf was
wound, which she was trying to tear off with her disengaged hand.
"Her companion caught her hand with a fierce imprecation on his lips,
and the struggle that ensued between them made the boat rock like a
cradle. In an instant he had forced her back into her seat, and drawn
the veil down over her face again.
"But in that brief instant, by the bright light of the moon, I had
caught a glimpse of a face so wondrous in its loveliness and its
haughtiness that I was fairly dazed. I did not know what to do or say, I
was so bewildered.
"'You must make quicker time!' cried the gentleman, turning to me.
"At last we reached the island, and despite her struggles, he lifted her
out of the boat. Then he thrust a bill into my hand, saying grimly, 'You
can return now.'
"But while he was speaking, never for an instant did his hold relax upon
the girl's arm, though she writhed under his grasp.
"I hesitated a moment, and he turned to me with the look of a fiend on
his dark, handsome face.
"'I said you might _go_,' he repeated.
"'I will double that sum if you know how to keep your tongue still,' the
man said, thrusting another bill into my hand.
"As I pushed out into midstream the girl grew frantic. With an almost
superhuman effort she succeeded in removing the woolen scarf which had
been wound so tightly about her mouth, then with a cry which I shall
never forget while life lasts, she shrieked out piteously, as she threw
out her white arms wildly toward me:
"'Help! help! Oh! help, for the love of Heaven! Don't desert me! Come
back! oh, come back and save me!'
"The blood fairly stood still in my veins. Her companion hurled her back
so quickly that she completely lost her balance, and fell fainting in
his arms.
"'Go!' he cried, angrily, 'and not one word of what you have seen or
heard!'
"I can not desert a lady in distress, sir,' I answered.
"With a fury such as I have never seen equaled, he turned and faced me
in the moonlight.
"'I will give you just one moment to go!' he cried, his right hand
creeping toward his hip-pocket--'another moment to get out of sight!'
"I knew that it was as much as my life was worth to remain where I was;
so, despite the girl's pitiful entreaties, I rowed back slowly into
midstream and down the river.
"I fairly made my boat fly over the water. I headed straight for
Clayton--the nearest village--and there I told my startling story to the
people. In less time than it takes to tell it, a half dozen of us
started back for Wau-Winet Island. Arriving, we crept silently up the
steep path that led to the house. My loud ringing brought the gentleman
himself to the door. I shall never forget the fire that leaped into his
eyes as he saw me; but nothing daunted, I said to him determinedly:
"I have come here with these men to aid the young girl who appealed to
me for help a little while ago.'
"My companions pressed close behind me, until they filled the wide
entrance hall and closed in around him.
"'You are certainly mad!' he cried. 'There is no young lady on Wau-Winet
Island, nor has any woman ever put foot upon it at least since it has
been my property,' he added.
"'Do you mean to say that I did not row you and a young lady over to
this island within this hour, and that she did not appeal to me for
help?' I asked.
"'Certainly not!' he declared promptly.
"'You must be either mad or dreaming to even think of such a thing,' he
continued, haughtily. 'However,' turning to my companions, 'seeing that
you have had the trouble of coming here--brought by this lunatic--you
are welcome to look through the house and satisfy yourselves. In fact, I
beg that you will do so.'
"Much to his surprise, we took him at his word."