"If there's any sign of trouble," he said quietly, "shoot at once.
You keep your eye on Craill and I'll look after Manning."
I had rather it had been the other way on, but there was no time for
arguing.
Even as he spoke I saw Manning fling down his useless spanner, and,
wiping his hands coolly with a piece of cotton waste, step up into
the stern. Craill followed, his evil, scowling face in strange
contrast to the smiling calm of the other.
Slackening speed at just the right moment, Bobby brought us alongside
with masterly precision.
Campbell leaned forward, his eyes fixed grimly on the pair of them.
"It's no use, doctor," he said, "your luck's out this time."
With a ghastly sound, half-way between a sob and a scream, the gaunt
figure of de Roda rose suddenly from the deck. A torrent of Spanish
curses burst from his throat, and, dropping the bag of diamonds which
he was still holding, he staggered to the side, shaking his fists at
us in a frenzy of maniacal rage.
I heard a low cry of anguish beside me, and, as I half turned round,
I saw Manning and Craill whip out their revolvers.
I think we must all have fired simultaneously. The only thing I
actually remember is a blinding crash in my head as I pitched forward
against the rails.
* * * * *
For a little while I thought that I was still dreaming. Then the low
murmur of voices became so persistent that at last, with a tremendous
effort, I managed to open my eyes.
"What's that?" I demanded.
There was the scrape of a chair, and the next moment Bobby and
Christine were standing beside the bed.
"It's all right, old lad," said the former soothingly. "We're both
here."
I looked up in bewilderment. I had a vague feeling that I was back
in my cabin on the _Neptune_ and that somehow or other Bobby ought to
be Ross.
"Some blighter pushed me into the dock," I said irritably.
Then, with the same startling abruptness as before, a wave of memory
surged through my aching brain.
"Good Lord!" I cried, starting up. "Where am I? What's happened?"
Christine sat down beside me, and very tenderly took my hand in hers.
"You are back on the island, dear, in your own room. There's nothing
to be anxious about or worried over. It's all finished, and we are
just here together--you and I and Bobby."