صفحة 188 من 416

But now he remained like one fast in the clutch of some horrible

nightmare, unable to reason, unable to think coherently, unable

to do anything but attempt to sound the depths of a hatred such

as this.

"For Heaven's sake, what is it, skipper?" asked Ellinwood.

Code passed the message to his mate without a word. His men might

as well know the worst at once. Ellinwood read slowly.

"Rot!" he snarled in his great rumbling voice. "Murder? How does

he get murder out of it?"

"If I sank the old May Schofield for her insurance money, which

is what every one believes, then I deliberately caused the death

of the men with me, didn't I? Pete, this is a pretty-serious

thing. I didn't care when they set the insurance company on me,

but this is different. If it goes beyond this stage I will carry

the disgrace of jail and a trial all my life. That devil has

nearly finished me!"

Code's voice broke, and the tears of helpless rage smarted in his

eyes.