Pagina 253 di 416

The thing was absurd on the face of it, and, besides, silly

braggadocio, if not actually malicious. And even if it were

malicious, Code thanked Heaven that the race had not been sailed,

and that he had been spared the exhibition of Nat's malice. He

had escaped that much, anyway.

However, from motives of general caution, Code decided to take

the book with him. Nat had evidently forgotten it, and he felt

sure he would get off the ship with it in his possession. Now, as

he drew near to St. Andrews, he put it for the last time inside

the lining of his coat, and fastened that lining together with

pins, of which he always carried a stock under his coat-lapel.

As Schofield had not forgotten the old log of the M. C. Burns,

neither had he forgotten the threat he made to Nat that he would

try his best to escape, and would defy his authority at every

turn.