FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63  
64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   >>   >|  
." "Have you never noticed, captain, that in this world a man's opportunities do not always match his inclinations?" "I've noticed that a man gets what he wants if he is strong enough to take it." "So far as I know you have made four attempts to get the map. Have you got it?" "Not yet. Plenty of time though. When I need it I'll get it." My skeptical laugh must have annoyed him. "Then you'd better get busy if it's true that we sail to-morrow." "Hope you'll have a pleasant trip." "Thanks. Sorry we can't ask you, captain. But there really isn't room and our party is full. No doubt you'll be starting on a little jaunt of your own soon?" "Yes, to-morrow, too, as it happens. Perhaps we may meet again. It's a small world after all, Mr. Sedgwick." "We'll look out for you." "Do. And go prepared for squalls. One never knows what may happen. The Pacific is treacherous. Likely enough you'll meet dirty weather." "I'm thinking you're right. But the yacht is good for it." "And the yacht's passengers?" he asked with angled brows. "We're all good sailors." "But isn't there a good deal of yellow fever in Panama?" "Not now. There used to be." "Haven't I heard of pirates in the Isthmus country?" he asked, smiling with superb impudence. "That's in the past too, captain; but if we meet any, the vermin will be glad to sheer off. I'll promise you that." The villain drew a breath of mock relief. "That makes my mind easier, Mr. Sedgwick. I'll confess I've been a little troubled for you." "Thanks for your kind thoughts, but I'm confident we can look out for ourselves." Our words had been light enough, but be sure there was no laughter in the eyes that fastened each pair to the other. For me, I never was more vigilant in my life--and Bothwell knew it. "Going up-town, captain? If not I'll say good evening." He nodded genially. "Pleasant voyage. And _do_ be careful of the squalls and the fever and the pirates. Do you know I can't help thinking you had better leave Evie at home for me to take care of." "But you're leaving, too, I understood you to say. No, we'll take good care of her. I give you my word on that." I had been edging round him with the intention of backing away. He held out his hand, but--well, my fingers were otherwise engaged. They still caressed a knobby bit of metal in my overcoat pocket. At the last moment, so it appeared, he yielded to an impulse. "Must we really
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63  
64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

captain

 
morrow
 

Thanks

 
thinking
 

pirates

 

Sedgwick

 
noticed
 

squalls

 

vigilant

 

Bothwell


confess

 
easier
 

troubled

 

thoughts

 

breath

 

relief

 

confident

 
fastened
 

laughter

 

caressed


knobby

 

engaged

 

fingers

 

overcoat

 

yielded

 
impulse
 
appeared
 

pocket

 
moment
 

voyage


Pleasant
 

careful

 

genially

 

nodded

 
evening
 

villain

 

edging

 

intention

 
backing
 

leaving


understood

 
skeptical
 

annoyed

 

pleasant

 

starting

 
strong
 

inclinations

 
opportunities
 

Plenty

 

attempts