“We win!� he exclaimed as he turned toward the girl in the stern of the boat. “He’s checkmated!�
Her eyes flashed. She clutched the tossing gunwale with her fingers. She poised as he held up the package.
“Give it to me, Chester,� she said. “I’ll take care of it.�
He extended his arm and passed the package to her. “It may be worth the price,� he said. “Guard it carefully.�
He wheeled and stepped toward Dutch Gus. The German lay half in and half out of the water. His legs dragged through the waves. Fay rolled back the eye-lids and studied the pupils. He felt the pulse.
Turning then and searching the bottom of the boat, he saw a dry place where he could lay him. He lifted the body and staggered aft with it. He dropped it between the center and the stern-seat.
“Come forward,� he said to the girl. “He isn’t armed! We’ll wait till he recovers his senses and then we’ll make him row us ashore. It can’t be more than six or seven miles.�
Dutch Gus stirred at this statement. He threw up an arm and rolled over on his face. His hand crept toward his waist with sly, creeping jerks.
Fay smiled as the girl came to his side and sat down on the forward seat. “Watch,� he whispered. “He’s shamming! Watch, when he misses the package.�
A savage roar greeted the discovery of the loss. Dutch Gus doubled, turned, and lifted himself by grasping the starboard gunwale of the boat. He glared forward. His eyes were blood-shot and baleful. He saw the tiny revolver come up inch by inch until its muzzle pointed straight for his forehead.