Page:Barbour--Joan of the ilsand.djvu/286

274 very feebly because I made sure it had stopped.

"That made me think hard. I reckoned I didn't stand a dog's chance of avoiding being strung up. It took me about sixty seconds to make up my mind, and then I slid over the stern. At least I knew I should stand a sporting chance in the water, because there were islands around there. You know what happened after that. I told you that my name was Keith, which was true, and said nothing of my other name for fear it would get about and they'd come after me. When that warship put in I made sure they'd got me."

Chester arose and walked across to Keith with outstretched hand.

"I wouldn't have blamed you in the circumstances if the other fellow had died," he said, "but just the same I'm jolly glad the thing's off your mind. I say, it must have been a bit of a load, eh? Sort of a nightmare, I fancy."

Keith nodded thoughtfully as he placed his hand in that of Chester.

"Yes," he replied gravely, "it was a nightmare." His eyes sought Joan's across the room, and: "It was all that," he added, with conviction.