Page:Guy Boothby--A Bid for Fortune.djvu/305

Rh this fashion I was marched back to the huts, and then, another man having joined my captor, across the island to this beach, where a boat was in waiting. In this I was pulled out to a small schooner lying at anchor in the bay, and ordered to board her. Five minutes later I was conducted to the saloon, where two or three persons were collected.

"'Good evening, Mr. Wetherell, this is indeed a pleasure!' said a man sitting at the end of the table playing with a big black cat. Directly I heard his voice I knew that I was in the presence of Dr. Nikola.

"'And what do you think I am going to do with you, my friend?' he said, when I made no reply to his remark.

"'You dare not do anything,' I replied; 'I demand that you shall let me go this instant.'

"'If you will be warned by me you will cease to demand,' he answered, his eyes the while burning like live coals. 'Though you have put me to much trouble and expense I will forgive that and come to terms with you. Give me'

"At that moment the little vessel gave a heavy roll, and in trying to keep my footing on the sloping deck I fell over upon the table. As I did so, the little Chinese stick slipped out of my pocket and went rolling along the table almost into Nikola's hands. He sprang forward and seized it, and you may imagine his delight. With a cry of triumph that made the cat leap from his shoulder, he turned to a tall man by his side and said:

"'Let a boat's crew take this man ashore and tie him to the stake in the cave. Then devise some means of letting his friends know his whereabouts. Be quick, for we sail in an hour.' Then turning to me again he said: