Page:Guy Boothby--A Bid for Fortune.djvu/306

296 "'Mr. Wetherell, this is the last transaction we shall probably ever have together. All things considered, you are lucky in escaping so easily. I congratulate you upon your charming daughter. Now, good-bye; in an hour I am off to effect a coup with this stick, the magnitude of which you would never dream. One last word of advice—Pause a second time, I entreat you, before you think of trying to balk Dr. Nikola.'

"I was then led upon deck, where that scoundrel Baxter had the impudence to make me a low bow, and in less than half an hour I was fastened to the post in that cave. The rest you know. Now let us get on board. I see the boat is approaching."

As soon, therefore, as the surf boat had drawn up on the beach we embarked upon her and were pulled out to the yacht. In a quarter of an hour we were on deck, and Phyllis was in her father's arms again. Over that meeting, with its rapturous embraces and general congratulations, I must draw a curtain. Suffice it that by midday the island had disappeared under the sea line and we were well on our way back to Sydney.

That evening, after dinner, Phyllis and I patrolled the deck and finally came to a standstill aft. It was as beautiful an evening as any man or woman could wish for. All round us was the glassy sea, while overhead the Tropic stars shone down with radiant brilliance.

"Phyllis," I said, taking my darling's hand and looking into her face, "what a series of adventures we have both passed through since that afternoon I first saw you in the Domain! Do you know your father has now consented to our marriage?"

"It is to you, Dick, I owe my rescue," said she, coming a little closer to me. "You have a perfect right to me, for you have won me nobly."