Page:Tongues of Flame (1924).pdf/144

 little put out with her and a little miffed at himself, walked with a kind of stiff dignity behind Adam John to where he lowered the gold to a cedar stump beside the boat-landing, Lahleet followed at a distance, as overseeing the departure.

A survey of the channel revealed to Harrington no sign of his engineer and the man with the sawed-off shotgun. No doubt they were still circling the island, patrolling in a leisurely, unobstrusive fashion so as not to excite suspicion; and would heave into view presently. Nevertheless, this slight delay served to increase his annoyance. When he saw Adam John studying the height of the sun anxiously, as if time pressed with him also, Henry spoke up sharply: "My boat will be here presently. You need not wait."

"Have to go nets," Adam John explained laconically. "Lieutenant scuse!"

"Sure!" averred Henry, with emphasis, although he could have bitten his tongue out with chagrin. He had failed again. What should he do next, he wondered, gritting his teeth in rising anger—mostly with himself.

After a balk or two the engine started and Adam John was borne swiftly out into the channel and headed up the basin.

"Men like John Boland ought to be very careful what they do to the souls of men like Adam John," Lahleet remarked from behind.

"But Mr. Boland did not know a thing about it," Harrington defended quickly.

"It's the same thing," the girl averred, with the black eyes round and tender in their reproaches. "What you were doing to Adam John's soul is the same thing that Mr. Boland does to all souls. He crushes their ideals