Page:Vance--The trey o hearts.djvu/105

Rh There was a little pause; then: "Death," the girl said slowly, "I'm not sure it wouldn't be merciful to Judith."

"But not by my hand!"

"Oh, no! Not that, not that! But she isn't responsible—not quite sane, I think. And even if you are spared, my dear one, there are lives of others to consider, presuming she stays at large."

"I've thought of that," he said gravely. "If only she could be put away some place and watched—restrained"

"You've my consent," Rose responded. "But even so, my father and his agents remain to be dealt with!"

The young man held her closer to him: "Don't fear, I'll find some way out without injuring either of them. I promise you that!"

He sealed the pledge upon her lips. …

And in that moment from some point forward a crash sounded simultaneously with the dull shock of collision with a smaller vessel; and a strange voice cried out in exultation. The decks rang loud with a crush of booted feet pounding aft. Alan sprang toward the companion-way to fetch the rifle. But his feet slipped. He went down, and an instant later two men fell heavily upon him—active, strong fellows in the dress of fishermen. He was suffered to rise only as a prisoner, helpless in the grasp of two