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oblivious of the scene that had just taken place in the stern。 There was a
moment of silence； and then the mate's voice came out quite impassively；
but distinctly：
〃'Fernandez！'
〃'Aye； aye； sir！'
〃'Come aft andbring your oar with you。'
〃He did so； stumbling over the men； who； engaged in their whispered
yarns； didn't seem to notice him。
〃'See if you can find soundings here。'
〃Fernandez leaned over the stern and dropped his oar to its shaft in the
phosphorescent water。 But he touched no bottom； the current brought the
oar at right angles presently to the surface。
〃'Send it down； man；' said the mate； imperatively； 'down； down。 Reach
over there。 What are you afraid of？ So； steady there； I'll hold you。'
〃Fernandez leaned over the stern and sent the oar and half of his bared
brown arm into the water。 In an instant the mate caught him with one
tremendous potential grip at his elbows； and forced him and his oar head
downward in the waters。 The act was so sudden； yet so carefully
premeditated； that no outcry escaped the doomed man。 Even the launch
scarcely dipped her stern to the act。 In that awful moment I heard a light
laugh from one of the men in response to a wanton yarn from his
comrade；James； bring the vichy to Mr。 Lightbody！ You'll find that a
dash of cognac will improve it wonderfully。
〃Wellto go ona few bubbles arose to the surface。 Fernandez
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DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
seemed unreasonably passive； until I saw that when the mate had gripped
his elbows with his hands he had also firmly locked the traitor's knees
within his own。 In a few momentsit seemed to me； then； a centurythe
mate's grasp relaxed； the body of Fernandez； a mere limp； leaden mass；
slipped noiselessly and heavily into the sea。 There was no splash。 The
ocean took it calmly and quietly to its depths。 The mate turned to the
men； without deigning to cast a glance on me。
〃'Oars！' The men raised their oars apeak。
〃'Let fall！' There was a splash in the water； encircling the boat in
concentric lines of molten silver。
〃'Give way！'
〃Well； of course； that's all。 WE got away in time。 I knew I bored
you awfully！ Eh？ Oh； you want to know what became of the woman
really； I don't know！ And myselfoh； I got away at Havana！ Eh？
Certainly； James； you'll find some smelling salts in my bureau。 Gentlemen；
I fear we have kept the ladies too long。〃
But they had already risen； and were slowly filing out of the room。
Only one lingeredthe youngest Miss Jones。
〃That was a capital story；〃 she said； pausing beside our host； with a
special significance in her usual audacity。 〃Do you know you absolutely
sent cold chills down my spine a moment ago。 Really； now； you ought to
write for the magazines！〃
Our host looked up at the pretty； audacious face。 Then he said； sotto
voce；
〃I do！〃
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