Moreover, there was a
distinct objection to promiscuous shooting; the Prince felt that;
there was no knowing how promiscuous shooting might end.
'We will take the dinghy,' said the Prince quickly, to the captain.
A bell rang below, and a sailor and the Negro boy appeared on
deck. The pulsations of the screw grew less rapid. The yacht
stopped. The dinghy was lowered. As the Prince and Nella
prepared to descend into the little cock-boat Mr Tom Jackson
addressed Nella, all bound as he lay.
'Good-bye,' he said, 'I shall see you again, never fear.' .
In another moment they were in the dinghy, and the dinghy was
adrift. The yacht's screw chumed the water, and the beautiful
vessel slipped away from them. As it receded a figure appeared at
the stem. It was Mr Thomas Jackson.
He had been released by his minions. He held a white
handkerchief to his ear, and offered a calm, enigmatic smile to the
two forlorn but victorious occupants of the dinghy. Jules had been
defeated for once in his life; or perhaps it would be more just to
say that he had been out-manoeuvred. Men like Jules are incapable
of being defeated. It was characteristic of his luck that now, in the
very hour when he had been caught red-handed in a serious crime
against society, he should be effecting a leisurely escape - an
escape which left no clue behind.
The sea was utterly calm and blue in the morning sun.
Pages:
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149