www.freeclassicebooks.com

The Russian glared at him.

What do you mean," he cried, "by entering here without permission? Get out!"

The cook turned his watery blue eyes upon Rokoff and smiled vacuously.

"Ay tank it blow purty soon purty hard," he said, and then he began rearranging

the few dishes upon the little table.

"Get out of here, or I'll throw you out, you miserable blockhead!" roared Rokoff,

taking a threatening step toward the Swede.

Anderssen continued to smile foolishly in his direction, but one ham-like paw slid

stealthily to the handle of the long, slim knife that protruded from the greasy cord

supporting his soiled apron.

Rokoff saw the move and stopped short in his advance. Then he turned toward

Jane Clayton.

"I will give you until tomorrow," he said, "to reconsider your answer to my offer.

All will be sent ashore upon one pretext or another except you and the child,

Paulvitch and myself. Then without interruption you will be able to witness the

death of the baby."

He spoke in French that the cook might not understand the sinister portent of his

words. When he had done he banged out of the cabin without another look at the

man who had interrupted him in his sorry work.

When he had gone, Sven Anderssen turned toward Lady Greystoke--the idiotic

expression that had masked his thoughts had fallen away, and in its place was

one of craft and cunning.

Hay tank Ay ban a fool," he said. "Hay ben the fool. Ay savvy Franch."

Jane Clayton looked at him in surprise.

You understood all that he said, then?"

Anderssen grinned.

You bat," he said.

And you heard what was going on in here and came to protect me?"

You bane good to me," explained the Swede. "Hay treat me like darty dog. Ay

help you, lady. You yust vait--Ay help you. Ay ban Vast Coast lots times."

The Beasts of Tarzan