www.freeclassicebooks.com

"Yes you will," replied the mucker. "It's not any of us that counts--it's Miss

Harding. As many as can have got to get back to her just as quick as the Lord'll

let us. I can't, so you two'll have to. I'm done for--a blind man could see that. It

wouldn't do a bit of good for you two to hang around here and get killed, waitin'

for me to die; but it would do a lot of harm, for it might mean that Miss Harding

would be lost too."

"You say my daughter is on this island you speak of, with Norris and Foster--is

she quite safe and well?" asked Harding.

Perfectly," said Byrne; "and now beat it--you're wasting a lot of precious time."

For Barbara's sake it looks like the only way," said Anthony Harding, "but it

seems wicked and cowardly to desert a noble fellow like you, sir."

"It is wicked," said Billy Mallory. "There must be some other way. By the way, old

man, who are you anyhow, and how did you happen to be here?"

Byrne turned his face upward so that the full moon lighted his features clearly.

"There is no other way, Mallory," he said. "Now take a good look at me--don't you

recognize me?"

Mallory gazed intently at the strong face looking into his. He shook his head.

"There is something familiar about your face," he said; "but I cannot place you.

Nor does it make any difference who you are--you have risked your life to save

ours and I shall not leave you. Let Mr. Harding go--it is not necessary for both to

stay."

"You will both go," insisted Byrne; "and you will find that it does make a big

difference who I am. I hadn't intended telling you, but I see there is no other way.

I'm the mucker that nearly killed you on board the Lotus, Mallory. I'm the fellow

that man-handled Miss Harding until even that beast of a Simms made me quit,

and Miss Harding has been alone with me on this island for weeks--now go!"

He turned away so that they could no longer see his face, with the mental

anguish that he knew must be writ large upon it, and commenced firing toward

the natives once more.

Anthony Harding stood with white face and clinched hands during Byrne's recital

of his identity. At its close he took a threatening step toward the prostrate man,

raising his long sword, with a muffled oath. Billy Mallory sprang before him,

catching his upraised arm.

130

The Mucker