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[ALL RIGHTS KESEKVEDj. I" &M% I'M -R For Love and Honour By HAROLD BINDLOSS, Author of "A Wide Dominion," His Adversary's Daughter," The Kingdom of Courage," "The Mistress of Bonaventule,&c. I- it su'iuvi waiter i.iiat tins wns written by a t,c -iiii fl man, a; id it was clear that he P:ir v whose object was to ♦'xarniae a sunken steamer. They covild not i ave meant to salve her. since :i.iciiooiiei- • mid not have carried the necessary ap- paratus. He read on with close attention. rd the succeeding entries told a story of difficulty and peril. Time and again the vvcrn out men thrashed the schooner out to sea to face a sudden gale, and creeping back through the rain or haze that followed it. re- Mimed rheir work. It was difficult to cling to the working wreck in the strong tide-stream while the schooner plunged and rolled above them perilously close to the reef; and there were masses of shattered fittings to move before they could get below. Then the rea.der started as it It-iiek him that the men would not ha.ve made such determined efforts to get inside the wreck unless they had expected to find something valuable and ea-sy to move, and the most valuable thing he could think of was gold. 33esides, miners coming back from the Klon- dike diggings traversed those waters,, and lie knew of one steamer which had gone down "ith a number on board. fie followed the narrative carefully, consi- dering every word, until he read with a shock of consternation that there was a rent in the steamer's port -wide leading into her engine- room, which evidently afforded the writer strong satisfaction. This was significant, \¡.e- c-atise it suggested that the man's object was to examine her machinery. A look of fear crept into Salter's eyes as he wondered what they had discovered. The next few entries would, no doubt, reveal it. and he was glanc- ing at one of them in feverish anxiety when he heard footsteps just outside the shed. Whoever was approaching would he in the room in a moment, and raising the lid of the chest he dropped the book inside. He had hardly done so when Harry' and if at strode in. "Where's book I gave you?" the latter in- quired. The engineer, who did not answer, en- deavoured to pull himaeAf together, and Mat fipoke again. I mean book T picked up when I wa,i going back with you and Armstrong after putting Jim on lfoat." he said. The allusion to Armstrong decided Salter. He was desperately anxious to ascertain the result of the investigations on hoard the steamer, and had almost made up his mind to destroy the record afterwards; but. as he re- flected rapidly, the other man had. no doubt, tteen Mat give the book to him. 011. yes. of course he said. here. I put'it in the chvst. He took it out with reluctance, and Mat jdanced at him curiously as he handed it, 'to Harry. "What's wrong with vc)ti? he asked. c. Yeu were looking queer when we came in." Was I? said the other. It's pretty hot in here beside the engine." It struck Harry that, this was not a very convincing explanation but he opened the baok to thrust back some of the liters which slightly projected, and noticed that there was a grimy mark inside the cover. This, how- ever. did not surprise him. sin(--e he had supposed that whoever found the book would look inside. 41 Thank you," he .said, and went out with Mat; while the engineer sat down again with a strained expression and one hand tightly eienehed. He looked like a man who was tiy- in-- to recover from a oainful shock. CIIAI'TIin XI. There had been heavy rain, but the sun Is ad oroken through when Alison went tip the river iishing with Harry. blue w as a sur- prised that she had done so. though she could throw a trout-fly as well men, hut he had asked 1101: unexpectedly, and she had agreed. She could r.ot ignore the fact that thIS man pu.se.i."cd< some (1;<; she ad- mired; but on the other hand, young as he had been when he left for C~r.dn. ther% wove tidies about his shj shrank from, and she hardly thoi'.glit he couid aHo- I gcther have changed his nature. oil .several points their views strongly disagreed: he had r,,) ot i- ii i i t) i,w i i,. I I were almost sacred to 1icr, Jndced. he some-. MitrK-s ope:y smiled at th-ui. Whan they reached the v. at. is id how f-wr, Rue no longer aoked herself whether she hot\ld have goze with him, for there was no ,doubt that he vs a ;)0:1 fisherman as an clausing cc:anariou. They v,- c t It* stream for a mile or two, casting across a pool c: eddy here there, 'and the creel Harry -"Carried \va- getting lêavv when they sat down in the tucshioe, vtaro tiie river ran deep be- neath a projecting The rock was terraced by narrow ledges, and a big larch "Wood ran up to the hill gra s from tlu oppo- site bank. "Did you enjoy yourself in London?" Ali- son asked Harry, who had eoine back on the previous evening. No," sai l ihc man, incautiously. I didn't expect to. for that matter." Then it WC:5 business that took you .away?" y<>s," said Harry, v.ho had" unsneeessfuliy endeavoured to extract some information About Salter from the authorities of the Board of Trade, aid had only gathered that the man had disappeared. Alison laughed. You're not commun ve. I suppose I shouldn't have asked; but you reaHy don't strike one as a. busy man." If I could oidy get through v ith the troublesome thing I have in hand. I could be delightfully idle while the summer lasts." Then you wouldn't immediately go back to Canada?" Harry looked at her with a rather curious expression. Xo." lie (-aid not immedi- ately. In fact, I can't tell when I'd go. This is a beautiful country, and there's something that keeps me lie re." His companion felt inclined to wonder what it was; but she could not very veil ask him, and he showed no desire to enlighten her. There's a very good pool beyond the crag," .she said. "I think we should try it. though it's a long way round across the top before one can get down to the liater again. I wonder if we could get along one of those ledges; I've heard of the quarrymen doing so when they're up the river. Sorr: of them are fond of fishing." It's more to the purpose that they're accustomed to op slippery rocks," said Harry. We'll look at the place, any way, though it doesn't strike me as promising. They approached the foot of the rock, and Harry carefully ran his eye along the rough and broken ledges. The widest of them did not project a couple of feet, and the stream twirled below in angry eddies. He had 110 douht that it was deep. On the whole, he said, "I think we had better go round." It's such a steep climb," objected Ali- non. "I feel a lmost sure I could get along that second ledge." I don't think I'd try," said Harry. You can't see all the way. We had better face the hill. Alison was of a rather imperious disposi- tion, and sometimes a little quick in temper. Could you go? she asked. Harry smiled good-humouredlv. "I might manage it if there was any particular necessity." Then why should you think I'm incapable? I don't," said Harry. I've no doubt that you're a young lady of many accomplish- nients and unusual nerve but that's a differ- ent thing from being able to climb as well as a fjuarryman. He spoke laughingly, but Alison was dis- pleased. For one thing, she fancied she had been unusually gracious to him during the last hour; and, for another, she was not ac- customed to having her wishes calmly set aside. Besides, the man had shown himself tenacious of his opinions on other occasions, and she had fallen into a habit of expecting her friends to agree with her. Well," she L said. "I mean to try the eecond ledge. I won't compel you to come -with me." Harrv took out his pine. "I don't, intend j to. I'll sit here a while, and ioin you later on.' Alison flushed at this. The open rudeness 4pf it aiinosi tie oenevo*! r:tc''e some it the attempt, and he meant to stay behind and let her face it alone. After all. she asked herself, what, could one exoect from a man who laughed at the amenities prescribed by the social code she and her friends believed in? "Don't hurry yourself on my account. she said. ironically. "Perhaps. however, you wouldn't mind carrying my rod." Harry's eyes twinkled. I'll bring it along. I'd better point out that as there's no room Tor two abreast on the ledge, prooamv ue a utio uume "Thanks for the explanation." said Alison. I'm inclined lo acrrce with the last of it." Harrv. who made no answer, lighted his pipe, and tiatehcd her clamber along the ledge until she disappeared behind an out- jutting face of the rock. He noticed tluu be- fore she did so she moved more slowly and glanced up and down, as if in doubt. Then, having already decided that only an expert cragsman could reach any of the adjacent ledges, lie shook out his half-empty pipe and followed her. In the meanwhile, once she was out of his sight round the corner. Alison stopped and looked about her with some anxiety. There -a-, t, strip of stone, which sla-rited unplea- santly downwards, beneath her, and she had a firm "hold for one hand, but the ledge grew more broken and narrower close ahead. A slightly wider one lay a couple of yards be- low but she hardly thought she could slId. down to it without shooting across it into the pool, in which there w a*, apparently, .six or eight feet of water. She could not, however. remain where she was all the afternoon, and she did not think she could make the man hear through the sound of the river, even if she called out for his assistance, which was the last thing she meant to do. She waited some minutes until her hands and ankles began to ache with the effort to maintain her position, and then, realising that she must go on before she slipped off, she crept forward a yard or two. Then she saw that although the slope between her and the lower ledge was almost vert ical, there was a crack some way down in which she might place one foot. Stopping above the f-pot.she lowered herself from a handheld, and felt with the toe of one shoe for the cranny. For several seconds she could find no support below, and then her foot rested on something which enabled her to ease the strain upon her arms. She could not see directly beneath her. but. she fancied she had not got her foot in the crevice she had fixed upon. That being so. she decided I to climb up again. It proved to be impossible. The rock be- | hind the ledge was not far enough away to ) rdlow her to get up without a better hand- hold than she could find, and when at last she slipped back until her foot rested on the previous spot site felt (listiiiltl y sorry that she had come. Lowering herself as far as I she (fare, she could find nothing to place her unsupported foot upon, and she failed to nerve herself to let go and slide down. Jt is difficult to alight upon a narrow ledge, and remain there, when it is backed by an almost upright wall. Then she looked down at the river, swirling by in foam-streaked eddies, and grew afraid as tic strain upon her arms increased. She could not remain where she was much longer, and she could not get up again. A few moments later a dislodged stone splashed into the stream, and looking round. she saw Harry moving easily along the ledgo.. Can you hold oii he called to her. "Y e, answered Attson. "Be as quicK at you can. I'll be ready for you in a moment," said Ilarrv. who scrambled forward until he stood close above her, and then swung him. self off the ledge. He struck the one below him. slipped off it, •s he had expected, ami plunged into tli€ river, which lay close beneath. Alison cried I out when he splashed into the water, but next moment she saw that he was standing in it not trail waisl-doen aucl holdina his arms up. j Let and slide down, he U id her. I'll catch you, but I'm afraid I can'-t help your getting your feet wof. She laughed, almost hysterically. u I don't wind that in the least." Tl: I lower vours li' m iar as possible and let no. I She/!hi so. struck ths lodge v. ith one foot, a.nd slipped over it; but lie seized her as she I feU, and though both feet and her skirt went in rather deep, he held and raised her 1"0 that ehe could scramble up on the wider bottom ledge. After that, she turned and looked at him as he stood with the flood swirling by and rippling above his waist. "Oh!" she cried, "yon can't get out. Perhaps I could pull yon." "No," said Harry, smiling; I'd only dra.g you in. I'm standing on the top of a ledge or boulder, and the water's a good deal deeper outside it." "Theil what are you going to do?" Alison inquired, in growing alarm. You can't stay where you are." "That's obvious," said Harry. Ill look for another place where it's easier." But there isn't a shallow spot. I know that, because I've fished from the other bank when the water was low." Then I must try lower down. I think you're saf e now. This ledge cets w ider as it goes along, but I'll wait until you call that you're out of difficulty." How can I go vliiie you're in the rivei-? Alison demanded. "It wouldn't be much use getting out in another place before I knew whether want me again." Harry retorted. "Neither oi us gave way last time, but- .1 expect YOU to d.) so now." I'll do what you think best. Alisoa meekly agreed. Then go on nr.d wait for me by the pool. I may be. skirtie little time, as I daresay I shall have to cross the to;) of the crag." The girl moved away, and when she called out that she had reached the boulders beyond the reck in safety he made two or three attempts to clamber up, and splashed in again. Then, abandoning the idea. he allowed him- self to be swept away by the stream, swinging his left arm out with a powerful stroke. He landed where they had left the rods, and stripping off most of his clothes, lie wrung them out and laid them on the hot stones to dry. Then sitting down he filled his pipe, which lie had prudently left with the matches in the creel. Nobody was 'likely to come down that side of the dale; the day was warm: and there was nothing unpleasant in sitting in the sunshine in very light apparel. It was an hour later when he rejoined Alison. and his clothes were almost dry and badly creased. She turned rowards him with a contrite expression. It was all my fault," she said. I shouldn't have insisted on going." Harry sat down and looked at her with amusement in his eyes. I wonder whv you did so ? Alison smiled. It's difficult to explain- even to myself." Yes," said Harry, drily, that's not an unusual thing. But go on." I think you irritated me. 1 don't mean that it was your fault; but somehow you made me more determined." "Yes," said Ilarrjr; "1 can grasp that. I didn't jump to do what you wanted. I'm afraid you have been a little spoilt." It's possible," Alison absented, with a good-humoured laugh. We are agreed so far, but I fancy you haven't altogether explained yourself. 'a"n' I there something else at the back of your mind? Alison coloured alightJy and made no answer, and he went oil If Winter or Yano or one of your other friends had spoken to you as I did, you wouldn't have resented it. The trouble was that I—an outsider, a man from the Nyilds-sliould venture to disagree with you in the companionable way they would have taken, wasn't it?" Alison did 1.01. answer this directly. You are an Elliot." "Yes," said Harry-, I'm Mad Jack's sou. and, as a mittter of fact. I'm proud of it. No finer seaman or braver and kinder man ever set foot on one of Arnold's /Ships, n But whv should von sneak sli"htinwlv of ■iv menus—tne roiK-s i oeiong ro: "I don't," Harry assured her. I ]it* them nearly all. It's the idea that only those who have learnt their ways—their pleasant tricks of speech and manner—are of any account I object to." Then he broke into a soft laugh. Still, I believe you'll get over your prejudices." Alison was ,stirred by some impulse which she (lid not tiridei-stanil. If this man daimed no more than the elementary virtues, shared bv all humanity alike without distinction of birth or estate, he undoubtedly possessed a number of them. I must admit that I bad some prejudices—■ but they're gone," she said. "I was wrong ill ''nt?rtainin? them, ?s 1 was mi \\h'? 1 insisted wits ?ii insisted Thank you." II. v. a curious light in his eyes. •• I'm j»;.iJ hear t; but I'd have been willing to let you oft the la,s& confession. Now perhaps we had better try a east or two across the nook" CHAPTER XII. Soon after his adventure with Alison, Harry left the dale again, and after spending a day or two in several seaport towns in a vain at- tempt to find a clue to Salter's whereabouts went on to London. On the day following his arrival he sat with Grayson in the smoking- lounge of a well-known hotel. It was luxuri- ously furnished there was a glass roof, and a. few palms and tree ferns in tubs gave the place the look of a. conservatory, and bioke it up into nooks, where one could sit in privacy. Coffee was set out on a table i:i front of the men; but Harry was reading a London paper which announced the wreck of one of Arnold's steamers. "There's nothing about insurance," he re- marked at length. "Wasn't she covered?" That," said Grayson, is a point which, so far as I know, isn't decided yet; though I believe that Mr. Elliot, who came up as soon as we wired him, and the underwriters hold contrary views. Personally, in their place, I shouldn't pay. The fact is, she was insured on what you could call a definite voyage policy—that is. she was to proceed to certain ports; but her skipper, who found freight scarce, was of. ered a cargo for a place not in- cluded among those stipulated. The under- writers should have been advised of it; but the clerk who looks after these things was away sick, and somehow it wasn't done, and they state that they would have charged a higher premium for the port in question in the typhoon season. In the middle of a rather bad one the skipper put the Signet on a coral reef, where she went to pieces." If the underwriters stick to their conten- tion, it will hit the firm rather hard?" "Yes," asented Grayson; "1 believe it will. She was a nearly new boat, and as it happened, we had only paid one instalment on her. When trade's slack, some of the builders will make an arrangement of the kind." Will you have any trouble in raising the rest of the money?" That," said Grayson, thoulg" htfully, is more, than I can tell. though I believe the builders had half-promised to carry over the next instalment, which is shortly due, if neces- sary. You see. we are really two concerns— Arnold Elliot and Co., shipping agents; and the Gorgon Steam Navigation. Both have their separate general accounts, which are perfectly clear on the surface; but the real financing of a business of this kind is some- times rather involved, and it's my opinion that only Watson and Mr. Elliot know how we actually stand." Now the vessel's lost, and their security gone, the builders may press for payment. "It's possible," Grayson agreed. "Watson went north to see them yesterday." He changed the subject. I've been over to Scotland Yard. as you asked me; but they ad- mitted that they had no immediate expecta- tion of getting hold of Salter." Harry, who had expected nothing else, glanced round the room. That little stoutish man in the corner looks different from the rest of the folks," he remarked. I can locate the others—Americans, country people come up to town—but he's unmistakably City. A Jew. I think." You have guessed right. He's an outside financier—kind of superior moneylender; not big enough to work with the inner ring. Looks out of place, doesn't he? I've a notion that lie's expecting someone." Harry had already noticed the gentleman in question glancing towards the door. and in another minute or two the latter laid down the paper lie held. Then Grayson suddenly sat back iii his chair, so that the nearest palm stood between him and the entrance, and touched Harry's arm in warning as Arnold Eiliot walked in. He passed within a few yards of the two; but he did not sftm to see them, and after glancing round t!1 v lonngo .t v'" t:) 4-w C moved towards tho'man in the corr. You had better call for the Wil¡:¡' ""id I Grayson, softly. Stand U, -,) when y ru set;! 3 \ir!i him, l¡lle I .-dip to";¡rd" !1;11 '(Low. It matter about Mr. Elliat Seeing you; but it mightn't be advisable for him to notice ns toe • 'nr. Itari'V, who I'ecognised the truth of this, called for his bill, and placed h;r:e:?lf so that he cut off the view of the entrance while he s poke to the attendant. He was. however, re- lieved to see that Arnold, who was ti-lunig to the little stout man. did not look round, and in a few minutes he joined Grayson outside. "The meeting's significant, isn't it?" lie suggested. < '• I'm inclined to think so." Grayson agreed. Mr. Elliot probably came here be- cause it isn't a niace where either of them is likpiv to be recognised. Tt looks as if the builders were pressing for the instalment, and he couldn't raise the money from the banks. As I said, only he and Watson really know- how we stand." 1,17 flat about the directors? Gravson smiled. There are directors of o:her companies who know just as much as told." Harry, who h ft him at the first turning, went back to tlte north next day. and on alighting at a roadside station decided to walk to his inn. He had gone several miles when a man fitting on the parapet of a bridge accosted him. Have vou a pipeful of tobacco to spare, eir? he asked. Harry stopped and looked at the man. His clotheswere shabby and dusty his shoes v, ere badly worn; but he had not the appear- ance of A' profe?-ionul \agrant. For no par- ticular reason, except that it was a fine even- ing. Ilarrv, who handed the "tranger IllS tobacco pouch, sat down in-ar him. "Help yourself," he said. "Have you come far? from Fleetwood. Thank you. si. r. ,,x was t,i ) all the answer. Hciped to break up an old steamboat yonder. Liverpool before that. I'lace was full up of firemen." "Then YOll'rc a steamboat I've been a greaser, and fireman. HalTY, who was usually willing to talk to anybody, felt mildly interested in the man. ,c-t here from Fleetwood?" lie inquired. It's a aood way." Walked.'v said "the other. "Left Kirby Scar this morning, and came across the moor. Going on to Whitehaven. I've friends there who might put me on to something in the way of firing." "Then vou couldn't have had anything to c, a t since this morning? I haven't." s:tid the man. (letting useo to it by now. It's a while since I had a decent meal. Harry, who fancied that his appearance bore out the statement, remembered that he had once wandered, footsore and sometimes hungrv. through a distant land. "Well," he said. I'll give you a meal at the next village, and I may, perhaps, be able to find YOll shelter for the night. We had, j however better be getting on." The man rose and limped beside bun. but after a short silence Harry looked round. What boats were you in? lie asked, eare. lessly. A aood many," the other answered, witu a grin. Longest stop I made was in the Elliot line. Badly-found tramps they were— grub worse than nlOstxeept in the old Cala- bria I was in her a while. Fine steward and skipper. Office kept them short, as usual; but the skipper didn't cut the ioreeasuQ rations down. "What was his name?" Harry askcc? i. "1t.J sudden interest. (To be continued).

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