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outward marks of a sailor。 David believed he was the tallest man
he had ever beheld； but equally remarkable with his height was
his beard and hair； which were of a fierce brick…dust red。 Even
in the mild moonlight it flamed like a torch。
〃What's your business？〃 demanded the man with the flamboyant
hair。
〃I came here；〃 began David； 〃to wait for a train〃
The tall man bellowed with indignant rage。
〃Yes；〃 he shouted； 〃this is the sort of place any one would pick
out to wait for a train！〃
In front of David's nose he shook a fist as large as a catcher's
glove。 〃Don't you lie to ME！〃 he bullied。 〃Do you know who I am？
Do you know WHO you're up against？ I'm〃
The barkeeper person interrupted。
〃Never mind who you are；〃 he said。 〃We know that。 Find out who HE
is。〃
David turned appealingly to the barkeeper。
〃Do you suppose I'd come here on purpose？〃 he protested。 〃I'm a
travelling man〃
〃You won't travel any to…night；〃 mocked the red…haired one。
〃You've seen what you came to see； and all you want now is to get
to a Western Union wire。 Well； you don't do it。 You don't leave
here to…night！〃
As though he thought he had been neglected； the little man in
riding…boots pushed forward importantly。
〃Tie him to a tree！〃 he suggested。
〃Better take him on board；〃 said the barkeeper； 〃and send him
back by the pilot。 When we're once at sea； he can't hurt us any。〃
〃What makes you think I want to hurt you？〃 demanded David。 〃Who
do you think I am？〃
〃We know who you are；〃 shouted the fiery…headed one。 〃You're a
blanketty…blank spy！ You're a government spy or a Spanish spy；
and whichever you are you don't get away to…night！〃
David had not the faintest idea what the man meant； but he knew
his self…respect was being ill…treated； and his self…respect
rebelled。
〃You have made a very serious mistake；〃 he said； 〃and whether you
like it or not； I AM leaving here to…night； and YOU can go to the
devil！〃
Turning his back David started with great dignity to walk away。
It was a short walk。 Something hit him below the ear and he found
himself curling up comfortably on the ties。 He had a strong
desire to sleep； but was conscious that a bed on a railroad
track； on account of trains wanting to pass； was unsafe。 This
doubt did not long disturb him。 His head rolled against the steel
rail； his limbs relaxed。 From a great distance； and in a strange
sing…song he heard the voice of the barkeeper saying；
〃Ninetenand OUT！〃
When David came to his senses his head was resting on a coil of
rope。 In his ears was the steady throb of an engine； and in his
eyes the glare of a lantern。 The lantern was held by a
pleasant…faced youth in a golf cap who was smiling
sympathetically。 David rose on his elbow and gazed wildly about
him。 He was in the bow of the ocean…going tug； and he saw that
from where he lay in the bow to her stern her decks were packed
with men。 She was steaming swiftly down a broad river。 On either
side the gray light that comes before the dawn showed low banks
studded with stunted palmettos。 Close ahead David heard the roar
of the surf。
〃Sorry to disturb you；〃 said the youth in the golf cap； 〃but we
drop the pilot in a few minutes and you're going with him。〃
David moved his aching head gingerly； and was conscious of a bump
as large as a tennis ball behind his right ear。
〃What happened to me？〃 he demanded。
〃You were sort of kidnapped； I guess；〃 laughed the young man。 〃It
was a raw deal； but they couldn't take any chances。 The pilot
will land you at Okra Point。 You can hire a rig there to take you
to the railroad。〃
〃But why？〃 demanded David indignantly。 〃Why was I kidnapped？ What
had I done？ Who were those men who〃
From the pilot…house there was a sharp jangle of bells to the
engine…room； and the speed of the tug slackened。
〃Come on；〃 commanded the young man briskly。 〃The pilot's going
ashore。 Here's your grip； here's your hat。 The ladder's on the
port side。 Look where you're stepping。 We can't show any lights；
and it's dark as〃
But； even as he spoke； like a flash of powder； as swiftly as one
throws an electric switch； as blindingly as a train leaps from
the tunnel into the glaring sun； the darkness vanished and the
tug was swept by the fierce； blatant radiance of a search…light。
It was met by shrieks from two hundred throats； by screams；
oaths； prayers； by the sharp jangling of bells； by the blind rush
of many men scurrying like rats for a hole to hide in； by the
ringing orders of one man。 Above the tumult this one voice rose
like the warning strokes of a fire…gong； and looking up to the
pilot…house from whence the voice came； David saw the barkeeper
still in his shirt…sleeves and with his derby hat pushed back
behind his ears； with one hand clutching the telegraph to the
engine…room； with the other holding the spoke of the wheel。
David felt the tug； like a hunter taking a fence； rise in a great
leap。 Her bow sank and rose； tossing the water from her in black；
oily waves； the smoke poured from her funnel； from below her
engines sobbed and quivered； and like a hound freed from a leash
she raced for the open sea。 But swiftly as she fled； as a thief
is held in the circle of a policeman's bull's…eye； the shaft of
light followed and exposed her and held her in its grip。 The
youth in the golf cap was clutching David by the arm。 With his
free hand he pointed down the shaft of light。 So great was the
tumult that to be heard he brought his lips close to David's ear。
〃That's the revenue cutter！〃 he shouted。 〃She's been laying for
us for three weeks； and now；〃 he shrieked exultingly； 〃the old
man's going to give her a race for it。〃
From excitement； from cold； from alarm； David's nerves were
getting beyond his control。
〃But how；〃 he demanded； 〃how do I get ashore？〃
〃You don't！〃
〃When he drops the pilot； don't I〃
〃How can he drop the pilot？〃 yelled the youth。 〃The pilot's got
to stick by the boat。 So have you。〃
David clutched the young man and swung him so that they stood
face to face。
〃Stick by what boat？〃 yelled David。 〃Who are these men？ Who are
you？ What boat is this？〃
In the glare of the search…light David saw the eyes of the youth
staring at him as though he feared he were in the clutch of a
madman。 Wrenching himself free； the youth pointed at the
pilot…house。 Above it on a blue board in letters of gold…leaf a
foot high was the name of the tug。 As David read it his breath
left him； a finger of ice passed slowly down his spine。 The name
he read was The Three Friends。
〃THE THREE FRIENDS！〃 shrieked David。 〃She's a filibuster！ She's a
pirate！ Where're we going？
〃To Cuba！〃
David emitted a howl of anguish； rage； and protest。
〃What for？〃 he shrieked。
The young man regarded him coldly。
〃To pick bananas；〃 he said。
〃I won't go to Cuba；〃 shouted David。 〃I've got to work！ I'm paid
to sell machinery。 I demand to be put ashore。 I'll lose my job if
I'm not put ashore。 I'll sue you！ I'll have the law〃
David found himself suddenly upon his knees。 His first thought
was that the ship had struck a rock； and then that she was
bumping herself over a succession of coral reefs。 She dipped；
dived； reared； and plunged。 Like a hooked fish； she flung herself
in the air； quivering from bow to stern。 No longer was David of a
mind to sue the filibusters if they did not put him ashore。 If
only they had put him ashore； in gratitude he would have crawled
on his knees。 What followed was of no interest to David； nor to
many of the filibusters； nor to any of the Cuban patriots。 Their
groans of self…pity； their prayers and curses in eloquent
Spanish； rose high above the crash of broken crockery and the
pounding of the waves。 Even when the search…light gave way to a
brilliant sunlight the circumstance was unobserved by David。 Nor
was he concerned in the tidings brought forward by the youth in
the golf cap； who raced the slippery decks and vaulted the
prostrate forms as sure…footedly as a hurdler on a cinder track。
To David； in whom he seemed to think he had found a congenial
spirit； he shouted Joyfully； 〃She's fired two blanks at us！〃 he
cried； 〃now she's firing cannon…balls！〃
〃Thank God；〃 whispered David； 〃perhaps she'll sink us！〃
But The Three Friends showed her heels to the revenue cutter； and
so far as David knew hours passed into days and days into weeks。
It was like those nightmares in which in a minute one is whirled
through centuries of fear and torment。 Sometimes； regardless of
nausea； of his aching head； of the hard deck； of the waves that
splashed and smothered him； David fell into broken slumber。
Sometimes he woke to a dull consciousness of his position。 At
such moments he added to his misery by speculating upon the other
misfortunes that might have befallen him on shore。 Emily； he
decided； had given him up for lost and marriedprobably a navy
officer in command of a battle…ship。 Burdett and Sons had cast
him off forever。 Possibly his disappearance had caused them to
suspect him； even now they might be regarding him as a defaulter；
as a fugitive from justice。 His accounts； no doubt； were being
carefully overhauled。 In actual time； two days and two nights had
passed；