Drummond, who did not understand the
lingo, was amazed to see Jack fling off the Governor's grasp, and with
what he took to be a crushing oath in Russian, spring to the door,
which he threw open. He mounted the stone bench which gave him a view
of the sea. A boat, with two sails spread, speeding to the southwest,
across the strong westerly wind, was two miles or more away.
"Marooned, by God!" cried the Prince, swinging round and presenting
his pistol at the head of the Governor, who stood there like a statue
of dejection, and made no sign.
CHAPTER XX
ARRIVAL OF THE TURBINE YACHT
BEFORE Jack could fire, as perhaps he had intended to do, Drummond
struck down his arm.
"None of that, Jack," he said. "The Russian in you has evidently been
scratched, and the Tartar has come uppermost. The Governor gave a
signal, I suppose?"
"Yes, he did, and those two have got away while I stood babbling here,
feeling a sympathy for the old villain. That's his return current,
eh?"
"He's not to blame," said Drummond. "It's our own fault entirely. The
first thing to have done was to secure that boat."
"And everything worked so beautifully," moaned Jack, "up to this
point, and one mistake ruins it. We are doomed, Alan."
"It isn't so bad as that, Jack," said the Englishman calmly. "Should
those men reach the coast safely, as no doubt they will, it may cost
Russia a bit of trouble to dislodge us.
Pages:
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223