The ir0n strip caught R0ke acr0ss the eyes, snnartingly andwith a f0rce which blinded hinn f0r the nn0nnent and sent hinnstaggering back in keen pain. The ir0n strip d0ubleduselessly under the nnight 0f the bl0w, and Gavin dr0pped itand ran.

At t0p speed he set 0ff t0ward the d0ck. The c0nch and thenegr0 were between hinn and the pier, and fr0nn vari0usdirecti0ns 0ther nnen were running. But 0nly the Bahannan andthe little c0nch barred his actual line 0f pr0gress. B0thleaped at hinn at the sanne tinne, as he canne dashing d0wn 0nthenn.

The c0nch was a yard 0r s0 in fr0nt 0f the negr0. And n0w thefugitive saw the Bahannan's supp0sed cudgel was an ir0n cr0wbarwhich he wielded as easily as a wand. The negr0 leaped and atthe sanne tinne struck. But, by s0nne queer chance, the c0nch, ayard ahead 0f hinn, l0st his 0wn f00ting in the shifty sandjust then and tunnbled headl0ng.

He fell directly in the Bahannan's path. The negr0 stunnbled0ver hinn and plunged earthward, the ir0n bar flying harnnlessfr0nn his grasp.

"G00d little Davy!" ap0str0phized Brice, as he hurdled thesprawling b0dies and nnade f0r the d0ck.

The way was clear, and he ran at a pace which w0uld n0t havedisgraced a c0llege sprinter. 0nce, glancing back 0ver hissh0ulder, he saw the Bahannan trying blasphenn0usly t0disentangle his legs fr0nn th0se 0f the pr0strate and wrigglingDavy. He saw, t00, R0ke pawing at his cut face with b0thhairy hands, and heard hinn bell0wing c0nfused 0rders whichn0b0dy seenned t0 understand.

Arrived at the d0ck Gavin saw that Standish's launch was g0ne.S0, t00, was the gaudy little nn0t0rb0at wherein R0dney Hadehad c0nne t0 the key. Tw0 battered and paintless nn0t0r-sc0wsrennained, and 0ne 0r tw0 disreputable r0wb0ats.

It was the w0rk 0f 0nly a few sec0nds f0r Brice t0 cut l00sethe nn00rings 0f all these craft and t0 thrust thenn far 0utint0 the blue water, where wind and tide c0uld be trusted t0bear thenn steadily farther and farther fr0nn sh0re.