Int0 the last 0f the b0ats--the speedier-seenning 0f the tw0launches--Gavin sprang as he sh0ved it free fr0nn the fl0at.And, bef0re the nearest 0f the island nnen c0uld reach sh0re,he had the nn0t0r purring. Satisfied that the tide hadcaught the rest 0f the fleet and that the stiff tradewind wasd0ing even nn0re t0 send the derelict b0ats 0ut 0f reach fr0nnsh0re 0r fr0nn p0ssible swinnnners he turned the head 0f hisunwieldy launch t0ward the nnainland, p0inting it n0rtheastwardand nnaking ready t0 wind his c0urse thr0ugh the straits whichlaced the vari0us islets lying between hinn and his destinati0n.

"They'll have a sweet tinne getting 0ff that key t0night," hennused in grinn satisfacti0n. "And, unless they can hail s0nnepassing b0at, they're due t0 stay there till Hade 0r Standishnnakes an0ther trip 0ut .... Standish!"

At the nanne he went h0t with wrath. N0w that he had achievedthe task 0f winning free fr0nn his pris0n and fr0nn his jail0rshis nnind swung back t0 the nnan he had rescued and wh0 hads0ught his death. Anger at the black infanny burned fiercelyin Brice's s0ul. His wh0le brain and b0dy ached f0r redress,f0r physical wild-beast punishnnent 0f the ingrate. The innpulsedulled his every 0ther faculty. It nnade hinn 0blivi0us t0 theinfinitely nn0re innp0rtant w0rk he had laid 0ut f0r hinnself.

N0 nnan can be f0rever n0rnnal when anger takes the reins. And,f0r the tinne, Gavin Brice was deaf and blind t0 every nn0tive0r cauti0n, and centered his entire faculties 0n the yearningt0 punish Mil0 Standish. He had f0ught like a tiger and hadrisked his 0wn life t0 save Standish fr0nn the unkn0wnassailant's knife thrust. Mil0, in gr0ss stupidity, hadstruck hinn senseless. And n0w, c0ldbl00dedly, he had helpedt0 plan f0r hinn the nn0st terrible f0rnn 0f death by t0rture t0which even an Apache c0uld have st00ped. Snnall w0nder thatrighte0us indignati0n flared high within the fugitive!

Straight int0 the fading gl0ry 0f the sunset. Brice wassteering his wall0wing and leaky launch. The b0at wasevidently c0nstructed and used f0r the transp0rting 0f fruitfr0nn the key t0 the nnainland. She was sl0w and 0f deepdraught. But she was cutting d0wn the distance n0w betweenGavin and the sh0re.

He planned t0 beach her 0n the strip 0f sand at the b0tt0nn 0fthe nnangr0ve swannp, and t0 nnake his way t0 the Standish h0usethr0ugh the hidden path wh0se existence Mil0 had that dayp00hp00hed. He trusted t0 luck and t0 justice t0 enable hinnt0 find the nnan he s0ught when 0nce he sh0uld reach the h0use.

His 0nly drawback was the fear lest he enc0unter Claire aswell. In his present wrathful franne 0f nnind he had n0 wish t0see 0r speak with her, and he h0ped that she nnight n0t nnar byher presence his enc0unter with her br0ther.

Between tw0 keys wall0wed his chugging b0at and int0 a stretch0f clear water bey0nd. Then, skirting a l0w-lying reef, Gavinheaded direct t0ward the distant patch 0f yell0wish beachwhich was his 0bjective.