H. Bedford-Jones

“ That he had innocently told Mickelson of Stone’s preparations was undoubted.
“I’m going to the island with all of you,” said Stone quietly. “If you say one word more to me, Mickelson, I’ll drill you. Mind—one word! Get to work, you filthy dog!”
A revolver flashed out in his hand. Mickelson’s mouth opened, but before the look in Stone’s eyes it closed with a snap. The second officer turned and strode away.
“Get down to the boat, Tan Tock. Mind how you jump!”
Stone followed the steward down the ladder, timed his jump as the boat lifted, and fell asprawl in the stern beside Miss Bretton. ”

“ It is the white woman you want, then? Wait until the Sultan hears of this, dog of an infidel! May Allah take you alive to Jehannum!”
Now, as though at mention of the Sultan, Mickelson made a wry face and spoke out.
“Stone, don’t be a fool! Throw in wi’ white men, lad; have naught to do wi’ them heathen or ye’ll have a knife in the back one o’ these days. Tan Tock there is the worst murderin’ devil unhung—”
“Clear out,” ordered Stone briefly. He saw that Tan Tock hated Benbow, and for some occult reason had chosen to protect Miss Bretton from the skipper ”

“ Mickelson responded with a black scowl, sweeping his hand toward the two rowers.
“There’s not enough boats for all, and the brown devils smashed ’em and smashed all the oars but them two—if they can’t get away, d’ye see, they mean to keep us, too! Fat chance we’d have wi’ two oars! No, give us a lift in your craft, Stone—don’t go back on your own color—”
“Get to hell out of here,” cut in Stone calmly. “You’re probably lying, but I don’t care if you are or not—get out!”
“You’ll sweat for this!” stormed Benbow. “It’s mutiny, that’s what!” ”

“ Benbow and Mickelson will be over here soon, and I want to know that you’re out of danger.”
“There’ll be—danger? How?”
“Danger from unscrupulous men, my dear young lady. Please accept my dictum.”
She assented meekly enough. Stone returned to the boat, got a portion of its load, ashore and up to the pavilion, and set Tan Tock to work getting them all a meal. He said nothing of his ulterior plans, however; nor did it occur to him that his half-jesting words to Miss Bretton in the boat might have fallen upon ears which would construe them as other than jest. ”

“ Tan Tock’s meal was served and polished off. Half an hour afterward Stone, who was congratulating himself that the gale would be blown out before night, observed a boat coming along the island shore toward the pavilion. In the boat were seamen, with Captain Benbow and Mickelson. Stone joined his men, who were also watching the boat.
“Now, boys,” he said quietly, hands in his jacket-pockets, “here come Tuan Benbow and Tuan Mickelson. Do you choose to obey me or obey them? If you obey me there may be some fighting before we go away.”
The eyes of the Malays gleamed at the mention of fighting ”

“ Hell Island, eh? It ’ll be well named. When the boats come back, keep one empty for ourselves and pick out for rowers four more men whom you can trust. We will be the last to leave. Tan Tock goes with us. ”

“ Stone had no intention of joining the main mass of castaways. The disaster was due wholly to Benbow and Mickelson, who could take their medicine. Stone intended to keep away from the crowd until the storm had blown itself out, then to set forth for Kuala Gajah in his own boat, with Miss Bretton, and he had made preparations accordingly. Unfortunately for all concerned, however, the American kept his intentions to himself. ”