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SLEYTON’S DEFEAT

The Gatling sat in a dark punishment cell, considering the situation. At this time at a door someone quietly knocked.

– Mr. Gatling! It I, Aristide Ternip-Dode… How do you feel?

– I thank you, Ternip. May you tell, day now or night?

– Evening, Mr. Gatling. And, one may say, solemn evening. Ms. Kingman chooses to herself the husband… All male population participates in this ceremony, except for two married: me and Flores. Therefore also charged us watch: to me – at your camera of the conclusion, and to Flores – at Simpkins.

– Listen, Mr. Ternip, open for me a door.

– With the greatest pleasure would make it, but I cannot. I am afraid. You do not know Sleyton. He will flatten out me in flat cake and will throw on eating up to crabs.

– Be not afraid, Ternip. I pledge you the word that…

– @-@. I will not open for anything. And here, um … – and it lowered a voice – if you get out from there, then I at anything…

– Where I will get out?

Ternip lowered a voice before whisper:

– In the left corner of a cabin, at height of human growth, is such cat’s лазок, covered with a plywood plate. You draw aside a plate, well and… And opposite – Simpkins, by the way…

Ternip did not manage to finish still phrases as Gatling already feverishly rummaged hands on walls, found a plate and quickly tore off it. The ray of light got into a punishment cell, Gatling rose on hands and crept through a narrow window in a dark corridor which brought to the deck. In a wall opposite there was a same window hammered with plywood. Whether not there Simpkins is located? The Gatling tore off plywood and really uvidat the astonished face of the detective which was looking out of a window soon.

– Zhivey get out from there! It is the devil’s work! It is necessary to help out from prison of the own jailer! What you awkward! Hold my hand! Well! So! We go.

The Gatling accompanied by Simpkins entered the hall of “the choice of the bride” while Sleyton gave a hand to Ms. Kingman.

In a cabin there was a movement, then there came the waiting silence.

Ominously – the uneasy type of Gatlinga promised being present that interesting events have to be developed.

– On what elections stopped? – loudly asked Gatling, standing at a cabin threshold.

Sleyton shuddered. Hardly noticeable spasm passed on his face, but in a moment he already regained self-control. Having turned to Gatlingu, he quietly told, pointing to Ms. Kingman:

– You were late. She by right will be my wife.

– I object. You illegally imprisoned me and Simpkins and eliminated from elections.

– Any talk…

But in crowd nervousness already began. At this moment of Gatling for the first time noticed that Sleyton has the party which is ready to support him in everything, but there are also enemies. They also shouted that again comers have to be allowed to “competition”.

– Well! – Sleyton exclaimed. – Let’s prolong our competition! – And, having clenched fists, it raised them to the person Gatlinga: – You wish to try forces?

– Even I insist on it!

The crowd hooted enough.

Fight was coming hot.

– On the deck! On the deck! – voices were distributed.

All came to the deck. Outlined a circle. Enemies removed jackets and rolled up sleeves. The old man Bokko undertook a role of the arbitrator. Islanders with bated breath monitored each movement of opponents.

On this signal they at the same time met in the center of a circle. The Gatling led the hot attack. Sleyton methodically and somehow inertly beat off.

From crowd remarks were heard. In the heat of hobby began to address boxers on “you”.

– Protect forces, Gatling! You see that Sleyton wants to exhaust them at you and then to finish off!

– Fervor you will not help!

– Sleyton will take! Good fellow our Feargus! Oho, what blow!.

The more fight ran high, the moods of two hostile parties were shown more brightly. They were imperceptibly demarcated: “sleytonist” stood already behind. Hobby was so big that the crowd repeated gestures of boxers as corps de ballet repeats all a pas of the dancing-master.

The Gatling really got excited at first – his nerves were too strained. But after several mistakes he began to fight more coolly. But Feargus Sleyton, having received several blows from the opponent, got excited. Now their nervous “tone” was counterbalanced, and it was already possible to judge fighting features of the opponent.

Sleyton was stronger physically, more heavy; The Gatling, conceding in force and weight, it was unusually dexterous and quickly in the movements. Sleyton attacked less often, but is more sensitive; The Gatling struck a number of the unexpected blows confusing calculations of the opponent. The result of fight was not clear. Bokko gave a break sign. Sleytonista picked up Feargus, seated, took off a shirt and began to pound strenuously towels. The Gatling other party carefully surrounded.

After a break fight was started again, with even big exasperation. Tension of the audience was at the highest point. From outside could seem that not two persons, but all population of the Island box: all of them, repeating the movements of fighters, did attacks, retreats, squats… bent aside, threw the head in a stomach of the invisible enemy…

Fight came to an end, and this time is obvious not in favor of Gatlinga.

Sleyton, appear, was inexhaustible. He derived strength from some hidden stocks of energy and struck blows with indestructible persistence now. At Gatlinga swam away the left eye from enormous bruise, from a mouth there was blood. Several times it, appear, dead fell to the ground, but the extraordinary tension of will rose again to receive new blow. Sleytonista already triumphed a victory a roar and a rumble.

But suddenly Gatling, having collected the strength, snatched on Sleyton and struck it such blow in a jaw that Sleyton, having thrown the head, failed on a floor. However, having risen hardly, he began to recede, moving back, to a ship board, wishing to wait for several seconds to recover the breath and again to take the offensive. But Gatling as the maniac, with the mad, widely opened right eye, pressed it to a board and here struck such awful blow in a nose bridge that Sleyton, having shaken in air legs, departed overboard.

Shouts of horror and delight, derisive exclamations, laughter, applause – everything mixed up in wild cacophony.

Sleytonista hastily caught the prostrate deity from green seaweed…

When it appeared on the deck, new explosion of shouts and laughter met him. All wet, entangled by seaweed, he resembled the drowned man who stayed kind days in water. His face swelled up and was blood-stained. Despite it, Sleyton tried to keep advantage.

The unsteady gait he approached Gatlingu and gave it a hand:

– You won! It is yours!

The answer of Gatlinga surprised all attendees:

– No, it not mine. I do not wish to impose myself violently at all and to become her husband only because successfully gave blow in your nose bridge!

The crowd calmed down, waiting, what will be farther. Sleyton flushed:

– Devil take it! Whether it will come to an end sometime? There is enough! Ms. Kingman! As the governor Ostrova, I suggest you to make a choice immediately, or I will order to cast lots!

– Lot! Lot!. – the crowd cried.

Ms. Kingman shuddered, unsteadily approached Gatlingu and offered to him a hand.

– At last – with a vinegary smile Sleyton told and approached to congratulate it.

– Ms. Kingman – whispered to her on an ear of Gatling – you are absolutely free, and I do not raise any claim to you. I do not dare to think that you linked life with destiny… the criminal – he added even more quietly.

Part third

Chapter 12

PLOT

– Damned boards as they creak! Do not stumble, Mr. Gatling! Give me your hand. I know the road backwards. Two decades wander I about “streets” of this island. Time as runs!. Twenty years!

And Gatling heard as Ternip heaved a deep sigh.

There was a dead of night. Stars were not visible. Second day will tighten all Island a continuous veil of fog.

It was heard as in water fish lapped, sometimes someone as if sighed. Somewhere deeply in a hold the rat in search of grain scraped. Travelers slowly, gropingly, made the way forward. From time some groan reached time: “kuu-va”, “kuu-va”, the bearing a faint resemblance shout of an eagle owl.

– What is it? – it is disturbing asked Gatling.

Ternip heaved a deep sigh again:

– The devil only knows that! Nobody knows who it cries and groans at night. Ours say that souls of the dead go in a gloom and groan. I do not trust this nonsense. And others assure that this some marine animal who is found in local places.

The Gatling remembered night visit of the deck of their steamship some being who is obviously living in the sea abyss.

– Everything can be! – Ternip answered. – But it is not excluded that it and seemed to you. In these waters harmful fog turns the head.

– But traces on the deck? All of us saw them!

– Can be… can be… Let’s sit down we will have a rest, Mr. Gatling. Short wind is damned!.

And they took seat on the deck of the old steamship.

– Now it is close. One brig, two frigates and one more wheel пароходик, and we at the purpose…

– You were on this submarine?

– Happened more than once and spoke with the German sailor who swam on it. He only last year died of a scurvy. I am not an expert, but the sailor assured that all mechanisms of the boat in serviceability and it still can be put in order.

– Whether Sleyton knows about it?

– I think what knows. Whether with this boat he also wanted to transport you to the Azores?

– But why then he did not want to use it to get out of these godforsaken places?

– At us tell each other to an ear that erq there, on the continent, is waited long ago by the gallows. Also leaves that the Island of the Lost Ships – the place which is most suitable for it: here nobody will find. Yes I on wings am ready to depart from here! Sleyton is a despot and the rude fellow. It formenno enslaved us. What it on an old age of years to receive zubotychina and to eat one fish! And I so like to eat… oh as I love!. Though once still to have dinner properly!.

And they became silent, everyone thinking of the.

After Gatling was won by Sleytona, “publicly dishonored it” as spoke on the Island, and pulled out at it from hands of Ms. Kingman, Gatling was “fateful” and knew it. Sleyton waited only for a case; he wanted to destroy so the rival that most to stand aside and not to arm even more against itself (himself) Ms. Kingman. The Gatling could save one flight. But how to run from here? Neither the raft, nor the boat could move in this green porridge of seaweed. Ternip gave it a thought of flight on the German submarine.

In the most strict secret escape was prepared.

Participated in a plot, except Gatlinga and Ternip, Ms. Kingman, Simpkins, Ternip’s wife and three sailors who had some concept about work with cars. It was necessary to put the boat in order only.

– Well? We go!

– Oh, we go! – obediently Ternip answered, and they started on on a way.

The boat really appeared in a relative order.

Something rusted, something demanded repair. But all bodies of the mechanism were whole. There was even a radiotelegraphic device.

Work on repair began. It went slowly. With the greatest precautions it was necessary to make the way at night in the roundabout ways by “residence” where there were guards and to work till the dawn that for an hour till the dawn to be already on the place.

Little by little the boat was put in order and filled with provisions: canned food, bread and wine. But in two days prior to the assumed departure there was one unpleasant surprise. Having been fond of work, Gatling was late a little. When it came back with two sailors, to them islanders from Sleyton’s party who left at dawn met to catch fish. They suspiciously examined Gatlinga and passed by… It was not necessary to doubt that Sleyton learns about this suspicious night walk of Gatlinga in the company of two sailors today and will take measures…

It was necessary to work immediately.

And Gatling disposed to notify now participants of escape that they armed (it was provided) and went to the submarine. The island will wake up not earlier than as in an hour. It was enough. In twenty minutes fugitives were assembled.

With involuntary nervousness they started at way to the submarine.

It was beforehand taken away on the place, rather free from thickets, where it was possible to ship it in water. The small raft stood at the old steamship.

Chapter 13

FLIGHT

Fugitives already reached two thirds of a way when noticed a pursuit. It came nearer from “mountain” – the highest frigate, going down on the sloping bridge. It was necessary to hurry.

Ternip and his respectable half were exhausted from fatigue, catching up with young satellites. From the deck on the deck – up, down, up, down – on a shaky planked footway Gatling, Ms. Kingman, spouses Dode-Ternipy, Simpkins and three sailors ran.

Having passed by itself all, Gatling was late at the narrow bridge which connected caravel fragments to the old steamship broke boards and threw them into water. Thus it was succeeded to detain a pursuit which had to break from this place on roundabout ways.

It was heard as Sleyton who was at the head of a pursuit loudly swore at the destroyed bridge.

Fugitives won time to sail on a raft from the coast towards the submarine. But it was necessary to float with big sluggishness. Though there was a place, rather free from seaweed, nevertheless sargassa clung to a raft, and every minute it was necessary to stop and hands to clear away a way.

The raft hardly crossed a half of a way, and the pursuit already approached that place from where fugitives sailed.

– Give up! Return, or I will leave nobody in live! – Sleyton shouted from “coast”, shaking by a rifle over the head.

Instead of the answer one of sailors from a raft shook by a fist.

– And, dog! – Sleyton cried and shot. The bullet hit in a raft.

Firefight was started.

Islanders held more advantageous position. They were under cover of masts and fragments whereas the raft was all in the public eye.

Among persecutors there was all population of the Island.

– My God! – the old woman Ternip spoke. – Look, Ms., even Maggie Flores was dragged with the baby; she over there, looks out because of the deck, see?.

Sleyton something ordered. A part of islanders went down to water and began to force down a raft hastily. Driving off attacked them shots. Here also another fell in water one… here, having shaken the head, with groan gets out to the deck of a fishing launch…

Fugitives had a lucky escape so far. The islanders who weaned to shoot, did not hit the mark. Bullets laid down around a raft, lifting splashes. Soon, however, one of sailors on a raft was wounded in a leg. The bullet penetrated the veil fluttering on Ms. Kingman’s head. The Gatling suggested women to lay down.

From the Island the raft with five armed islanders already sailed.

Fugitives rowed, being beaten out with the last bit of strength.

Here at last and the boat towering the surface part with the small bridge above.

The Gatling swelled up on the boat, opened the hatch and lowered women.

In it he was a high time is wounded in a shoulder. Having turned pale from bleeding, he continued to give orders.

– Damned Sleyton! – the Irish sailor, увидав a wound of Gatlinga exclaimed. – I will treat you! In the purpose!

And, having carefully aimed, it shot.

Feargus Sleyton dropped the gun and fell. His breast was painted by blood.

It was visible how on its call Maggie approached it and, inclining, stretched the child. Sleyton touched by the weakening hand the head of the child and told something to Maggie and Flores…

But to watch this scene to fugitives there was no time: the pursuit on a raft already moored to the submarine. And while the hatch of the submarine slammed for the last of fugitives – Gatlingom, islanders already clambered to the bridge…

The boat trembled and began to plunge into water quickly…

The become puzzled persecutors, losing the support crumbling under the feet, zabarakhtatsya in water and, being confused in seaweed, began to climb up a raft.

This moment of immersion was come by shouts “hurrah” by crew of the submarine.

The last fears disappeared: the mechanism operated perfectly. Bright electric light filled in a cabin. The motor worked trouble-free. Lungs breathed freely.

But to indulge in joy there was not time. Wounded demanded cares. Ms. Kingman and the old woman Ternip undertook a role of sisters of mercy. To the wounded sailor tied up a leg, Gatlingu – a shoulder.

With great efforts it was succeeded to lay Gatlinga on a bed. It was in a fever, the shoulder swelled up and hurt, but he wished to steer the boat personally.

At night to it became worse. The old woman Ternip tired with flight and disorders of day left to sleep, and at the patient Ms. Kingman remained to be on duty.

The Gatling did not fall down. Viviana moistened to it whisky with water.

He poorly smiled and told:

– I thank you… I feel better… do not get tired, have a rest.

– I was not tired!

– As all this is strange! – it began after a pause. – To you fell to lot to look after the criminal…

Ms. Kingman frowned:

– Do not speak about it!

– And I for some reason want to speak about it today. Tell, Ms. Kingman, it is frank: you trust in my crime?

Ms. Kingman was confused.

– I do not know whether you committed a crime, but I know that you it is better than much so-called “honest people” – Ms. Kingman answered.

– You trust me… I want to tell you everything.

– The right, is better if you fell asleep.

– No, no… Listen… I served as an engineer at Jackson… The shipbuilding plant… was not heard? I loved to Dell Jackson, the old man Jackson’s daughter. After war of business of Jackson reeled. It was threatened by crash. And, as it often happens in a circle of capitalists, Jackson made the plan to improve the things by marriage of the daughter with the son of the large banker Lorrobi. Dell loved me. But she was very attached to the old man to the father and decided that she has to sacrifice herself in spite of the fact that unbalanced, degenerate Lorrobi to it was deeply antipathetic. I did not consider himself to have the right to dissuade her, but wrote her the letter in which asked to see it last time in the neighborhood of the city. I decided to go to Europe, and I already had a steamship ticket in a pocket. Having left the car with the driver at the road, I went deep into a grove, but in the agreed place did not find to Ms. Jackson. I was very upset, however I had no time for further searches or expectations. Having wandered a little more in this deserted place, I got on the car, having arrived to the harbor before the departure of the steamship, and left coast of America.

Once, reading the newspaper already in Genoa, I was struck with the message from the New Mink: Dell Jackson it was killed. Her body is found near the place appointed by us of a meeting. Among its papers the investigative authorities found my letter with appointment invitation, exactly there where it was found, and that day when she was killed…

Testimonies of the interviewed driver who carried me finished a picture. All proofs fell on me. Also motives of murder seemed reasonable: all knew that I reckoned on Ms. Jackson and that Lorrobi pushed aside me. Rivalry. Jealousy. Revenge… In the same newspaper there was a large announcement of delivery of reward of ten thousand dollars to the one who will find stay and will hand over to the police the murderer Ms. Jackson – Redzhinalda Gatlinga… My head was estimated. I had to disappear. Симпкинс tracked down me and had to win a prize for my capture if not our ship-wreck… That’s all – wearily finished Gatling.

Ms. Kingman listened to the story with breathless attention.

– But who killed Ms. Jackson?

The Gatling shrugged shoulders:

– It for me remains secret… Perhaps, casual robber… But the fact that to me not to justify oneself is important… All proofs against me… And the coast, desired for all of us – rescue for you, but death for me. As soon as I descend on the earth, I will become a criminal again, and… our roads will disperse – he quietly finished, looking at it.

Ms. Kingman with a mournful face bent to his head and kissed on a forehead:

– I trust you! And for me you will never be a criminal.

– I thank – and he closed eyes.

Chapter 14