CHAPTER XXXII.
A MYSTERIOUS TRANSFORMATION.
"Ha! ha! ha!" wildly laughed the wounded sailor. "That time he did notescape! Leave me to die, would he? Well, he is dead already, for I shothim through the brain!"
"That's where you are mistaken, Jaggers," said the cool voice of theboyish leader of the mutineers. "I saw your move, saw the revolver, anddropped in time to avoid the bullet."
Gage sprang to his feet.
A snarl of baffled fury came from the lips of the wounded sailor.
"The foul fiend protects you!" he cried. "See if you can dodge thisbullet!"
He would have fired again, but Gage leaped forward in the darkness,kicked swiftly and accurately, and sent the revolver spinning from theman's hand.
"You have settled your fate!" hissed the boy, madly. "I did mean to haveyou taken away, and I was talking to torment you. Now you will stayhere--and die like a dog!"
He turned from Jaggers, and hurried back to the boat, in which thatmuffled figure silently sat.
"Are you ready, boys?" he called.
Captain Bellwood had been released from the tree, and marched to theother boat, in which he now sat, bound and helpless.
"All ready," was the answer.
"All right; go ahead."
They pushed off, settled into their seats, and began rowing.
Gage was not long in following, but he wondered at the silence of thegirl who sat in the stern. It could not be that she had fainted, for sheremained in an upright position.
"Which way, cap?" asked one of the men.
"Any way to get out of this," was the answer. "We will find anotherplace to camp, but I want to get away from this spot."
Not a sound came from beneath the muffled coat.
"It must be close," thought Gage. "I wonder if she can breathe allright. I wish she would do something."
At last, finding he could keep up with his companions without trouble,and knowing he would have very little difficulty in overtaking them,Gage drew in his oars and slipped back toward the muffled figure in thestern.
"Elsie," he said, softly.
No answer; no move.
"Miss Bellwood."
Still no answer.
"You must not think too hard of me, Miss Bellwood," he said, pleadingly."I would not harm you for anything. I love you far too much for that,Elsie."
He could have sworn that the sound which came from the muffling folds ofthe coat was like a smothered laugh, but he knew she was not laughing athim.
"I have been wicked and desperate," he went on; "but I was driven to thelife I have led. Fate has been against me all along. When I shipped onyour father's vessel it was because I had seen you and knew you were tobe along on the cruise. I loved you at first sight, and I vowed that Iwould reform and do better if you loved me in return, Elsie."
He was speaking swiftly in a low tone, and his voice betrayed hisearnestness. He passed an arm around the muffled figure, feeling itquiver within his grasp, and then he continued:
"You did not take kindly to me, but I persisted. Then you repulsedme--told me you despised me, and that made me desperate. I swore I wouldhave you, Elsie. Then came the mutiny and the burning of the vessel. Nowwe are here, and you are with me. Elsie, you know not how I love you! Ihave become an outcast, an outlaw--all for your sake! Elsie, dear Elsie!can't you learn to love me? I will do anything for you--anything!"
Again a sound came from beneath the coat. He was sure she was sobbing.It must be that he was beginning to break down that icy barrier. Sherealized her position, and she would be reasonable.
"Elsie--little sweetheart!"
He began to remove the muffling coat.
"Do not scream, Elsie--do not draw away, darling. Say that you will loveme a little--just a little!"
He pulled the coat away, and something came out of the folds and touchedcold and chilling against his forehead.
It was the muzzle of a revolver!
"Keep still!" commanded a voice that was full of chuckling laughter. "Ifyou chirp, I'll have to blow the roof of your head off, Gage!"
Leslie Gage caught his breath and nearly collapsed into the bottom ofthe boat. Indeed, he would have fallen had not a strong hand fastened onhis collar and held him.
It was not Elsie Bellwood!
"I don't want to shoot you, Gage," whispered the cool voice. "I don'tfeel like that, even though you did attempt to take my life once ortwice in the past. You have made me very good natured within the pastfew moments. How you did love me! How gently you murmured, 'Do not drawaway, darling; say that you love me a little--just a little!' Ha! ha!ha! Really, Gage, you gave me such amusement that I am more thansatisfied with this little adventure."
"That voice--I know it!" grated Gage, through set teeth. "Still, I can'tplace you."
"Indeed, you are forgetful, Gage. But it is rather dark, and I don'tsuppose you expected to see me here. We last met at Fardale."
"Fardale?"
"Yes."
"And you are--Frank Merriwell!"
Gage would have shouted the name in his amazement, but Frank's fingerssuddenly closed on the fellow's throat and held back the sound in agreat measure.
"Now you have guessed it," chuckled Frank. "Oh, Gage! I can forgive youfor the past since you have provided me with so much amusement to-night.How you urged me to learn to love you! But that's too much, Gage; I cannever learn to do that."
Leslie ground his teeth, but he was still overcome with unutterableamazement and wonder. That Frank Merriwell, whom he hated, should appearthere at night in the wilds of the Florida Everglades was like amiracle.
What had become of Elsie Bellwood? Had some magic of that wild anddreary region changed her into Frank Merriwell?
Little wonder that Gage was dazed and helpless.
"How in the name of the Evil One did you come here?" he finally asked,recovering slightly from his stupor.
Frank laughed softly once more. It was the same old merry, boyish laughthat Gage had heard so often at Fardale, and it filled him with intenseanger, as it had in the days of old.
"I know you did not expect to see me," murmured Frank, still laughing."I assure you that the Evil One had nothing to do with my appearancehere."
"It was trickery--magic! I left her in the boat a few moments. Whatbecame of her? How did you take her place?"
"I will let you speculate over that question for a while, my finefellow. In the meantime, I fancy it will be a good idea to tie you up soyou will not make any trouble. Remember I have a revolver handy, and Ipromise that I'll use it if you kick up a row."
At this moment, one of the sailors in the other boat called:
"Hello, there, Mr. Gage! where are you?"