May 4, 1916 
LAND & WATER 
21 
Chayti a Romance of the South Seas \ 
[Ifiustrated bit Joseph Simpson, 11. H A 
He stood facing the Horror 
the weitrht of their load, that they sat down for a moment to 
rest tiefore completing the business. 
This stuff will finish us before we've done with it," said 
VViart. " Good Lord ! I never did work like this before. 
Look at me ! I'm wringing wet." 
" Jack\-," said Macquart, " hop on board and fetch us a 
jug of water ; bring a bottle of gin and a glass with you — we've 
earned a drink." 
Jacky, leaving his basket on the bank, climbed over the 
rail of the Barracuda, went lo the saloon-hatch, paused for 
a moment to sniff, as if he smelt something for which he could 
not account. Then he began to go down the companion way. 
He had not taken four steps down the ladder, when he suddenly 
vanished as thouijh snatclied below, ana a scream heart- 
rending and appalling pierced the air. Then came a mufUcd 
cry, the sound of a struggle and silence. The two men on 
the bank sprang to their feet and stared at one another in 
terror. 
CHAPTER XXVII 
The Gold Fiend 
With the sound of the struggle the Barracuda had rocked 
slightly, sending a ripple out over the smooth surface of the 
lagoon. She now lay perfectly still. 
" It's those chaps that have escaped and got on bo.ird 
her," said Wiart. " They're hiding there and waiting for us." 
" Not they," said Macquart. " It's something else. 
It's maybe na'ives." He was white to the lips and small 
wonder, for nothing could be more smister m- devilisli than 
the way m which Jacky had vanished, as though the Barracuda 
