Pierre Boulain
getting into a canoe. The humped-up form already in that canoe he
knew was the Broken Man. He could not see Marie-Anne.
Very lightly Bateese touched his arm. "M'sieu will go into ze
cabin," he suggested softly. "If somet'ing happens, it ees bes'
too many eyes do not see it. You understan', m'sieu agent de
police?"
Carrigan nodded. "I understand," he said.
XVI
In the cabin David waited. He did not look through the window to
watch St. Pierre's approach. He sat down and picked up a magazine
from the table upon which Marie-Anne's work-basket lay. He was
cool as ice now. His blood flowed evenly and his pulse beat
unhurriedly. Never had he felt himself more his own master, more
like grappling with a situation. St. Pierre was coming to fight.
He had no doubt of that. Perhaps not physically, at first. But,
one way or another, something dynamic was bound to happen in the
bateau cabin within the next half-hour. Now that the impending
drama was close at hand, Carrigan's scheme of luring St. Pierre
into the making of a stupendous wager seemed to him rather
ridiculous. With calculating coldness he was forced to concede
that St.
Pages:
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201