Goles two swallows of it during the night; and almost
half the brandy was now gone. Goles put the flask to his lips. The
bartender stopped counting his silver to watch him; and, seeing it go,
he called out: "Say there, Bill, just leave a taste of that, will you?"
Goles drank it to the last drop. When he had finished he threw the empty
flask overboard. "Well, if you ain't one fine gentleman!" exploded the
bartender.
Goles paid no attention to him. "How long before we'll be ashore now?"
he asked.
"Only a few minutes now," said Jan. He was still standing with his back
to Goles.
"A few minutes?" repeated Goles. At the words his wife turned sharply.
Husband and wife stared at each other.
"There's the sun coming over the sand-hill now," said Jan. She turned to
look shoreward.
The bartender, counting and chuckling over his money, felt a hand
shaking the tip of his sleeve. It was the Finn woman. She pointed a
finger toward Goles. The bartender saw Goles's hand come out of his
bosom with a revolver.
"So long as we're safe," said Goles slowly, "you're going to get
yours--and get it now, you--"
Jan was looking at the shore, but Mrs. Goles had turned with the first
word and thrown herself toward Goles as he fired. Mrs. Goles fell before
the bullet. "I was going to get her anyway," said Goles evenly, and
leveled his revolver at Jan, who had jumped to save her from falling
overboard and was now holding her away from Goles.
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