"
"It is wicked," said Billy Mallory. "There must be some
other way. By the way, old man, who are you anyhow, and
how did you happen to be here?"
Byrne turned his face upward so that the full moon lighted
his features clearly.
"There is no other way, Mallory," he said. "Now take a
good look at me--don't you recognize me?"
Mallory gazed intently at the strong face looking into his.
He shook his head.
"There is something familiar about your face," he said; "but
I cannot place you. Nor does it make any difference who you
are--you have risked your life to save ours and I shall not
leave you. Let Mr. Harding go--it is not necessary for both to
stay."
"You will both go," insisted Byrne; "and you will find that
it does make a big difference who I am. I hadn't intended
telling you, but I see there is no other way. I'm the mucker
that nearly killed you on board the Lotus, Mallory. I'm the
fellow that man-handled Miss Harding until even that beast of
a Simms made me quit, and Miss Harding has been alone
with me on this island for weeks--now go!"
He turned away so that they could no longer see his face,
with the mental anguish that he knew must be writ large upon
it, and commenced firing toward the natives once more.
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