294
ASTOUNDING STORIES
would be too rough an experience for you, I am afraid, Thorpe. Destroyers pitch about quite a bit, you know."
He included in his smile the de- stroyer captain and the young lady who completed their party. The young lady- had a charming and saucy smile and knew it; she used it in reply to the Admiral's remark.
"I have asked Mr. Thorpe to go on the Adelaide," she said. "We shall be leaving in another month — but Robert tells me he has other plans."
"Worse and worse," was the Ad- miral's comment. "Your fatl^erVyacht is not even as steady as a destroyer. Now I Would suggest a nice com- fortable liner. . . ."
ROBERT THORPE did not miss the official glances of amusement, but his calm complacence was un- ruffled. "No," he said, "I donjt just fancy liners. Fact is, I have been thinking of sailing across to the States alone."
The Admi ral's smile increased to a short laugh. "I would make a bet you wouldn't get fifty miles from Manila haibor."
^The younger man crushed his cigar rette slowly into the tray. "How much of a bet?" he asked. "What will you bet that I don't sa^l alone from here to — where are, you -s^tioned? — San Diego? — from here to San Diego?"
"Humph I" was the snorted reply. "I would bet a thousand dollars on that and take your money for Miss Allaire's pet charity."
"Now that's an idea," said Thorpe. He reached for a check book in his inner pocket and began to write. »
"In case I lose," he explained, "I might be hard ■ to find, so I will just ask Miss Allaire to hold this check for me. You can do the same." He handed the check to the girl.
"Winner gets his thousand back, Ruth^ loser's money goes to any little orphans you happen t6 fancy."
"You're not serious," protested the Admiral.
"Surd The bank will take that check seriously, I promise you. And I saw just the sloop I want for the trip . . . had my eye on her for the past month."
"But, Robert," began Ruth Allaire, "you don't mean to risk your life on a foolish bet?"
Thorpe reached over to pat tenderly the hand that held his check. "I'm glad if you care," he said, and there was an undertone of seriousness be- neath his raillery, "but save your sympathy for the Admiral. The U. S. Navy can't bluff me." He rose more briskly from his chair.
"Thorpe. . . ." said Admiral Struthers. He was thinking deeply, trying to re- collect. "Robert Thorpe. ... I have a book by someone ot that name — travel and adventure and knocking about the world. Young man, are you the Robert Thorpe?"
»■ "Why, yes, if you wish to put it that way," agreed the other. He waved lightly to the r girl as he moved away.
"I must be running along," he said, "and get that boat. See you all in San Diego I"
THE first rays of the sun touched with golden fingers the tops of the lazy swells of the Pacific. Here and there a wave broke to spray under the steady wind and became a shower of molten metal. And in the boat, whose sails caught now and then the touch of morning, Robert Thorpe stirred himself and rose sleepily to his feet.
Out of the snug cabin at this first hint of day, he looked first at the com- pass and checked his course, then made sure of the lashing about the helm. The steady trade-winds had borne him on through the night, and he nodded with satisfaction as he prepared to lower his lights. He was reaching for a line as the little craft hung for an instant on the top of a wave. And in that instant his eyes caught a marking i of white on the dim waters ahead.
"Breakers I" he shouted aloud and leaped for the lashed wheel. He swung
