Page:Vance--The trey o hearts.djvu/185

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JAILBIRD
159

swimmer, and at the same time forced the police-boat to sheer wildly off in order to escape collision.

Immediately the swimmer caught the pontoon of the hydroplane, pulled himself up out of the water, and clambered to the seat beside the aviator. Before he was fairly seated the plane was swinging back into its fastest pace. With the ease of a wild goose it left the water, described a wide circle above the bluffs of Weehawken, and swept away southward. In that quarter it was presently lost to the sight of Mr, Barcus, who gravely lifted his hat in parting salutation.

"You are a brave man, my friend," he apostrophized the spirit of Alan Law, "and an uncommon lucky one, and a bit of a damn fool into the bargain. But the more I see of you the more firmly I believe your own assertion that you were born to be hanged!"