Rose, waking from her drugged sleep in the hotel in Portland, is smuggled out of the hotel, driven from Portland to Gloucester, where she is conveyed aboard the fishing schooner that intercepted the Seaventure. The schooner immediately ...See moreRose, waking from her drugged sleep in the hotel in Portland, is smuggled out of the hotel, driven from Portland to Gloucester, where she is conveyed aboard the fishing schooner that intercepted the Seaventure. The schooner immediately sets sail. When Judith comes aboard Rose is locked up in a stateroom. Alan and Barcus, having got ashore on Nauset Beach, stretch out panting and half exhausted, and watch the Seaventure burn into the water's edge and sink. A mile farther off shore Judith's schooner lies at anchor. Judith and five male confederates, all dressed as fishermen (including Judith), pile into a dory, leaving Rose imprisoned in her stateroom, and row cautiously ashore to capture Alan and Barcus. When not far from the beach, they burn a blue flare on the water. Judith, with a rifle in the bows, fires at the two men. They retreat down the beach, and strike off inland. Beaching the dory Judith strikes off in pursuit. Eventually throwing off the chase, Alan and Barcus squirm, unseen, up to the lip of the bluff, where they overlook the dory and its guard. As the latter, unconscious of danger, lights his pipe, Alan clubs him down, then Barcus and Alan steal the dory and make for the schooner. Judith and her companions return to learn of their loss. They are upon the dory but without effect. Alan and Barcus take possession of the deserted vessel. Alan finds Rose in the cabin. Judith's party tramp several miles to the nearest life-saving station which they find deserted. Breaking into the boathouse they bring out and launch the motor-driven life boat. In the cabin of the schooner Rose tells Alan of the manner in which she was brought aboard. On deck Barcus fidgets with impatience because of the delay and finally calls Alan. Alan, cutting the anchor, they take in the lights, proceed to get underway. Judith and her party in the stolen life boat pursue. The schooner and the lifeboat round Monomoy Point. Day breaks and a fog closes in. Judith at length runs across the schooner in the fog. The lifeboat bumps into it forward and the five jump aboard. The lifeboat, abandoned, drifts down the side and sheers off. Alan jumps for the companionway, where he has left his rifle, but slips. Before he can recover he is seized by two of Judith's party. The others grab Barcus. One man holds Rose a prisoner. At this juncture a huge coastwise steamship, running through the fog at full tilt, runs down the schooner. Alan, Barcus, Rose, Judith and the five men, all in the stern, are thrown into the water. The steamship slips past and out of sight in the fog, then stops and lowers a lifeboat. Barcus and Rose come to the surface together and the latter, aided by Barcus, swims to the abandoned motor lifeboat. He helps Rose into this. Alan coming to the surface, observes Judith swimming at a little distance but cannot tell whether she is Judith or Rose. He swims to her, offering her assistance. Judith changes her position and tries to drown him by clutching his throat. He manages to break her hold. Barcus finds him, draws him to the side and helps him aboard. Alan recognizes Rose, is much relieved, but is horrified by the thought of Judith drowning. Barcus restrains him from making a fool attempt at a rescue, and starts the engine, steering the lifeboat away from the scene. Judith comes to the surface unconscious. The boat from the steamship eventually discovers and rescues her. Written by
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