Tubbs would commit bigamy, if
necessary, for her sake.
And then there was Dugald Shaw, who had saved my life, and who
seemed to have forgotten it, and that I had ever had my arms about
his neck--and who was poor--and brave--
Yes, decidedly, I should keep my secret yet while, till I saw how
the cards were going to fall.
XIII
I BRING TO LIGHT A CLUE
My first and all but overpowering impulse was to possess myself of
a spade and dash for the wreck of the _Island Queen_. Sober second
thought restrained me. Merely to get there and back would consume
much time, for the descent of the cliffs, and still more the climb
up again, was a toilsome affair. Also, reflection showed me that
to dig through the damp close-packed sand of the cabin would be no
trifling task, for I should be hampered by the need of throwing out
the excavated sand behind me through the narrow companionway. I
could achieve my end, no doubt, by patient burrowing, but it would
require much more time than I had at my command before the noon-day
sounding of Cookie's gong. I must not be seen departing or
returning with a spade, but make off with the implement in a
stealthy and burglarious manner. Above all, I must not risk
betraying my secret through impatience.
But there was nothing to forbid an immediate pilgrimage to the
much-sought gravestone with its sinister symbol.
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