watchful vessel was to be commanded by some trustworthy person； who was to frequently land on the south…eastern side； and keep a look…out for any extraordinary appearance along the coast。 Rex himself must be left to run the gauntlet of the dogs and guards unaided。 〃This seems a desperate scheme；〃 wrote Rex； 〃but it is not so wild as it looks。 I have thought over a dozen others； and rejected them all。 This is the only way。 Consider it well。 I have my own plan for escape； which is easy if rescue be at hand。 All depends upon placing a trustworthy man in charge of the vessel。 You ought to know a dozen such。 I will wait eighteen months to give you time to make all arrangements。〃 The eighteen months had now nearly passed over； and the time for the desperate attempt drew near。 Faithful to his cruel philosophy； John Rex had provided scape…goats； who； by their vicarious agonies； should assist him to his salvation。
He had discovered that of the twenty men in his gang eight had already determined on an effort for freedom。 The names of these eight were Gabbett； Vetch； Bodenham； Cornelius； Greenhill； Sanders； called the 〃Moocher〃； Cox； and Travers。 The leading spirits were Vetch and Gabbett； who； with profound reverence； requested the 〃Dandy〃 to join。 John Rex； ever suspicious； and feeling repelled by the giant's strange eagerness； at first refused； but by degrees allowed himself to appear to be drawn into the scheme。 He would urge these men to their fate； and take advantage of the excitement attendant on their absence to effect his own escape。 〃While all the island is looking for these eight boobies； I shall have a good chance to slip away unmissed。〃 He wished； however； to have a companion。 Some strong man； who； if pressed hard； would turn and keep the pursuers at bay； would be useful without doubt； and this comrade…victim he sought in Rufus Dawes。
Beginning； as we have seen； from a purely selfish motive； to urge his fellow…prisoner to abscond with him； John Rex gradually found himself attracted into something like friendliness by the sternness with which his overtures were repelled。 Always a keen student of human nature； the scoundrel saw beneath the roughness with which it had pleased the unfortunate man to shroud his agony； how faithful a friend and how ardent and undaunted a spirit was concealed。 There was； moreover； a mystery about Rufus Dawes which Rex； the reader of hearts； longed to fathom。
〃Have you no friends whom you would wish to see？〃 he asked； one evening； when Rufus Dawes had proved more than usually deaf to his arguments。
〃No；〃 said Dawes gloomily。 〃My friends are all dead to me。〃
〃What； all？〃 asked the other。 〃Most men have some one whom they wish to see。〃
Rufus Dawes laughed a slow； heavy laugh。 〃I am better here。〃
〃Then are you content to live this dog's life？〃
〃Enough； enough；〃 said Dawes。 〃I am resolved。〃
〃Pooh！ Pluck up a spirit；〃 cried Rex。 〃It can't fail。 I've been thinking of it for eighteen months； and it can't fail。〃
〃Who are going？〃 asked the other； his eyes fixed on the ground。 John Rex enumerated the eight； and Dawes raised his head。 〃I won't go。 I have had two trials at it； I don't want another。 I would advise you not to attempt it either。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Gabbett bolted twice before；〃 said Rufus Dawes； shuddering at the remembrance of the ghastly object he had seen in the sunlit glen at Hell's Gates。 〃Others went with him； but each time he returned alone。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 asked Rex； struck by the tone of his companion。
〃What became of the others？〃
〃Died； I suppose；〃 said the Dandy； with a forced laugh。
〃Yes； but how？ They were all without food。 How came the surviving monster to live six weeks？〃
John Rex grew a shade paler； and did not reply。 He recollected the sanguinary legend that pertained to Gabbett's rescue。 But he did not intend to make the journey in his company； so； after all； he had no cause for fear。 〃Come with me then；〃 he said； at length。 〃We will try our luck together。〃
〃No。 I have resolved。 I stay here。〃
〃And leave your innocence unproved。〃
〃How can I prove it？〃 cried Rufus Dawes； roughly impatient。 〃There are crimes committed which are never brought to light； and this is one of them。〃
〃Well；〃 said Rex； rising； as if weary of the discussion； 〃have it your own way； then。 You know best。 The private detective game is hard work。 I； myself； have gone on a wild…goose chase before now。 There's a mystery about a certain ship…builder's son which took me four months to unravel； and then I lost the thread。〃
〃A ship…builder's son！ Who was he？〃
John Rex paused in wonderment at the eager interest with which the question was put； and then hastened to take advantage of this new opening for conversation。 〃A queer story。 A well…known character in my time Sir Richard Devine。 A miserly old curmudgeon； with a scapegrace son。〃
Rufus Dawes bit his lips to avoid showing his emotion。 This was the second time that the name of his dead father had been spoken in his hearing。 〃I think I remember something of him；〃 he said； with a voice that sounded strangely calm in his own ears。
〃A curious story；〃 said Rex； plunging into past memories。 〃Amongst other matters； I dabbled a little in the Private Inquiry line of business； and the old man came to me。 He had a son who had gone abroada wild young dog； by all accountsand he wanted particulars of him。〃
〃Did you get them？〃
〃To a certain extent。 I hunted him through Paris into Brussels； from Brussels to Antwerp； from Antwerp back to Paris。 I lost him there。 A miserable end to a long and expensive search。 I got nothing but a portmanteau with a lot of letters from his mother。 I sent the particulars to the ship…builder； and by all accounts the news killed him； for he died not long after。〃
〃And the son？〃
〃Came to the queerest end of all。 The old man had left him his fortune a large one； I believebut he'd left Europe； it seems； for India； and was lost in the Hydaspes。 Frere was his cousin。〃
〃Ah！〃
〃By Gad； it annoys me when I think of it；〃 continued Rex； feeling； by force of memory； once more the adventurer of fashion。 〃With the resources I had； too。 Oh； a miserable failure！ The days and nights I've spent walking about looking for Richard Devine； and never catching a glimpse of him。 The old man gave me his son's portrait； with full particulars of his early life； and I suppose I carried that ivory gimcrack in my breast for nearly three months； pulling it out to refresh my memory every half…hour。 By Gad； if the young gentleman was anything like his picture； I could have sworn to him if I'd met him in Timbuctoo。〃
〃Do you think you'd know him again？〃 asked Rufus Dawes in a low voice； turning away his head。
There may have been something in the attitude in which the speaker had put himself that awakened memory； or perhaps the subdued eagerness of the tone； contrasting so strangely with the comparative inconsequence of the theme； that caused John Rex's brain to perform one of those feats of automatic synthesis at which we afterwards wonder。 The profligate son the likeness to the portraitthe mystery of Dawes's life！ These were the links of a galvanic chain。 He closed the circuit； and a vivid flash revealed to himTHE MAN。
Warder Troke； coming up； put his hand on Rex's shoulder。 〃Dawes；〃 he said； 〃you're wanted at the yard〃； and then； seeing his mistake； added with a grin； 〃Curse you two； you're so much alike one can't tell t'other from which。〃
Rufus Dawes walked off moodily； but John Rex's evil face turned pale； and a strange hope made his heart leap。 〃Gad； Troke's right； we are alike。 I'll not press him to escape any more。〃
CHAPTER XXIII。
RUNNING THE GAUNTLET。
The Pretty Maryas ugly and evil…smelling a tub as ever pitched under a southerly bursterhad been lying on and off Cape Surville for nearly three weeks。 Captain Blunt was getting wearied。 He made strenuous efforts to find the oyster…beds of which he was ostensibly in search； but no success attended his efforts。 In vain did he take boat and pull into every cove and nook between the Hippolyte Reef and Schouten's Island。 In vain did he run the Pretty Mary as near to the rugged cliffs as he dared to take her； and make perpetual expeditions to the shore。 In vain did hein his eagerness for the interests of Mrs。 Purfoyclamber up the rocks； and spend hours in solitary soundings in Blackman's Bay。 He never found an oyster。 〃If I don't find something in three or four days more；〃 said he to his mate； 〃I shall go back again。 It's too dangerous cruising here。〃
* * * * * *
On the same evening that Captain Blunt made this resolution； the watchman at Signal Hill saw the arms of the semaphore at the settlement make three motions； thus：
The semaphore was furnished with three revolving arms； fixed one above the other。 The upper one denoted units； and had six motions； indicating ONE to SIX。 The middle one denoted tens； TEN to SIXTY。 The lower one marked hundreds； from ONE HUNDRED to SIX HUNDRED。
The lower and upper arms whirled out。 That meant THREE HUNDRED AND SIX。
A ball ran up to the top of the post。 That meant ONE THOUSAND。
Number 1306； or； being interpreted； 〃PRISONERS ABSCONDED〃。
〃By George； Harry；〃 said Jones； the signalman； 〃there's a bolt！〃
The semaphore signalled again： 〃Number 1411〃。
〃WITH ARMS！〃 Jones said； translating as he read。 〃Come here； Harry！ here's a go！〃
But Harry did not reply； and； looking down； the watchman saw a dark figure suddenly fill the doorway。 The boasted semaphore had failed this time； at all events。 The 〃bolters〃 had arrived as soon as the signal！
The man sprang at his carbine； but the intruder had already possessed himself of it。 〃It's no use making a fuss； Jones！ There are eight of us。 Oblige me by attending to your signals。〃
Jones knew the voice。 It was that of John Rex。 〃Reply； can't you？〃 said Rex coolly。 〃Captain Burgess is in a hurry。〃 The arms of the semaphore at the settlement were； in fact； gesticulating with comical vehemence。
Jones took the strings in his hands； and； with his signal…book open before him； was about to acknowledge the message； whe