The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-04-02
THE BIG QUICKSAND.

0uQQle JOgoIHcT ioI "cIu' <AiOJ oAO oP ~
some mischief, you can depend upon it"
Nonsense, Ella; nonsense'' cried bluff
old Captain Myers; and he pushed back
tbe broad brimmed straw hat which pro-
tected his head from the fierce tropical
sun. ssThe crew is all right, and by
shutdown, if this breeze holds, we'll be at
the mouth of the Colorado"
.Perhaps you know best. papa" said
the captains pretty daughter; "but L
believe they are plotting mutiny or some
other dreadful thing, and Mr.. Ed
wards
'sHumphl' growlingly interrupted the
captain, and ne scowled darkly. 'lts
from Frank Edwards then that you get
these false ideas about my crew."
Nothing of the kind, papa!' protested
Ella. although she blushed rosily. at
was who first noticed the queer actions
of the men, and called his attention to
the matter. He said he would suggest
to you
"Well, don't want his suggestions"
beloved the captain. "Im commander
of the Peerless, and have sailed these
waters long enough to know my bust
ness. These things are all IN your lmag-
ination, and | don't thank Frank Ed
wards for encouraging you in hbelin9
nv most excellent crew even by
thought"
Having thus delivered himself the cap
tain turned on his heel and entered the
haY
look toward the sullen faced crew,
heaved a deep sigh and sank into a
chair which the first mate of the Peer
less. handsome Frank Edwards, had
placed for her on the poopdeck beneath
In improvised awning that had been
stretched to shelter her from the rays OF
ihe burning sun.
Her face frightened presently, when
quiet step sounded On the deck, and the
mate stood beside her.
"What did he say?" he asked in an
eager whisper.
"Pooh-poohed the whole thing as
silly girls foolish fancy, and stalked into
the cabin, red with anger, when l men
toned your name"
81 feared as much" said the young
man sadly. "He is blind to the daily
Vaccinations of those copper faced ras-
Gals, and it is no use giving him advice.
"They were plotting mischief before
we were out of sight of Guaymas.
THAT scar faced scoundrel, Manuel
Rosario, has learned that we have a
cargo of arms, ammunition and general
stores for the troops at Fort Yuma, and
this knowledge has excited his cupidity.
when we stopped for water at San
Francisco island he met an agent of the
insurgents, and was promised liberal
sum if ne would capture the vessel and
turn it and the cargo over to them.
He does not know that l overheard
him plotting.
eff he did he would be cowardly and
desperate enough to knock me on the
head with Delaying pin some dark
night"
''Oh, Frankr' cried Ella, and her beau
tiful face paled with apprehension ''Do
be careful and watchful-for my sake!"
Il willl'' was his response, land as
your father will not take the precaution
to checkmate any move these ruffians
may make l will perfect my plans SO
that we can escape from the bark in case
Rosario and his men mutiny and seize
her."
"And papa?" faltered Ella.
"Tll force him to go with us. Now
don't worry, dear heart, for l feel able
TO cope with these rascals when the time
for action comes"
They We're in the upper Gulf of Cali
fornia, where it narrows to meet the
waters of the Colorado river.
The bark Peerless, of which Elias IA
ther was captain and owner, was loaded
with arms and ammunition and other
supplies for the United States troops at
Fort Yuma.
All but two of the original crew ship
ped in New York had died of the yellow
fever, which broke out with terrible vir-
,llence shortly after they passed Cape
st. Lucas and entered the gulf.
The captain had managed to get his
vessel into Guaymas, and there the two
remaining members of his crew had de-
serted.
In consequence he was obliged to ship
a native crew and employ Manuel Ro-
sario, an ex-pearl diver who, unknown
to him, was implicated in a revolution
then in progress on the peninsula, to en-
list the requisite number of men.
Rosario had got together band of as
bloodthirsty ruffians as il was possible to
find, and had no difficulty in inducing
them TO lend a willing acSuiescence to
all his nefarious schemes.
He boldly planned TO make Captain
Myers, the captains daughter, Ella, and
the mate, Frank Edwards, prisoners,
seize the vessel and run it insb seclud-
ed harbor between the head of San Fran
cisco island and the mouth of the Colo
RADIO river.
Here he would be joined by party of
the insurgents. who would loot the YES
sci. after which it would be broken up.
The tides on the Gulf of California
are gigantic, the rise and fall of the
water averaging seventy-fve feet
Rosario knew that they would enter
the mouth of the Colorado river that
night, and as the tide was particularly
swift at that point the bark would be
securely anchored during the ebb and
fow of the tremendous current.
This he resolved should lsa The time