The Press., 1891-05-14
THE BIG QUICKSAND.

Nonsense, Ella; nonsenser' cried bluff old Captain Myers; and he pushed back the broad brimmed straw hat which pro tected his head from the fierce tropical sun. "The crew is all right, and by sundown, if this breeze holds, we'll be at the mouth of the Colorado"
 Perhaps you know best, papa, said the captains pretty daughter; "but believe they are plotting mutiny or some other dreadful thing. and MT. Ed wards"-
 "Humphr' growlingly interrupted the captain, and he scowled darkly. Its from Frank Edwards then that you get these false ideas about my crew." Nothing of the kind. papa!" protested Ella, although she blushed rosily. Ut 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 suggestionsr beloved the captain. .rm commander of the Peerless, and have sailed these waters long enough to know my busi- ness. These things are all in your ilnag ination, and I don't thank Frank Ed wards for encouraging you in libeling my most excellent crew even by thought"
 Having thus delivered himself the cap- tain turned on his heel and entered the cabin. while Ella, with another direful 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 an improvised awning that had been stretched to shelter her from the rays of the burning sun.
 Her face frightened presently, when a 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 8 silly girls foolish fancy, and stalked into the cabin, red with anger, when l men toned your name"
 ''I feared as much," said the young man sadly. He is blind to the daily machinations of those copper faced ras- calls, 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 he would capture the vessel and turn it and the cargo over to them.
 "He does not know that 1 overheard him plotting.
 "If he did he would be cowardly and desperate enough to knock me on the head with belaying pin some dark night.
 '4Oh. Frank!' cried Ella, and her beau tiful face paled with apprehension. Do be careful and watchful-for my sakel'
 II will!' was his response, "and 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.
 "Ill force him to go with us. Now don't worry, dear heart. for feel able to cope with these rascals when the time for action comes."
 They were in the upper Gulf of Cali fornia, where it narrows to meet the waters of the Colorado river.
 The bark Peerless, of which Elias fla 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- ulence, 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 be was obliged to ship g 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 ruf1ians as it was possible to find, and had no difficulty in inducing them to lend willing acquiescence 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 into 8 seclud- ed harbor between the head of San Fran cisco island and the mouth of the Colo radO river.
 Here he would be joined by party of the insurgents, who would loot the ves- sel, 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 five feet.
 Rosario knew that they would epteF 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 low of the tremendous current
 This he resolved should be the time and place of attack, and his faithfu henchmen only awaited his signal ts make the captain, the mate, and thu beautiful young girl prisoners.
 In tow of the bark was small dinghy,
 Drawing this up to the rudder post Mate Edwards opened one of the cabir windows and dropped into it sucf articles as would be of use to them il their flight, as well as provisions fol three or four days.
 He then informed Ella of these prep arations, and she held herself in readi ness to flee at a moments notice.
 At about o'clock in the afternoon thu Peerless entered the river, and as ths tide was low and would shortly turr Captain Myers secured his vessel with { bow and stern anchor and awaited ths coming rush of water, preceded by it ordinary high advance wave.
 It could be diseerned in the distance
 The captain and his daughter wer>