San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-01-17

Cd onward, bulky, leaning phantom,
from truck to main tack as pale as foam
in moonshine. just when he had walk
cd out his first hour the man at the
wheel called to him and said that he
felt unwell and asked TO be relieved. A
ship that is shredding the dark waters
of the night at little less than nine
knots under the heavy impulse of can
vas to the royal yards needs a surcr grip
Many a league can be wasted on such a
night as this by bad steering The de-
grees of the disorder that governed the
helm would be indicated by the curves
of the wake, and now that the Queen
had a fair wind and good wind it was
to be a bee line with her keel or it
wouldn't be Mr.. Poole's fault.
Thus thinking, he advanced to the
rail at the break of the poop and hailed
the forecastle. A man came aft and
took the wheel from Bill. Bill com.
planned of spasms, and before he let GO
of the wheel he had writhed at the
spokes in many attitudes of pain.
go forward and turn in, said the
good natured second mate. "rll send
you drop of brandy along out of the
cuddy by the first chance l get.
The man bent nearly double, walked
slowly tows d the lee poop ladder, down
which he disappeared, but he had not
been ont of sight a minute when Poole
who. remained aft coming the fresh
helm, saw a head and shoulders at the
brink of the lee deck, and Bill, still
bowed, returned in as great a hurry as
his posture of anguish would admit of,
while he dumbly waved his hand as
though in torture. The second mate raj
to meet him.
"What d you Think" gasped the sea
man in a voice hoarse and horrible
with suffering and surprise. 1.-THE cud
dy's full Of menu
"Eh?" said the second mate, sending
swift glance at the skylight without
moving.
There's some of 'em on the quarter
deck. Mind your eye, sir. They're arm
ed.
Mr.. Poole rushed to the ladder and
looked over. He saw six men grouped
close and seemingly waiting. They
were just under the cuddy front. There
was no light to know their faces by,
but he recognized some of them by their
shapes and stature, and ut once called
out, 81 say, Mr.. Davcnire, what are al
you people doing down there at thi'
time of night?"
When he had said this, voice i'll the
group growled, There's your chance, ,
and in an instant the great figure O
Davenire sprang up the ladder.
A chill, sick thrill of horror raj
through the young officer when he saw
q revolver in the grasp of the man, ;
revolver of the old pattern, but mucl
in use at that age, easily visible to the
second mate by reason of its bulk of sly
barrels as it swung at the dreadful fist
of Mr.. Davenire.
BE quiet and I'll not hurt you," ex
claimed the huge fellow, grasping
Poole.
"Helpl Murderl They're seizing the
shipr' shrieked the second mate. The
voice went to pieces in echoes aloft. Il
rang forward like boatswain's pipe.
Jump and secure them in the
fox 'sle," Numbered Davenire, and swift
as the shadows of birds flying down
the wind the five on the quarter decl
sped, three to port and two to starboar'
into the forward darkness all about tn
windlass and the galley and the fore
mast.
"Helpl They're seizing the shipP
shrieked the second mate afresh, ant
the young heart of oak fell a-wrestlinI
like demon with his giant opponent
For some moments his strength Of fea
and rage staggered Davenire, who tot
tered to the very edge of his fall.
You'll yell, you screech owl, vii
your" he said. He shifted his arm ant
raised his heavy weapon as if he woul'
brain the man. No, the intention wa
changed in the instant of its conception
and in another heart beat he had grip
ped him, choking, by the throat and wa
hauling hin helpless as a child to thu
companion hatch.
The seaman had gone right aft, ant
now stood doubled up by cramp along
side the helmsman.
"Hold this wheel, Bill, " said the fell
low, letting go the spokes.
Back If you move one little step,
I'll put a bullet through your head, y
cried Daver re, keeping his hold of the
second mate and pointing his revolver
at the approaching seaman.
The fellow stouped. shrunk. recoiled
some PAGES. The eye of loaded reyolv-
er COWS the man as the eye of a man
subdues the beast.
Down you go, and keep quiet when
you re there"
So speaking, Davenire thrust the Sec
ond mate headlong down the compan-
ion steps, with short, deep chested
shout to others who were below to re-
ceive him.
He left the companion doors open.
Bill had not grasped the wheel; the
ship was coming to; her wake was an
81, Il