Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-01-04

man in q voice hoarse and horrible
with suffering and surprise. 1.-The cud-
dy's full Of iacn.''
"Eh?'' sai,i the second mate, sending
o swift glance at the skylight without
moving.
There's some Of en- on the quarter
deck. Mind your eye, sir. They're arm
ed
Mr.. Poole rushed to the ladder and
looked over. Ec saw six men grouped
close and seemingly waiting. They
wese Just under the cuddy front. There
was 10 Light 20 know their faces BY.
but he recognized some Of them By their
shapes and stature, and at once called
ont, II say, Mr.. Davenire, what are all
you people doing down there at this
time Of night?'
When he lad said this. q voice in the
group growied, There's your chance"
Davenire sprung up the ladder.
A chill. sick thrill Of horror ran
through the young officer when he saw
q revolver in the grasp Of the man, q
revolver CT the old pattern. but much
in use at that age. easily visible to the
second mate by reason of its bulk of six
barrels as it swung at the dreadful fist
of air. Davenire.
"Be quiet and I'll not hurt you," ex-
claimed the huge fellow. graspins
Poole.
'Help! Murder! They're seizing the
ship!" shriekcd the second mate. The
voice went to pieces in echoes aloft. 1t
rang forward like a boatswain's pipe.
Jump and secure them in the
fol- 'sle." Numbered Davenire, and swift
as the shadows of birds flying down
the wind the five on the quarter deck
sped, three to port and two to starboard
into tie forward darkness all about the
windlass and the galley and the fore
mast.
Help! They're seizing the ship"
shrieked the second mate afresh, and
the young heart Of oak fell a-wrestlipg
like q demon with his giant opponent.
Fer some moments his strength of fear
and rage staggered Davenire. who tot
tered to the very edge of his fall
you'll yell. You screech owl, will
raised his heavy weapon as if he would
brain the man. No, the intention was
changed in the instant of its conception.
and i'll another heart beat he had grip
ped hin, choking, by the throat AID was
hauling him helpless as a child to the
companion hatch.
Tie seaman had gone right aft, and
now stood doubled up by cramp along
side the helmsman.
Hold this wheel, Bill" said the fell
low, letting go the spokes.
"Eack, If you move one little step,
I'll Pat bullet through your head"
cried Dayenire, keeping his hold of the
second n,ate and pointing his revolver
at tire approaching seaman.
The fellow stopped, shrunk, recoiled
come PAGES. TIE eye of loaded revolv.
er COWS the Ean as the eye of q man
subdues the beast.
Down you go. and keep quiet when
you re there"
:; speaking, Davenire thrust the Sec
| ord hate headiong down the compan-
ION steps, with a short, deep ches.ed
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
arch, an;: in minute or less she would
be aback. Canvas hammering, spars
straining. the light ones going. Dave
nire sprang to the helm, and with the
shift OF a few spokes brought the vessel
to her course
Meanwhile the fellow whom he had
covered with his weapon had fed from
the poop. and Bill. with the collie. was
crawling like tortoise through the
gloom of the deck to leeward. so that
IN minute Davenire was alone. He
placed his pistol on the grating behind
, him, within easy reach of his hand,
and steered the ship. towering beside