Evening star., 1897-06-12

oSA yVu 70 tdAe your I0unCu TO b QtzNanCe.
As tell you. have made all my own
boats 30 thatsthey4ston't swim, but II your
little craft was handy my crew would jump
overheard ana risksthe sharks. and try to
them. They won't be anxious to fight that
Cancelario when tbs time comes, II there's
any way Of wrigslins out Of it."
rst you ia are @ ggfte right captain: the launch ,..
guest here tin you can put me on the Can
Capt. Kettle fro3ned. whats coming
Is no Job for 2 woman to be in at. miss"
You must leave me to my own opinion
about that You seq we differ upon what a
woman should do. captain. You say wo-
man should not be president Of q republic;
you think woman should not be sharer
woman can be both" She leaned her
shoulders over the rail and hailed the naph-
tina launch with a sharp command. A man
in the bows cast of the line with which it
towed. the man aft put over his tiller and
set the engines a-going; and like slim
gray ghost the launch slid quietly away
INTO the gloom. You see." she said. I'm
bound to stay with you now" And she
looked upon him with burning glance.
But Kettle replied coldly. You are my
owner. miss. and can do as you wish. It is
not for me now to say that you are foolish.
Do understand you still wish me to carry
out my original plan?"
Yes, she said. curtly.
very we'll, miss; then we shall be aboard
VI tldt war steamer IN less tnan nIteen
minutes" He bade his second mate call
art the crew, but instead of remaining to
meet them he took keen glance at the
Darks canvas, another at her wake, an
other at the moored cruiser ahead and
then. after peering thoughtfully at the
clouds that sailed In the sky, he went to
the companionway and dived below. The
crew trcoped aft and stood at the break Of
the quarter deck waiting for him. And in
the meanwhile they fea5ted their eyes, with
many different thoughts, on Donna Clo-
tide la Touche.
Presently Capt. Kettle returned to deck,
aggressive and cheerful, and faced the men
with hands in his jacket pockets. Each
pocket bulged with something heavy. and
the men, who by this time had come to
understand Capt. Kettles ways, began to
grow quiet and nervous. He came to the
point without any showy oratory.
Now. my lads" said he, II told you
when you shipped aboard this lavender box
In Callao that she was merely ferry to
carry you to a fine war steamer which was
lying elsewhere. Well, there's the steamer
just off the starboard bow yonder. Her
names the Cancelario, and at present she
seems to belong to President Quijarra's
government. But Miss La Touche here,
who is employing both you and me. just
Tor the present intends to set up govern
wants that ship. We've got to grab 1t for
her."
Capt. Kettle broke off, and for a full
minute there was silence. Then some one
ris '"rhat's fa'ATd rIghe," II, said Kettle "cackle
away, you scum. You'd be singing a DIFF
ferent tune If you knew what was beneath
ycu.'
A voice from the gloom-an educated
voice-anSwered him:
Don't be foolish, skipper. We're not 60
ing to ram our heads against brick wall
lives
DO you?" said Kettle. Then pray that
this breeze doesn't drop (as 1t seems likely
to do), or you'll lose them. Shall 1 tell
you what was up to below just now?
You remember those kegs of blasting pow
der! Well, they're in the laZarette, where
scme of you slowed them, but they're all
OF them upheaded,; and one of them car
ries the end of fuse. That fuse is cut to
burn just twenty minutes, and the ends
lighted. Wait3a bit; it's no use going to
try to dowse tit. There's pistol fixed 10
the lazarette hatch, and II you try to lift 1t
that pistol VIII shoot into the powder, and
wen all go up together without further
palaver. Steady now, there and hear me
out. You can't lower away boats and get
clear that way. The boats bottoms will
tumble away so soon as you try to hoist
them off thee sldds. I saw to that last
night. And you can't require any telling
to know thera are too many sharks about
to make swim healthy exercise"
The men began toc rustic and talk.
Now, don'tlspoil your only chance" said
Kettle. ''by singing out. II on the cruiser
yonder they think there's anything wrong
they'll run out gun or two and blow us
out OF the water before we can come near
them. I've got no arms to give you. but
you have your Knives. and I guess you
shouldn't want more. Get in the shadow of
the rail there, and keep hid till you hear
her bump. Then jump on board, knock
the rest below"
They'll see US coming" whimpered q
voice They'll never let US board
They'll hear u.s." the captain retorted
'ff you gallows-ornaments below like that.
and then all we'll have to do will be to sit
tight where we are till that powder blows
us like thin kind of spray up against the
stars. Now get to cover with you, all
hands. and not another sound. It's your
only chance"
The men crept away, shaking and Capt
Kettle himself took over the wheel and ap-
peared to browse over it. He gave her
half spoke at time. and by invisible de-
on for the cruiser. Save for the faint
creaking of her gear no sound came from
her, and she skunk on through the night
like some patched and tattered phantom
Far down in her laZarette the glowing end
OF the fuse crept nearer to the powder bar
rels, and In imagination every mind on
board was following its race
oa,aa Nearer AND ana nearer she drew to the Can
men felt as though the hearts of them
would leap from their breasts, Two of
them tainted. Then came q hail from the
cruiser: Bark ahoy! are you all asleep
there?'
Capt. Kettle drowsed on over the wheel.
Donna Clotilde. from the shadow Of the
house, could see him nodding like a man in
a deep sleep.
"Carra1o! you bark therel Put down
your helm You'll be aboard of US in a
minute
Kettle made no reply; his hands sawed
aautomaticaily auto at the spokes. and the glow
from the binnacle fell upon close-shut eyes.
It was a fine bit Of acting
The Chileans shouted, but they could not
prevent the collision. and when # came
there broke out a yell as though the eates
OF the pit had been suddenly unlocked. The
bark's crew of human refuse. mad with
terror. rose up in a flock from behind the
bulwarks. As one man they clambered I'm
the cruisers side and spread about her
decks. Ill-provided with weapons though
they might be, the Chileans were Scarcely
better armed. sentry squibbed OF his
rifle. but that was the only shot fired.
Knives did the greater part of the work.
knives and Delaying pins and whatever
else came to hand. Those of the watch on
deck who did not run below were cleared
into the sea, the berth deck was stormed
and the waking men surrendered to the
pistol nose. A couple Of desperate fellows
went below a9d cowed the fireman and en-
gtneer on watch. The mooring was slipped.
steam was given to the engines and whilst