San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-01-24
COPYRIGHT. 1895 by The Aurros.

& answering OF you. .
below there!' was heard dimly, but
clearly. 1t was Peter Johnson's voice.
and there were no stronger lungs save
Trollope's in that ship. "Below therel"
was repeated in tremendous accents, ac-
companied by the hammering of heel
upon the hatch Can you hear me9"
"What have you to say?" yelled the
infuriated seaman, posing the broom
handle as though making ready for the
man.
"We're ten men," sounded the voice
above in a dull roar through the pianks,
''and every mans armed with six bar
relied revolver. We mean you no mis-
chief, but if you attempt to break out,
then the first of you who shows his head
at the scuttle or the doors is dead man.
Do you hear me?"
A general groan resounded through
the forecastle. He had been heard clear
ly enough. They knew that the sentinel
spoke the truth and guessed that men so
perilously alert. so desperately reckless
and determined, had at once made every
provision of sentry and would keep all
promise of bullet and powder they made.
They've got us, and they've got the
ship" said Tom. "And the best thing
we can do is to keep quiet.
Saying which, with the GOODNESS of
sailor used to adventure, he pulled out
plug of tobacco and lighted his pipe.
In few minutes bowls of glowing Cav
endish were spangling the dusky inte-
rior like fireflies, and the flame OF the
lamp burned in a CHASTITY blue in the
! fog of the smoke.
A silence, as though the ship herself
slumbered, was in the cuddy, when the
shrek of the second mate, in the grasp
of Davenire, had slung through the cool
and steady pouring of the wind. Imme-
diately afterward they heard Davenire's
tremendous roar to his little company,
and now it was that Captain Trollope
and the three others who had the han
ding Of this part of the ship went to
work. But light is the work to be done
when the workmen ara savage with res.
olution, when every man is armed with
a deadly weapon, and when those to be
subdued are TRANQUILITY sleeping.
| Each man exactly knew his station
and duty in this audacious piracy. Troll
lope, revolver in hand, sprapg for the
captain s cabin. Burn and Masters, after
securing the cuddy door and removing
the key, dashed for the berths of the
Dents and the Storrs, while Mr.. Patrick
Weston, his twisted face purple with
the passions of that hour, rounded to
Mr.. Matthews cabin.
The mate had been awakened by
Poole's loud cry over his head. He
could not distinguish the words, but he
heard note of imminent deadly import
in the high, strained voice. He sat up,
his heart loud in his ears; then, catching
Davenire's hoarse cry, he' leaped from
\ his bunk and was pulling on few
clothes when Weston drove in like an
electric bolt.
at is of no use, Mr. Matthews"
lifting his weapon that the unfortunate
officer might see it. ''Wo have posses
sion of the ship; the men are under
matches. Take the thing quite coolly.
It's not so bad as shipwreck.
He stopped to listen to somebody
screaming in cabin opposite. Almost
then the noise was heard of body tum-
bling violently down the companion
ladder, followed bya roar in Davenire s
voice, instantly answered by Burn.
The mate at sight of the revolver
backed hard against the bunk and cried
family ON hearing the noise outside,
GOOD God, are you people numbering
us?''
.'I'm not here to chat with you, Mat
thews," said Weston. Don't talk OF
murder. You are very good fellow, a
favorite with us at our end, you know,
and you shall be well used. But give
no trouble, entreat you, for your own
sake, - he added, with an ugly, express
i've look at tho firearm he grasped.
The mate saw that look by the low
flame of his bracket lamp and stood mo-
tionless and silent, his jaw slightly
i dropped, his eyes starting. In silence
/ also Weston stepped out of his berth,
withdrawing the key from within, then
locking the door.
"I'm afraid Davenire's killed the
second mate said Masters as Weston
briskly approached him. There's toe
much of the beast in his strength. Ht
flung the poor devil headlong down. Z"
"Where is her" interrupted Weston
Masters nodded at Caldwell's cabin.
SIS he locked in anyhow" said Yves
ton.
"Aye."
"a plague on all pity, " cried Yves
ton. "Where's Burnt"
The fat man stepped out of berth a
this question was asked, and the SCUM
of, a woman screaming i'll Mysteries TO
low ed him.
rs this, part ended?" said Weston.
"Oh. 4" said7 Burn, ''it's only loci
ing MP Joke. and he jingled the cabi
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