Evening star., 1898-05-28

native crew had a hand in 1t. He waited
for several minutes, hearing and seeing
nothing and then he decided on prompt
action.
I'll make it warm for the scoundrels, ?"
he muttered, "if they're playing any sort
of a game on mel'
With loaded revolver in one hand he
crept to the cCmpanionWay. He was bare
footed. and not a sound betrayed lis sp-
proach. He gained the deck and went aft,
whence the flash of the lantern had seemed
TO come; but this quarter was dark and
deserted. Hurrying to the rear he found
part of the crew, who had chosen to risk
the miasmattc night dew rather than go
below, sleeping like logs on the bare plank
ing. They merely grunted when he kicked
them, and he was satisfied that they were
not shamming.
Did 1 imagine those Iights?" he Won
dered. NO, I'll be hanged if 1 did-there' S
something wrongi BY Jove, where Is Car
ruthers? He may be on the far side"
Just then he became aware Of an ominous
fact that temporarily drove all else from
his mind. A storm was brewing-nay, was
ready to burst. Sky and water were as
black as ink. Not breath of air was STIR
ring and the meaning of the hot, murky
calm was unmistakable. He began to feel
alarmed for the safety of the vessel.
The next instant flash OF lightning rent
the darkness, and by the vivid glare he saw
a body stretched alongside of the middle
hatch. He was quickly on the spot, and
bending over Carruthers. The poor fellow
bleeding wound on the back of his head
showed that he had been struck and felled
from behind
Quin was enraged and mystifed. He
: moved off a little, gazing warily about lest
a similar fate should fall on him out of the
gloom.
BY heavens! what does it mean?" he
muttered. Death stalking about loose.
And the assassin is still on board-h1dden
somewhere forward. most likely! l swear
III have his life.
for 1.1,
| this time the Gagged beasts had scented the
coming storm, and were whimpering and
| snarling uEeasily. His first impulse was to
! rouse the crew, but as he started IN that
| direction he happened to glance into the un-
covered haLchway and saw there thin,
| Pickering ray of light athwart the dark
ness. Instantly a terrible and well nigh in
credible suspicion flashed to his mind.
/ moments reflection satisfied him that he
! was right--that he had indeed grasped the
| clue. There could be no other explanation
| of the mystery.
| He Immediately made up his mind what
| to do. AS noiseIessly as a cat he climbed
| over the edge of the hatch and let himself
| down to one of the narrow passages that
/ ran here and there in the hold between the
| big cages. Guided by the flicker of light,
! he advanced a dozen PAGES. turned the an
| gle of a transverse passage and saw just
| what he had expected TO see
| Scarcely two yards away, Sherwood, the
| pilot, was kneeling by the side OF a dimly
| burning lantern, and gittering steel tool
| revolving rapidly IN MS hands, was buZZin2
| and grinding as 1t turned up heap of saw
| dust. The treacherous scoundrel was bor-
J ing hole through the bottom of the ves-
| sci!
For about three seconds Qun stood as
| quietly mouse. Then, through some
| subtle instinct of danger, Sherwood turned
his head with start. He saw Quin, lev
! eled pistol in hand, and for a fleeing mo-
| ment the discovery transformed his face
dyed hair and missing beard could no long
| er mask the features of Antonio Silva
Qun was instantly aware of the mans
| identity-he had suspected as much-and he
| felt the keen satisfaction Of one who has
| caught slippery foe.
| Up with your arms, you dog!" he cried
| ''or I'll shoot you like rat!'
| Curse your snarled the Portuguese
| and with that he risked his life on dar-
| ing trick 1t was done swiftly and well
| By a hard thrust from his elbow ne knock
ed the lantern over, and 1t was extfnguish
ed at once.
Bang! Quin had fired instantly, scarcely
fraction of second after the light went
out and he hoped his aim was true But
he realized that he had missed when the
4 Portuguese leaped upon him from the dark
ness and butted him over on his back. The
two struggled desperately, fioundering from
one to another of the cages that lined the
passage. They could not see an inch before
! them, and the horror Of the situation wa,