Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-12-25

pins mat | can get, for they are not IN
use now, and with care T think ] could
get out"
Hold on" said the old man, Adams,
raising his hand to demand attention.
There's something in the bows of the
boat; if Peter could crawl along under
the thwarts without making a1y noise,
he'd find 'em only a little ways from
where l am
The boy said he coulc do it. ano he at
once set about the work Slowly and
noiselessly he crawled along upon his
hands and knees, and when he reached
| the place designated by the old man, he
found pile of small wooden rollers: they
were made of some very-hard weed, and
were evidently used for moving ponder
Gus bodies about the deck The boy
handed up eight Of them, and there were
| four left. He wanted none for himself.
for his first work was to gather cords of
| some kind for binding the Mexicans.
The clubs had been passed up, and
Peter had nearly regained his seat, when
a chance movement caused his foot to
| slip, and as h9 came down there was
some rafting of irons. One of the watch
| came to the boat and looked in.
where's the boy?" he asked. with
some show of fear.
| "Eh?" groaned Clarence. yawning and
stretching as if he were just waking up,
ed. What is it?'
..Where's the boy?" the man repeated.
| "Ah-he's laid down here on the floor
ing at our feet. Poor fellow-he don't
take it very easily. He amt used to such
| confinement"
The man looked over and saw the boy
| lying there at the feet of his companions,
and having taken one more survey of the
party went off again.
| 1t was now so near midnight that
| Clarence concluded to wait until the 9TH
er watch had been called; and it was well
he did so, for hardly had their minds
been made up to that effect when the
boatswain's mate sounded his shrili whis-
| tie. The prisoners all placed their hands
and feet together, and then laid their
heads back as though asleep. Captain
aigdon came on deck. but he did not
come to the boat. He simply saw that
the brig had the wind still fresh upon
the beam, and that she was going through
the water at the rate of about ten knots.
In fifteen minutes all was still again;
but the prisoners chose to wait until they
were sure the off watch would be asleep.
So they waited half an hour, and then
Clarence asked Max if he would 20
ahead.
I'm go ahead quick enough" returned
Max; shut want you to be leader. You
know more about this kind of work than
| do"
Clarence Howard was modest, but he
would not sacrifice his life to that polite
principle, so he took command of the ex-
petition, feeling sure that his experience
in maritime warfare would enable him to
take advantage of things that might es-
cape Winters notice.
Gather up your clubsr' he whispered.
They did so.
Peter, you will be ready with lines
when wanted"
Eyes, sir"
"And now, here. Mae Wayne, you will
let yourself over the side of the boat as
soon as we get out, and work it so that
!. they shall think you have fallen. OF
course they will hasten to your assistance.
Leap to your feet the moment they reach
you--and be sure we will be on hand.
Come; be careful. Steady now, and the
brig is ours!"
With these words, Clarence Howard let
himself noiselessly down upon the deck
on the lee side. Max followed next, and
Jack Sloan next. The watch were all on
the weather side of the deck, and they
saw none of these movements. Ere long
Mac Wayne was left alone in the boat,
and on the next moment he jumped out
on the weather side, and allowed himself
to fall over upon the deck The instant
he struck the deck all hands. save the
helmsmal, darted towards him The mo-
ment they had passed the mainmast,
Clarence started, and the waiting Yam
KEGS rushed upon them. Those heavy
clubs did the work well, for one blow,
fairly dealt upon the head, was sure to
level the poor fellow who received it.
At an order from the leader, Sloan
FASTENED to the forward hatchway, and
there he knocked the other watch down
as fast as they attempted to come up.
The place was not fairly wide enough for
two TO come up abreast, so that Jacks
work was comparatively easy, for the
light wooden caps which the Mexicans
wore upon their heads offered no resist
ance to the blows of the heavy club.
ITO be continued