The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1901-04-26
CHAPTER XIII.

for sea we took her for n weeks cruise
through the desert sea to the north
ward of our island. This was the more
necessary as, except our captain, none
of us had more than the vaguest no
lions OF forr and aft %scnmnnshIp, and
Il would have been FOOLS counsel to
think OF lighting till we had got all
hands used to the feel Of their new
ship.
W. were returning from this cruise,
well satisfied with what we had seen
and learned. and were within sight OF
the Temple Of the Serpent on Cave liz
land when Alec called a general coun-
ell.
The question was put to US what to
do next.
There was no lack Of suggestions.
One proposed that we should cruise
along the main straight away; another
thought that we had better run Into
harbor again and, lying snug there,
plant n lookout on the mountain who
should give us word when a suitable
quarry hove in sight. One man added
this bit Of advice and another that.
put Wuth tiNh hiuu WIZ uuu uhytuiuH
to shy said 1t, and there were almost
as many plans aflont rs there were
men, Willie Trchallon. who had been
standing straddle legged by the bltta-
Gle and rubbing his skin cap o and
aft across his bald pate. as he always
did when his thinking machinery was
Mt work. took a step forward and put
in his word.
"Thcre's an island hereabouts." he
said, Lying some Is leagues s'uth'ard
an west'ard, that should yield some
good pickings to them as goes adven-
turin Oh It,"
can island with pickings!" said Job
Trehalion. "Thcn there's Spaniards on
II, too, uncle?"
Willie TOOK no notice Of him. MAR
gherita's the name o It," he wen on.
"Some o you may have heard o. II, but
all o. you may not know that the Span
iards has got three towns planted there
to look after the pearl fisheries. Now.
pearls bain't gould. But pearls Is what
the queens own majesty wears sewed
about her gown. III 80 1t bain't for the
like o. us to turn up our noses Mt EN-.
Besides, there's Spaniards there to col
lect 'em from the pagans n brings up
the pearl oysters from the sea floor. an
where there's Spaniards you a lay
your teeth ont there's powder as we'll"
"And you suggest, Wllller'
'"That we harry a town on Margher-
ita."
Job chuckled. "a whole town would
~--t.o "a ~. ..>,.ls,l VI ,,lJ 10 aII.,
pen 1t might squirm about when we
was trying to swallow 1t an choke U.S."
always a fool, job" replied his un-
Gle sourly. IAN but one peg removed
from a natural. But l never thought
to call nephew of mine lily livered."
The big, dark scar which scanned
Jobs face flashed out and grew purple,
and he stepped forward with hands
clinched and lips trembling. And nc
wonder, for, as every one knew, there
was not n drawer man on board.
Willie did not move a muscle.
'Stopv cried Alec sharply. ~ allow
no Quarreling on board the Sc0urge.
Jobs objection is a reasonable one and
deserves n reasonable answer. There's
nothing OF the coward about him, and.
Willie T~reEalion. every man on the
Scourge will tell you so. He has faced
death at your side and at mine many a
time, as l ought not to have to remind
you. But enough Of this. What Is the
size of these Spanish towns you speak
Of and how do they liep
''There's Pampatas at the east-sOu',
east" replied Willie Trehalion grufiy
ian there's Eel Pueblo dc la Mar q
league to leeward o. that. IN there's IL
Pueblo del Norte on the north SIDE"
"And their strength"
II don't know, nor their size either
But they're not as big "a London mol
Bristol nor Whitby itself, mebbe."
(Which of them would suit our pur
pose best?"
pueblo del Norte."
"BecauseT"
Because It's highest. Captain Ire
land"
"Could you pilot us there?"
eyes, captain, with a couple O. careful
hands at the lead. l seed the plac'
marked on one O. them rubbishiy Span
iard's charts, but the lubbers hadn'
marked down the fairways into tn
harbor. The island is steep. too. al
rocky on the sea face. though. so Their
should be water enough"
"We'n try" said Alec. 80 WEI
bout ship now. boatswain. and shape
course for the island Of Margherita.
And then. In a lower tone: mind. Wi
lie, j don't want you to sail the ScOurg
into any harbor which masked baI
teries and unknown currents may tur
into a deathtrap for her. Bring her
short sea mile off the town and the
lay to. We a do the rest In the boat
If this wind holds. we should. wit
luck, be within hail of El Pueblo d,
Norte when it's doughty townsfol
have their shoes or and their nigh
caps on"
And. bidding all except the waite
turn In, so as to come up fresh whe
work was on hand. Alec and / wei
below.
'You are doing this against your ow
Judgment. Alec" said 1.
'Yes; not because I fear TO fall. bt