The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-02-19
By Waathsrby Chssnsy and Alick Munro
GUTIERREZ 1901. AI1CK MUNRO.
h. q oouIrAs.
CHAPTER XIII.


As we had abundance Of victuals and
water and were in nowise pressed for
time, as soon as the Scourge was ready
for sea we took her FOR 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 fore and aft seamanship, and
1t would have been FOOLS counsel to
think of fighting till we had got all
hands used to the feel Of their new
ship.
We 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 isl
land when Alec called general coun-
Gil.
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 a lookout on the mountain who
should give us word when suitable
quarry move in sight. One man added
this bit of advice and another that.
But when each man who had anything
to say said it, and there were almost
as many plans afoat as there were
men, Willie Trehalion, who had been
standing straddle legged by the bitta-
Gle ard rubbing his skin cap fore and
aft across his bald pate, as he always
did when his thinking machinery was
at work, took step forward and put
in his word.
'There'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 adyen-
turin on it,"
IAN island with pickings" said Job
Trehalion. '"Then there's Spaniards on
it, too, uncle?"
Willie took no notice of him. "Mar-
gherita's the name O. it," he went on.
s'Some o. you may have heard O. it, 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. al SO it bain't for the
like O us to turn up our noses at 'em.
Besides. there's Spaniards there to col
lect 'em from the pagans as brings up
the pearl oysters from the sea floor, an
where there's Spaniards you can lay
your teeth ont there's powder as we'll"
ssAnd you suggest, Willie?"
"That we harry a town on Margher-
ita"
Job chuckled. "a whole town would
make a big mouthful,'' said he. Hap
pen it might squirm about when we
was trying to swallow it an choke u.s.
always a fool, job" replied his I'M
Gle sourly. ian but one peg removed
from a natural. But 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 no
wonder, for, as every one knew, there
was not q Drawer man on board.
Willie did not move muscle.
az
no quarreling on board the Scourge.
Jobs objection is a reasonable one and
deserves reasonable answer. There's
nothing of the coward about him, and,
Willie Trehalion, every man on the
Scourge will tell you so. He has faced
death at your side and at mine many a
time, as 1 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 lie?'
s"There's Pampatas at the east-Sou'-
east" replied Willie Trehalion gruff1y,
AN there's Ell Pueblo de la Mar q
league to leeward O. that, an there's 81
Pueblo del Norte on the north side"
"And their strength?"
81 don't know, nor their size either
But they're not as big as London mol
Bristol nor Whitby itself, mebbe."
(Which of them would suit our pur-
pose best?"
pueblo del Norte."
"Because?"
Because it's highest, Captain Ire
land"
"Could you pilot us there?'
Eyes, captain, with couple O. careful
hands at the lead. I seed the place
marked on one O. them rubbishly Span
iard's charts, but the lubbers hadn't
marked down the fairways into the
harbor. The island is steep, too, a.
rocky on the sea face, though, so there
should be water enough"
''Wel try" said Alec. $50 vel
bout ship now, 5catswain, and shape {
course for the island Of Margherita.'
And then, in a lower tone: mind, Will
lie, / don't want you to sail the Scourge
into any harbor which masked bat
teries and unknown currents may turf
into deathtrap for her. Bring her {
short sea mile off the town and ther
lay to. We can do the rest in the boats
If this wind holds, we should, will
luck, be within hail of Ell Pueblo de
Norte when it's doughty townsfoll
have their shoes off and their night
caps on"
And, bidding all except the watcf
turn in, so as to come up fresh whe1
worlr vuac an hand A1oc opd won-