The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-28

| lHBs I1usL lDes prevented. or tne CUB IN
dead Redlaw can't 20 on deck, and only
| by some rtise can VIC hope to blind the
| crew till we can effect our escape. His
/ seclusion here must appear TO be volume
/ tary."
| but faint likely he'd stay belov,-ys
| 'Aiast suppose tho crew we're gi2ea
! the idea that these women had yielded
| to his love. and that thcy were the at
traction keeping him here!'
Fore heaven, lad, thatll work for a
4 time!n cried Ben. clapping his thigh.
You carclessly give 1t out forward, and
4 meantime. Ill press the women into sor-
! vice and have another Of the crew corro-
| borate your story. Leave that part Of IL
| to me. Having done this. want you to
/ pilot Vail to tho cabin by tho way OF the
| hold. ! want help hero a part of the time,
j unsispected by the crew. Do you under.
| stand.
Aye. lad. dor
/ when your watch Is of you coms
here. also, by the same way Thank
! God, we already have the steward we'll
! out of our course! Got above board now.
/ as if you'd done your work here. and
bring Vail as soon as All opportunity oc.
| fers. Make no observable haste, however.
for have matters well in hand hero for
| the present"
Shli tiuol INC, &IuuIs inc seaman
| growled confidently. i've kent my bear.
ings In seas az rough az this afore now"
Then It was rough. indeed Walton
| grayely answered TOR our situation was
not moro desperate when the Tartar pi-
rates were pouring over the Nord
Brandt's foreauartcr"
Shortly after Ben Logan returned for
ward Walton appeared on deck The SUI,
had set, and the entire sweep OF sea, now
comparatively calm after the storm. was
bounded only by the horizon line. which
fast was vanishing as twilight deepened
into dusk and darkness. In no direction
7, was there a break; In no quarter sight
or sign OF SAIL
The wind had vcercd TO a gentle west.
erly breeze, and under lower sails ONLY
the Vulture was again bearing south, re.
turning OVER nearly the same waters MS
when driven north by the sweep OF tho
gale. But how different now tho aspect
OF nature. and how changed the situation
aboard tho pirate craft. 70 Walton II
seemed as II tho very elements OF the
storm had been taken jnboard; for tho
outlook. regard is as best he could. seem.
ca desperate even to tho verge OF hope
lessnes..
sun he was not withou. plans requir-'
Ing decisive and crafty execution. ana
with an assumption OF Indifference he
was FAR from feeling he Joined Mr.. sag
getts, who was coated on tho weather
ran by tho main shrouds. and who late
~ had displayed for him a noticeahlas
respect and frlendiness.
Not bad shift O. weather. Mr.. sar-
GETS he carelessly observed.
Mr. Saggetts crossed his legs. drew I'm
MS short body. ard, with come DISPLAY
OF pleasure at Walton's friendly tone. re-
piled quite heartily:
id good shift. sir! A man might
spend his life afoat and never see ,r,,ss
galen that o. yesterday. Aye. sir. ID
good shiftt -
SO It's, Captain Redlaw tells mo there's
a spare sguaresail below 4
Aye. sir, two on EN-
loud better have one bent on IN the.
morning" - ~ t Siis
"All right. sir. was sort o looking
there" Deiow
Without n change OF countenancs
| Walton quietly answered 1880
40, he's not. He came from tho hold
70 the cabin. and is there now with ono.
OF me women. ! reckon he'll tend her
eioser ms vessel for a time, since he
seems TO have Won her to his fancy.
You'd best have that hatch covered, or
some lubber'll be breaking his necl.
And send man below to light tha
cabin. Will you? It's pleasant to sec =
girls face. you know. II It's the right
Sort
The way the last was said and tho
Significant CLINT OF the speakers eve,
brought low laugh OF base amusement
from Mr.. saggetts. There now was
little danger. for n time Mt least. that
ne would wonder what kept Redlaw be-
low. II at first he may have felt s,,s-
picion mt Walton's observations, they all
H. =. s
the connection between the hold and the
cabin, SO carelessy displayed md so
apparent. his readiness to send ono ~,
the men below, that suspicion could NOT
but give way to added confidence And
MI. Saggetts sprang down to issue wal
tons orders while the latter slowly re-
turned to the companion stairs. ana
thence to tho cabin.
Soon after tho cook. who had been
doing tho Stewards work. came down
and lighted the cabin lamp, There was
nothing In the scene presented, II no
cared to use his eyes, to signify that it
had been prepared for his special bene-
fit, or that Redaw was under coercion
The pirate lay stretched upon tbs
couch in apparent comfort, with Lady
Somers seated beside him, and bending
above him with an air of. friendlIness
bordering on affection. But his swarthy
face, distorted by passions scarce gov
ernaRe, despite the inevitable alterna.
tive, was obscured by the broad shoul-
ders of Archie Walton. seated near by
with pistol held beside his thigh
,rhe seaman saw all that was prepared
for him to see--and nothing more. And
his observations forward for sailors
gossip like maids. corroborated all that
had gone before.
So tho ruse was begun.
But fate Itself had already shaped NJ
ending.