The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-30
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them Walton bestowed only a faint SMILE
| that of an encouragement which was
never wanting, despite his own secret
fears; ard. turning at once to the sea-
man, he quickly asked:
why did you signal me. Benz"
! "Because | wanted word with you,
lad" the old seaman gravely answered,
| still cleavlng to the fond term of com
radeship with which he always had adj
| dressed him. Some o. the dirty lub-
bers for'ard arc wearin' looks not to my
liking. They're not pleased with the
| turn o. things, lad, that's plain enough.
! 'Taint like searnen to sail long with
out sight. O the cap'n, cen though o
pretty womans below. And afore bad
comes to wuss, lad, I'd say we'd best
, plan how to meet It,"
Renewed approximations, fear the
| fate thus far averted might now be
swift In overtaking them. sent deeper
pallor to the cheeks OF Lady Soners
and Emily. Even the features of Vail
| underwent a change that betrayed his
feelings. and he fell to trembling vlsi-
| bly,. But the countenance OF Walton,
grave even Ito severity. remained as
coldly composed as IL the bitter deter
mination with which no was inspired
had turned the outer man to stone.
Have the men said anything that
furthers these misglvings, Benz" he
| asked.
mot afore me. lad" said Ben. with
n shake of his gray head. but looks
and actions speak louder'n words, lad.
at times"
"That's true enough" admitted Wal
ton. "Yet don't wish to provoke a
more desperate situation by any hasty
action, If it still can be averted. My
! design has thus far carried, and nope
by tomorrow to have run tho Vessel so
near port that night escape may be
effected in one Of the boats, and a har-
\ Dor safely made.
But Ben Logan again shook his head:
"The sooner done the better. lad, II
that's your plan he said. gravely.
''The men'll not stand by to run the yes
sci and themselves Into danger r., save ave
! Red1aw himself commands 1t. Theyr 70
taking your orders now only IN fear Q
him, lad, and that can't last much long
err It shows plain enough IN their usiy
faces, lad"
"IIave you sounded the hands taken
from the Nord Brandt"
AYE lad. in way. But reckon
they'll shrink from taking too long
! chance. It's not matter O life and
| death with 'em now, lad. as twas nfore.
"daye you any suggestion to offer ~
II have!" Vail impulstyely exclaimed.
| He started out from the door through
which he had been watching RedlaW.
His eyes were brighter now. Some OF
that desperate spirit had risen within
him. which the taunt OF Walton on the
| Nord Brandts after deck had inspired.
| and which had lifted him to heroism IN
the ensuing combat with tho Tartar pi-
| rates.
IT advise at onco more aggressive
move,' he eagerly explained. IT can
be made better now than later, II what
Ben Logan says Is true BY strategy we
should be able to get at least part OF
| the crew under the matches and contne
them there. with tho help OF the Nord
Brandt's men we may BIO able to over
"And them" aueried Walton, with a
curious expression appearing in the
4 depths OF his eyes.
''Then run tho vessel straight into
port!" cried Vail. decisively. "The trens-
| uro aboard her will revert to u.s. Her
knayish crew will meet their Just de-
serts It can be done With little care
full work the design can be executed!
| AS we'll try that as to take less promising
chances The first step to take Is that
OF killing Redlaw himself whose power
over the men,
stop right there, Lieut.. yail!' said
Walton, sternly. There is something
you nave pethdpS oi6otteh' Hi'~t -
CALL"
what Is that?' demanded Vail, In
| voluntarily recoiling under the frowning
gaze of the man he had confronted.
| "A certain morning Of SO recent date
| that It's horrors still should be fresh in
your mind. slr I do not forget. even II
you have forgotten, that but for this man
| Redlaw and his vessel and his crew, you
! and and these poor women here would
| he, {ty,o of ha ~ "a
Good Cod" you don't mean that you
| would spare"
II mean all that my words mply!" In
terrupted Walton, With a burst of pas
sionate disapproval. only as last re-
sort shall the life Of Redlaw be sacri-.
do not forget that to him and his men
we owe our preservation on that fright
| full morning. Do you talk to mo of treas
ure and Just deserts? am not a robber
of outlaws even! Their just deserts at
your hands and mine are not punishment
gard service rendered-though rendered
| by an outlaw. believe In giving life
for llfe-though the one be that Of an
/ ocean renegade even! Let your blood
hounds of the sea hunt down these men.
| but don't expect 1t of me, sir! And /
soy again. now and for all, only as a
| last resort only to save yondcr women
| from death or dishonor. shall Redlaw,
| his men or his vessel be sacrificed by any
| act of mine! That's final. sir! Our cs-,
| cape must be effected In some other
,way."
! There was something moro than senti-
mental gratitude in the force with which
| Walton had spoken. There was re-
buke which sent momentary flood OF
color to the face Of Robert Vail. and the
CLEAN that briefly fired his shrinking eyes
| was that of bitterest resentment.
| But on Emily Somers. trembling near
| by, the words fell most effectively, for
they revealed anew the magnificent man
hood of him to whom her very heart and
soul had been given. With thrill OF
pride blinded for a moment to her own
danger, with cheeks and eyes suddenly
glowing. she obeyed the impulse of a
nature irresistibly moved by a grandeur
approaching the heroic, and exclaimed APP
provingly:
"You are right. Mr.. Walton! The debt
of life is not one to be forgotten or
| ruthlessly ignored Only an utter ingra to