The Saint Paul globe., 1904-05-22
CHAPTER w.


and her white face appeared above
the dim black shadow of her mourn
Ing. She looked silently round her on
the mist, the groups Of rough men,,
the spatterings of light that were like
violence, too. She said nothing, but
rested her hand on my arm.
She had her immense griefs, and
this was the home offered her. She
looked back at the side. 1 thought
she would have liked to be in the boat
again. 1 said:
"The people in this ship are my old
friends. You can trust them-and
me-"
Tomas Castro, clambering leisurely
over the side, followed. AS soon as
his feet touched the deck, he threw
the corner of his cloak across his left
shoulder, bent down half the rim of
his hat, and assumed the appearance
of a short, dark conspirator, over
topped by the stalwart Sailors who
had abandoned Manuel to crowd, bare
armed, bare-chested, pushing and
craning their necks, round us.
She said, Il can trust you; 1t is my
duty to trust you, and this is now my
home"
She disappeared in the brilliant light
OF the cabin. The door closed. / re-
mained standing there. Manuel, at her
disappearance, raised his voice to a
tremendous, incessant yell of despair,
as If he expected to make her hear.
"Senorita protection del
Opprimido; oh, hija de piedad
Senorita'
His lamentable noise brought half
the ship round US; the sailors fell back
before the mate, Sebright, walking at
the elbow of a stout man in loose
trousers and jacket. They stopped.
"An unexpected meeting, Capt. Will
liams," was all found to say to him.
What shall we do with that yelp
ing Dago? He's a distressful beast to
have about the decks"
Put him in the coal hole, suppose,
as far as Havana. l won't rest till
see him on his way to the gallows. The
captain general shall be made sick of
this business, or my name isn't Will
liams. I'll make a breeze over it at
home. You shall help in that, Kemp.
You amt afraid of big-wigs. Not you
You amt afraid of anything. ="
He's a devil of fellow, and dead
shot" threw in Sebright. And jolly
lucky for us, too, sir. It's simply mar
this, Mr.. Kemp. We hadn't a grain of
powder that wasn't caked solid in the
canisters. Nothing'll take it out of my
head that somebody had got at the
magazine while we lay in Kings
And by the way, Kemp" Williams
said, with sudden annoyance, recollect-
ing himself, as it were, you never
turned up for that dinner-sent no
word, nor anything. o"
The young mate of the Lion stood
by, quiet, listening, with a capable
smile. Now, he said, in a tone of dry
comment:
Jolly sight more useful turning UP
here"
Il was kidnapped away from Ramon's
back shop, if that's sufficient apology.
It's rather long story"
well, you can't tell 1t on deck, that's
very clear" Sebright had to shout to
me. mot while this internal noise
what the deuce's up? 1t sounds more
like dog fight than anything else"
AS we ran towards the main hatch 1
recognized the aptness of the compar-
tson. 1t was that sort of vicious, snarl-
ing, yelping clamor which arises all
at once and suddenly dies.
Castro! Thou Castro!"
MaledictiOn NV eve
lids ="
Thou! Englishman's dogl"
"Ha! Porco."
The voices ceased. Castro ran tip
toeing lightly, mantled in ample folds
He assumed his hat with a brave tap,
crouched swiftly inside his cloak 1t
touched the deck all round in a black
cone surmounted by a peering, CULVER
ing head. Quick as thought he hoped
and sank low again. Everybody watch
ed with wonder this play, as of some
large and diabolic toy. For my part,
knowing the deadly purpose of these
prel1mlnarieS / was struck with hor-
ror. Had he chosen to run on him at
once, nothing could have saved Manuel
The poor wretch, vigorously held in
front OF Castro was far too terrified to
make a sound. With an immovable
sailor on each side, he scuff1ed violent
~, and covered by starts as If tied up
between two stone posts. His dumb
rapid painting was in our ears.
shouted:
stop, Castro! Stopl Stop
him, some of you! He means to kill
the fellow!"
Nobody needed my shouting. Cas-
tro flung his cloak on the deck, Jumped
on 1t, kicked 1t aside, all in the same
moment as 1t seemed, lodged TO the
right to the left, drew himself up. and
stepped high, paunchy in his tight
smalls and short jacket, making all
the time low, sibilant sound, which
WAS perfectly Dlood-curdling.
He has a blade on his forearm!" 7
yelled. He's armed, tell you'll"
No one could comprehend nv dis
tress. sailor, raising a lamp, had a
broad smile. Somebody laughed out
right Castro planted himself before
Manuel, nodded menacingly, and
stopped ready for spring, I was too
late in my grab at his collar, but Man
uers guardians, acting with precision,
put out one arm each to meet his rush.
and he came flying backwards upon
me, as though he had rebounded from
a wall
He had almost knocked me down.
and while l staggered to keep my. feet
the air resounded with urgent calls to
shoot, to fire, to bring him down!
Kill him, senor!" came in
an entreating yell from Castro. And /
became aware that Manuel had taken
this opportunity to wrench himself
1ree. heard the hard thud of his leap.
Stralght from the hatch (as l was told
later by the marveling sailors) he had
alighted with both feet on the rail
only saw him already there sitting on
his heels, Jabbering and nodding at
us like an enormous baboon. shoot.
Sir! Shoot" Kill! Kill, senior! AS
sou love your life-kill!"
Unwittingly, without volition. as if
compelled by the suggestion of the
oloodthirsty cries, my hand drew the
Cemaining pistol out Of my belt I
Sa1Sed IT, and found mvSalf COVERING