The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-18
HE
SLAVE SQUADRON
A THRILLING TALE OF ADVENTURE
By HARRY COLLNGwOOD
CHAPTER XIII.

I advanced 70 his side and laid my hand
upon bis arm. at the same time men
tionlng his name to apprise him OF my
presence
We'll" ne whispered. first drawing me
away from the open scuttle. what have
you discovered"
told him, adding that I thought the
anch pr-watch must have taken refuge In
the galley from the rain, and there have
fallen asleep.
Yes" whispered smellie: me is safe
enough there. and sound asleep. for ac-
cidenJally touched him without disturb
ing mis- slumber.
thought the time had now arrived for
the prcpounding OF my brilliant idea.
What is TO prevent our seixing the
schooner sir7" / asked.
Nothing whatever" was the reply IT
have been thinking OF such thing my
self. She Is already virtually In our pos
session. and very little labor and pa
thence would make her actually so.
think we are men enough to get her
under canvas and 20 handle her after
wards, for she is only very small craft
The great-and indeed only-danger con-
nected with the affair consists In the
possibility of their firing pistol into the
powder magazine when they discover that
they are prisoners, and go sending the
ship ana all hands sky-high together"
assented; but I am willing to take
the risk. sir. II you are
well done. Hawkesleyl you are made
OF the right stuff for sailor" was Smell
Hes encouraging remark. Then we'll
do IT," he continued. The first thing Is
TO close and fasten the fore-scuttle.
which. l have already ascertained. Is
secured with a hasp and staple. A be-
laying pin will secure II effectually: so
that is the first thing we need"
loose belaying-pin was soon found I;
and provided with this we then returned
to the fore-scuttle. noiselessly placed the
cover In position, and thrust the pin
through the staple. thus effectually i'm
prisoning the crew.
Now another belaying-pin and a rope's
end-a fathom or so off the end OF the
topgallant halliards win do-to secure this
vigilant lookout In the galley"
Armed with the necessary gear we next
crept toward the galley The question
was. how TO secure the man effectually
In the intense darkness and confined
space, and at the same time prevent his
raising an alarm. The only thing was
TO lure him out on deck; and accordingly,
whilst smelie awaited him at the door,
went In. and grasping him by the
shoulder shook him roughly, retiring
again promptly as soon as I found that
! had aroused him. The fellow rose to
his feet hurriedly, evidently under
the impression that one Of the
officers had caught him mapping and,
scarcely half awake. stumbled out on
deck muttering In Spanish a few incoher-
ent words which he no doubt intended for
an explanation of his presence I'm the
galley. As he emerged from the door I
prompty-and fear rather roughly
forced the bella yingpln between his teeth
and secured IL there with the aid OF my
pocket handkerchief. Smellie at the same
moment pinioning him from the other
side so effectually that he was rendered
quite incapable or resistance. very
short time sufficed us TO secure him be-
yond the possibility OF escape: and then
the next thing demanding our attention
was the skylght and companion. I had
already thought of means by which
these might be made perfectly secure
and I now offered the idea 20 Smellie for
whatever II might be worth. My sugges-
| tion met with his most unqualified ap-
| proval. and we forthwith set about carry
ing II out There was an abundance OF
| hrewood In the galley: and. selecting
suitable pieces. we lost no time In hack
ing out half-a-dozen wedges. Armed with
/ these we went aft. and noiselessly closing
! the companion slide To- it's full extent firm.
| ~ wedged II there. short piece Of
| plankins wedged tightly IN between the
pinnacle and the companion doors made
the latter perfectly SECURE: and when We
had further heaped upon the skylight lids
as many heavy articles as we could find
/ about the decks and conveniently handle
| between u.s. the crew were effectually TN
prisoned below. fore and AFT. and the
work OF seizine the schooner was com
plete.
To be continued tomorrow