Los Angeles herald., 1906-10-14
coSrlxrED FROM rREcEDINo PAGE

Ahe JuqhlLa Is SlDklHRl
Neither the mate nor the captain appeared
to understand him. and he repeated, excited
y:
Il tell you she's sinSingl That pirate
started plank early this morning, and
could hear the water running in all the time
you were talking with him. He went into
the cabin the last thing to see if the leak was
as effective as he meant it to be-"
Almost before Dudley ceased speaking Bob
rushed below, coming up again immediately,
his face, which had been flushed with anger,
being now pallid with fear.
THAT scoundrel has scuttled her" he cried
And, as he spoke, jeering shout could be
heard from the Spaniard, who was just en-
tering the inlet that led to the open gulf.
She can't float half an hour longer, and
Nhere We are with no means of leaving this
place"
Both Percy and Dudley ran into the cabin
to satisfy themselves that matters were really
as desperate as had been reported, and, dur
ing the few seconds they were absent, Bob
had recovered his presence of mind sufficiently
to understand what steps should be taken
in order to avert at least some portion of the
catastrophe.
Come on deckl" he called, as he ran to
the jib halliards Hoist in the anchor and
carry it well aft; then shift everything nova
bic from the bow. Wen run ber ashore,
Uuu IL we Cdu put HeT hose nlRu cHOuRn Un
the beach, we may be able to get at the leak.
At all events, she can't sink then"
by the time the heavy jb was up, the
anchor had been hung over the rail aft, and
the wind swung the felucca around until she
was headed for the place where the raft had
been built
The three boys stood by the helm, Percy
looking much more cheerful than did his
companions while the little craft in which
SO many happy, hours had been spent, was
gliding slowly toward the narrow strip Of
sand, from which she might never float again.
The Jaquitas bow was now high out of
the water, and, owing to this fact, she struck
well abaft her fore-foot, running upon the
beach until quite one-eighth Of her keel was
exposed.
She was in such position that her stern
could not sink any deeper, wherever the leak
might be; but even if she could be repaired,
it would be an exceedingly difficult job to
launch her.
The first thought of the boys was to learn
at what point and how the water had been
let in. The bow was uninjured, and it was
only after long search that the location Of
the leak was found.
The second plank above the keelson on
the port side amidships had been cut nearly
across and then driven apart, leaving two
jagged ends, which could not be repaired
save by putting in two or three feet of new
timber.
at will be hard job to fix her" Bob said,
with sigh; "but we've got to do it or run
cur chances Of hailing some vessel to take
us off Wen heel her over to starboard and
then make a staging; but we've got plenty
OF her, Dud."
The cooks story was not long one. He
had finished cutting wood for his signal fire
about an hour after his companions had re-
turned to their work, and was lying down,
when suddenly Gomez appeared, with re
voyer in his hand.
Facing. loaded weapon as he did. Dud
needed but few words to convince him
that he must obey his captor He had been
marched to the shore at the left Of the feuc.
ca, nearly opposite where his friends were
at work, and there, hidden partially by the
underbrush, was the Spaniards boat. Still
covered by the weapon, he had been forced
to row to the Jaquita, where he was confined
in the cabin, bound hand and foot
Under threats Of instant death If he did
not tell the whole truth. Dudley had given a
minute description of what had been found
on the key After this information had been
impaired, he was gagged, and from the time
he had been captured until his companions
released him he had had nothing to eat OF
well, we've got out of that scrape," Bob
said, as Dudley finished his story, "and now
it only remains for us to get home as best we
may, leaving the thief to get the treasure If
he can read the ciphers-"
ut is just possible that ne may never be
able to do that" Percy said, quietly. 1--WE
only agreed to give him what we found, and
there was nothing to prevent my taking a
copy of the. .cryptOgram, or untying some OF
the knots in the rope"
SHow stupid / was not to think of such a
thing!" Bob exclaimed. gleefully. 'But |
was SO confused and worried when L found
he had us in his power that / hardly knew
what ! was about. Do you believe you can
read the cryptogam?
al out three lines. and il IL only question