Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-20

49, of their unexpected alnes, nicne.S'
and company, was at the moment
when Commander Brant made his lying leap
from the coal wharf and clambered over the
Ventures taffrali. :.
There was little doubt in the mind of Lofty
Rankin that Ricketts, would have brought the
cutlass down upon the young commanders
head, had he not been prevented. 1t was no
part of Lofty's plot to deal anybody serious
injury: and it was this consideration, rather
than because of any love he bore for the
officer perhaps that caused the chief rebel to
stay the hand of his jealous ally.
Lofty even found it necessary to STRUGGLE
with Ricketts, in order to restrain him, alter
Brant had gained footing on the deck
Ricketts, lost his temper and he was bent
OF hurling himself upon the invader.
"Stand back!" commanded Lofty. 'Ill give
you to understand, Mr.. Ricketts,, that I'm
commander of this vessel, not you; and If
you don't like it, you can get out and walk!
Leave this man alone. I'll attend to his easel
This pungent exhortation seemed to bring
Ricketts, to his senses. He dropped the cutlass
on the deck, and even went SO far as to awk-
wardly salute the speaker.
Il beg your pardon, captain" he said, and
he fell back a step 81 wasn't thinking l
stand corrected / didn't mean to disobey
orders. I'll behave better in the future"
A queer expression passed over the face of
Commander Brant, as he listened to this
speech
Brant, as he pulled himself over the Ven
lures rail, had taken in every detail of the
scene which the vessels deck at that moment
presented.
He saw groups of men and boys in the
gangways, and distinguished the men from
the boys readily enough, in spite of the dark
ness. He was naturally at loss to account
for the presence of the men he saw, as, indeed,
the mutineers themselves were at that mo-
ment; for neither Commander Brant nor the
runaways knew anything yet about the bank
robbery
But the subservient speech and action of
Ricketts, gave Brant "a clue to the situation.
He gathered, instanter. that the men were in
teriopers on board of the vessel, and that
their desire was to mollify the mutineers.
What their object was, why they should
desire to obtain any sort OF a footing on board,
was more than he could comprehend Just
then; but he made up his mind, even while
Ricketts, was speaking, to find out very soon.
"Something has gone wrong with the plot
ters already. They hadn't bargained for the
presence of these strangers. and they are not
oyer-pleased to have the men on board. Here
We find cloud on the mutineers' horizon"
This was Commander Brant's thought. The
condition of affairs, as thus interpreted, pre-
sented a hope for him. and it was not long
before his hope became plan,
Wnne Co-hndhueI LAM ""S enuo sSSui ~,
n footing on the deck. the Venture with every
stitch Of canvas drawing, was bowling along
down the bay, under the impetus of the
fresh easterly wind. q
Below decks could be heard the sound OF
the fire rakes and shovels, as the stokerss who
had been pressed into service, labored at the
furnaces
was powerless to interfere. He began to
wonder what Lofty would do with him. Lofty
J;d not have him long IN doubt
The runaway captain made a motion to
ward the group of his followers in the port
"Mr Even and couple of you. this way!'
he said. And then to Brant, Consider your
aWhat are you going to do with him ?" quer-
I'D ricketts,, quickly, as Even and two. others
of the rebels advanced and took their stand
near the captive.