Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-03
CONTINUED FROM PAGE Two

Dy Gulpe presented a breach IN tne huei
neers' defense which invited assault, ana
Brant believed that by master stroke ne
could secure the upper hand Of Lofty.
A whispered command addressed to his ma
rines was all sufficient, and when the young
commander advanced into the cabin, it was
at the head of party nearly equal to the
cabins force in numbers, and more than equal
to it in efficiency.
Coming SO quickly after their capture by
the robbers, the double capture of their lead
ers dazed the mutineers. They looked at one
another doubtingly. Then all looked at Even,
who was the third runaway IN command by
the removal of his superior, the weight OF the
situation fell upon his shoulders. But Even
was an exceedingly discreet young man when
it came to question of personal risks and
dangers. Ever since the troubles. with the
robbers began, he had kept himself so far in
the background as to lay himself open to the
aspersion of having "skulked."
Circumstances, rather than any real quail
fications, had made. him a leader, and he was
more than willing that circumstances should
deprive him of leadership, with its attendant
responsibility. He saw that the command
er's party was nearly as large as his own
He doubted That his own party would fight,
anyway; he reflected that even if they did
fight. and were victorious they would still
be in bad plight, and he surrendered.
"Our game is up, fellows" he said. ITS
time to hedge, and get out of the scrape II
we can
In spite of the tension of the moment,
Commander Brant had to smile at this speech;
but he wisely refrained from any audible
comment.
The other boys, by their silence and in
action, evinced their acceptance OF Ewens
view, and the young commander was content
to regard their fealty as assured without any
further protestation.
Instead of replying to Even, accordingly,
he walked across the ward-room and peered
through port in the side of the vessel,
"The storm is fairly upon u.s. he OBJ
served. 'In few minutes the men on deck
will have their hands full, navigating the
vessel. l wish l knew exactly where We
are"
sI can tell you very nearly" Even re-.
port-quarter and the Temperance group dead
ahead. If Ricketts, holds to the course Nc
Pherson was following We will pass to the
windward and inside of the group"
81 dislike to disable the vessel, with those
islands under our lee, and yet delay may be
dangerous" observed the commander
The mutineers looked surprised, and Brant
went ON to explain. He told them of his
plane for coping with the robbers
"A vessel has been sent in pursuit OF the
Venture long before this, he said, in con-
clusion. I'VE may look for assistance in our
struggle with the robbers. We are now .supe-
rior to them in numbers, and we ought at
least to be able to hold them at bay till the
weather and the presence OF the islands ahead
of us that disturbs me most"
However much the presence of the islands
may have disturbed him, though, Command,
er Brant did not allow himself to be turned
from his purpose.
Accompanied by the boatswain, he paid
visit to the companion-way. Standing at the
head Of the stairs, they could hear voices on
the deck above them. In spite OF the noise
of the wind and waves, they were able TO
distinguish something Of what was vas sald, tho
voice of one of the Detwilers proclaim. She
is headed exactly in our wake"
"The trail of her smoke shows that, re
sponded the voice of Ricketts,. 81 don't un-
derstand how she comes to be 50 close to us.
| thought this vessel was very fast.
80 She is, under favorable circumstances;
We don't seem to be getting all the speed
out of her she is capable of, though; we are
holding our own, just the same. SO long as
we do that, we're safe.
The listeners on the companion-stars were
considerably excited by these remarks. 1t
made plain to them that Ricketts, and his fell
lows had sighted a vessel, which they had
reason to believe was in pursuit OF the fugi-
tive yacht
Brant. when he and the boatswan had re-
tnrned to the cabin to compare notes. "Now
;s the time to act"
The whole party went into the after-hold, |
leaving the cabin deserted. There was little
Sanaer that the prisoners in the state-rooms
Brant cared little how if they did-the pre- |
sence of the pursuing vessel having, in the
estimation of all concerned, settled the case
for the runaway leaders.
rha door leading from the ire-room into
the after-hold, they barricaded by a portion
of the cargo being piled against It. The
ooa,ttiawav in the quarterback opening into
the run was also blocked up The entire