Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-20
COPYRIGHT IN JAME5 ElvENo~.

the few lights in the villages along the shor,
were rapidly disappearing-it would be neces
utes.
Here you are at LAST was McPherson's
greeting, as Lofty opened the pilot house door.
- 4 was Just going to send for you. Don't you
think you'd better appoint quartermaster to
take charge of the wheel and give me chance
to lind ind, out something of what's going on on
"Stay where you are for a few minutes
longer, was the answer II had you take
the wheel because l knew you could handle
the. vessel. I'll have you relieved as soon as we
make an offing. There's business to be at
tended to first, though"
we've got to land those fellows in the
forecastle. We don't want them on board. !
suppose you'll land Brant with them?"
Word had bean passed forward by the
mutineers on deck, and Mcpherson had
learned IN this manner who the prisoner in
Lofty replied that he did want to land the
prisoners, all of them, but went--on to tell
what Ricketts, had had to say on that sub
ject.
$50 Ricketts, objects to anybody leaving the
vessel. does he?" said MCPHERSON. raising
the wheel spoke to meet sudden flaw Of
wind which at this moment struck the Ven
lures canvas, and which made itself per
ccptlbiy felt despite the force which the
screw was exerting. Iofty-Captain Ran
lows are up to, anyway? What brought them
here@
II don't know" confessed Lofty, helplessly.
One thing am sure of, though. They know
all about our plans
They must have overheard us talking while
VIC were quartered with them in the lumber
shanty. | believe they've put up job among
themselves to seize the vessel"
Five of them against ten of us!' said Lofty,
ltrrr <r.lA IL, L = -
to do a big thing. OF course, we're only boys,
in fair fight"
81 hope we won't have to-" reioined Nc
Pherson.
Light over the starboard bowl" reported a
voice from the deck
81 see it." answered the wheelsman; and
to his commander he added, 1That's the light
That marks the head of the bay. If you are
gclng to land your prisoners, captain, before
you make an an ,offing and head away fol, the
straits, you'll have to land them right here.
You can heave the vessel to and give them a
boat, if you think you want to spare one"
''But if l give the order to heave to it win
precipitate fight with Ricketts," interposed
Lofty. Those outlaws are determined that
nobody on shore shall suspect that they are
on board the vessel, and they will fight before
they will permit it. They are probably armed,
and somebody. will be sure to get hurt"
'Then, don't do it." was the prompt re
SpOnSe. we can ldnu Une prisoners 1ater-
say off Mackinaw Island. In the meantime
we'll look up some scheme to get rid of Rick
,etts and his gang; or, at least, to squelch
them for time. I've got an idea this min
ute"
This suggestion-that of deIay-Lofty was,
perforee, compelled to adopt. He disliked even
the appearance of yielding to the invaders,
however for he was afraid of the effect on his
own followers.
His mind was oppressed by dire misgiving,
l. c--,l re
seem to share
Mcpherson was attending strictly to his duty
| of steering the vessel, and if he realized the
awkward predicament which confronted him,
in consequence of the presence of Ricketts, and
his followers on board, he failed to evidence
| it in his speech or manner. Lofty wondered
at his coolness.
81 understand, then, that you desire to
head away for the straits" observed McPher-
son, correctly interpreting his superior's 81
'T do,' said Lofty. 1--WE have left the light
well astern. I think we may as well head
about. You'll have to go it blind until we get
a chance to map. out the course; but you are
familiar with these waters, and can't go
east. 1t will be broad daylight in less than
an hour. and then we can get our exact bear
ings and take new departure"
The gray light of dawn was Just beginning
to manifest itself on the eastern horizon. and
the shore line stretched like long black mark
against the leaden-colored background, when
Lofty came out of the pilot house, after his
brief conference with his first officer, and took
his station on the narrow platform which
spanned the forward deck and was called, by
courtesy, the bridge.
| From where he stood; on the weather end
of the bridge. he could see Ricketts, follow
era clustered in the gangway.
| His own henchmen were scattered about
the deck and all. excepting the one man on
lookout in the bow, seemed to be waiting for