Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-27

The last
the frequent
ton in the hold,
the yacht was mas
MCPHERSON, who ~
than practical knowles
though, next to Lofty, ht
most efficient of the mutiIs
in the helm with more vigof
in his efforts to hold the w
course in the heavy sea.
81 think we had better put ours>
position to begin operations at an
notice. said Commander Brant YCN
go forward and summon the men into
forecastle. Tell them to lay aft, withoS
making any more noise than they can help.
Barclay moved to obey. With the first
STEP. ne, was lost to view in the darkness OF
the hold. In moment he returned, and
after him, in file, the four marines from the
forecastle.
They had been anxiousy awaiting the re-
turn of their officer, who had gone forth to
reconnoitre, and it did not take many words
to make the situation as clear to them as
Commander Brant felt necessary.
What | purpose to do is this" said he, as
they gathered about him. 81 intend to take
up a position in the extreme after-hold, and
fortify it as best we can with the materials
we shall find at hand. When the proper
moment comes, | shall disable the steering
age, the mutineers, OF the robbers, or who
ever may have control of the vessel, will
first have to dislodge us. l depend on you
men to keep them at bay in the face of
whatever may occur. till pursuing vessel
has time to come up"
"You can depend on us, sir" was the re-
sponse, uttered as if by one person.
Seemingly well satisfied, Commander Brant
started to lead the way aft through the star
board ard passageway past the If. fre-ro9m.
being discovered by anybody-even the, .stok-
ers, if possible" he said. 'I don't know
what pressure may have been brought to
bear on those two men. From the zeal with
looks as though they are wholly given over
to the interests of the mutineers. While the
mutinous boys are in the ascendant, at any
rate, we cannot depend on them. They may
even give the alarm if they see us going aft
in force"
1t looked to the followers of Commander
Brant as though asking them to pass the fire.
room without being seen by the inmates,
were asking an impossibility; but an event
was about to occur that materially contribut-
ed to the successful performance of the feat
| Just as the young commander was about
to enter the passageway in advance OF his
men, somebody emerged from the darkness
at the other end.
IT w was Ricketts,, and behind him came all
four of his followers Brant scomprehended
the matter in flash.
The robbers did not purpose to submit to
Lofty's dictation. When they returned to
the ward room, having received Lne mutls
neers' utimatum, they had cast about them
for means of gaining the deck and offering
battle
They had not been long in discovering the
scuttle in the pantry floor, which, indeed,
Commander Brant now recalled he had left
open when he came below. From the ward
room they had made their way to the fire
room, as the officer had done. What they
now purposed to do became quickly ap-
parent.
Ricketts, led the way straight into the fire.
room, and his associates in villainy followed
close on his heels.
Ignoring the stokers, they began Chamber
ing up the perpendicular ladder leading from
the fireroom aloft into the engine-room.
| A shout from Brophy and another from
Berlley, the assistant engineer of the mutt
neers, who, it seemed, had gone into the
eneine-room to join his chief, appraised both
the party in the hold and those an deck Of
what was going on.
Before Brophy or Berkley could raise a
second shout, they were prisoners. The rob-
bers then began beating on the closed door
OF the engine-room, at the same time shout
ing to the Ventures crew to "open up and
surrender, or it would go hard with them"
AS the robbers continued to beat on the
door and to shout, it became evident to the
listeners in the hold that Lofty, instead of
"openinp up, was collecting his forces.
A battle between the robbers and the mutt
peers was therefore about to begin.
TO BE CONTINUED NEXT SUNDAY