, 1909-05-27

t"S "SSh- MS July nuuuleu against the
rail-. aimed to do as well by Tut
tie, but the descending pin landed on
his uplifted arm. and, before | could
draw back for another blow, the fell
low at the wheel released the spokes
and Jumped at my back, throttling me
with his hands as the weight OF his
body crushed me to the planks. Grasp
Ing the rail l half tore myself loose.
rising to n knee, and struck him
twice madly in the face: but others
OF the crew cam tumbling on top of
us. pinning me helplessly down. 1t
was all the work of a breathless mo-
ment, and as i lay there. the knee of
a negro c%runching into my chest, | saw
De Nova spring to the whee and
whirl 1t hard down. while futile, his
left arm dangling. his teeth set from
pain. began jangIing the bells in the
e%ngine-room. Scarcely had the echo
reached us when a strange voice hailed
sharply from put the dense fog:
Steamer. ahoy! What vessel is
that?"
Tuttle's nasal voice answered.:
Steam yacht Cormorant. Panama
to Easter island, for pleasure. Who
are your"
H. NJ. s. Victory, on cruise. Stand
by, while we send a boat"
A deep oath sprang to Tuttle's lips,
his fingers convulsively gripping the
rail. Then he appeared to rally, the
very intensity of his fear making a
new man out of him.
Lively, lads, clear the deck he
nnm QnHal horrhI, aII&~ -
you take the wheel. Now, De Nova,
bundle that fighting fool down into the
~charthouse, and stand over him with
a gun. Two of you fellows carry the
boatswain into the fo'castle; lively.
now"
They were certainly expeditions
enough In my case, dragging me bump.
ing down the steps, and ~finging me in
between table and bench with a VIC
lence that made me groan. | caught
the glimmer of a steel barrel in De
Nova's hand as he drew close the
sliding door.
ut was not nice sing to do, Mons. Ste
phens." he said, not il%l-naturedly, but.
by gar. out re farsity row it was 60
Ing to be done, for / shoot ze pistol
very good"
That's all right, De Nova" l re.
piled. realizing my complete defeat
n holding no personal grudge
against him. Il don't blame you. I've
made my play. and have had enough.
May I sit up?"
He nodded carelessly, dropping the
revolver back into his Jacket pocket
yet with his black eyes fastened
shrewdly on my face.
"'Tis Re bes' way to talk, monsieur
pausing to listen to the mingled
sounds without. "Sacre, ! wonder
wat re devil was up now!"
We both sat, breathing hard from
our late exertions, listening a%nxiously
yet with vastly differing emotions
hope animating me that this was tc
prove a capture, or, at least, that some
chance discovery by the officer visit
ing US would result in the elease o.
the women below. But De Nova wa!
in an agony of apprehension, the full
peril of his position clear before him
We heard the bare feet of the hurry
ing sailors patter along the deck, the
strident voice of futile issuing a few
Ao II taS oih soohN
of oars in the water alongside. The
officer came slowly up the ladder, and
my heart sank as / heard him laugh
carelessly to the mates greeting.
could distinguish the souns of his
voice, but not the words uttered, an6
In some way 1t impressed me with the
thought that the fellow was young, q
midshipman. possibly, h would
prove mere putty under Tuttle's ex
pert handling. The two went down
the companion-steps together in APP
p~arently amiable conversation, and
We could heard the low murmur OF
voices as the crew hung over the raj
testing with the men-o-war's men in
the boat below. My eyes met De
Nova's in the semi-darkness, and he
grinned, showing his teeth.
Messing YER dangerous, monsieur
he said, easily. ''Ze OIL fox he fool
Eat kid"
attempted no response, my mind al
ready sufficiently heavy from appre'
hension. Oh, for just a word, merely
an opportunity to cry out our story be
fore 1t was forever too late! De Nova
must have felt the struggle within me
for he stretched his legs across the
narrow passage leading to the door
and l saw his hand thrust into his
coat pocket. Underneath his genial We
neer he was one to act upon occasion
absolutely careless of the result. So
waited in silence, my teeth set hard
my hands clenched, as the last YES
tige Of hope oozed slowly out of me
They were scarcely ten minutes be
low, coming up chatting in rare gooc
fellowship, the officer clinging TO this
rail. his feet on the ladder. while hi
completed some story he had beer
relating with much gusto. Then We
heard MAINLY the din of oars. GROWING