The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-06-03

AAy AAANf'lA " AAAAt III me nearby SAN.
and cursing the fellow at the wheel
for not holding her up to the point
directed They came up together. two
steps at a time, futile in his shirt
sleeves, and, as they attained the
bridge, Bill Anderson swung himself
out of the hatch and started after
them. | backed away, the ugly iron
pin erasped in my hand
You'd better keep back" l warned,
threateningly. I'm ready to brain
the first man who attempts to touch
me-"
futile stopped. his jaw working saw
agely his eyes on mine.
Will you promise to keep quiet, sir.
an let us get away out O. this?"
Damn you, no." stubbornly. all my
senses leaving me at sight of his hate
full face. I'll speak that ship yonder
If | have to fight the crew of you
single-handed"
Then fight, you cockerel, an be
damned to you" roared Anderson;
and he pressed past the two of them
and sprang at me-
II was hot, swift work, while it
lasted. | struck twice, laying open the
big brute's scalp. and dropping him
so his head hung dangling down over
the deck, his body hUddled against the
rail I aimed to do as well by Tut
tie, but the descending pin landed on
his uplitted 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 | half tore myself loose.
rising to one knee, and struck him
twice madly in the face: but others
of the crew came tumbing on top of
us. pinning me helplessly down Il
was all the work of d GREATNESS mo-
mcnt. and as | lay there, the knee of
a negro crunching into my chest, saw
De Nova spring to the wheel and
whirl 1t hard down, while futile, his
left arm dangling, his teeth set from
pain, began jangling the bells in the
engine-room Scarcely had the echo
reached US when a strange voice hailed
sharply from out 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 you?"
H NJ. S. Victory, on cruise. Stand
by, while We send a boat"
\ deep oath sprang to Tuttle's lips,
his fingers COnvulsiyely 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
commanded, harshly, Here, one of
you take the wheel Now, De Nova,
bundle that fighting fool down into the
charthouse, and stand over him with
gun Two of you fellows carry the
boatswain into the fOCastle; lively,
now"
They were certainly expeditions
enough in my case, dragging me bump,
ing down the steps, and tiinging me in
between table and bench with a VIC
lence that made me gTOan. | caught
the glimmer of a steel barrel in De
Noya's hand as he drew close the
sliding door
1T was not nice sing to do. Mons Ste
phens," he said, not ill-naturedly, but.
by gar, out re farsity row it was 60
ing to be done, for | shoot re pistol
very good"
That's all right De Nova" | re-
piled, realizing my complete defeat
and holding no personal grudge
against him. Il don't blame you. I've
made my play, and have had enough.
May | 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. l wonder
wat re devil was up now"
We both sat, breathing hard from
our late exertions, listening anxiously,
yet with vastly differing emotions,
hope animating me that this was to
prove a capture, or. at least. that some
chance discovery by the officer visit
ing us would result in the release of
the women below. But De Nova was
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
final commands, and the faint sound
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, and
in some way it impressed me with the
thought that the fellow was young.
midshipman possibly, who would
prove mere putty under Tuttle's ex-
pert handling The two went down
the companion-steps together in ap.
parently amiable conversation, and
We could heard the low murmur of
voices as the crew hung over the rail
testing with the men-o.war's men in
the boat below My eyes met De
Noya's in the semi-darkness, and he
grinned, showing his teeth.
Messing YER dangerous. monsieur"