, 1909-04-22

War was " CoiiC. we
few warships. one, two, three; MOI
enough to fight Chile, or even guard
our W coast. We have the men SUI
fcient, but not the ships. senior. What
could I do? l, the admiral? There
was but one hope-the ~audacity Of sur
prise. They must be taken from the
enemy; we must strike the first blow.
and at the very heart of the Chilean
navy. I come here incognito; come
before wal has been declared; ! study
and observe. To a brave man chances
for action come, senior. and so found
what I sought. You know about the
Esmeralda. senor?"
/ sat up suddenly in my chair, grip
ping my cigar between my teeth.
The Esmeralda, You mean that
| steam yacht the Chilean government
purchased from Brazil?"
81" his eyes glowing eagerly; you
are a sailor, and so would know of
her. She is beautiful, strong, swift,
a most dangerous vessel If well
handled. Have you eve seen her.
senor?"
only through field-glasses from
1 Inc pulSohs VI Nhe 'hN ioN' ~
anchor we'll of the government mole
in the roadstead the last remember"
He clasped his fingers on my arm,
leaning eagerly forward until his face
was pressed close to mine.
she lies there yet. senior. but only
for to-night-Dios de Dios! only for
tonight! Tomorrow they warp her
in beside the quay, her crew comes
aboard, her armament. her provisions,
and she is made ready for sea. Holy
| mother, such a chance, and only for
tonight! Think of 1t, senior, and won
! der no longer if | seemed crazed. She
lies out there now in the darkness,
swinging to a single anchor chain. her
steam up, the nearest battery a quar-
ter of a mile away, and not a half
dozen men aboard her. 1t is as "a gift
Of heaven. Yet, sangre de Cristo, he
who should lead the venture lies de
lirious from fever. Vas there ever
such cursed luck before!" He gripped
his head between his two hands, out
1 was already upon my feet, my mino
instantly grasping the situation.
Don Emilio" | exclaimed, eagerly
| SIlpDluS Ills SHOulutI, dllu SolhltiiihE
him to look up. let me understand
this clearly. You had perfected plans
to capture and run off this Esmer-
aida the war was formally de-
clared? You have organized a crew
for the work, and they are waiting the
word here now in Valparaiso? Their
leader is suddenly stricken i'll, and
you have no one capable of taking his
places that why you have come to
me?"
Isl, 81. senor."
How did you learn about me?"
From Senior Loring. He has LIVED
, in Peru. l have known him long"
But you must have other officers In
your party; what of them?"
He spread his hands in a gesture OF
utter helplessness.
"Senor, i brought with me only the
one. II was not safe to bring more.
Besides, what need? This Valparaiso
Is a great seaport; here We may al
ways find the scum of the seven seas;
here ever are plenty of men glad
enough to fight and plunder-'tis their
trade. Cello! we could enroll 100
devils in IN hour along the water.
front, hell-hounds of the ocean, caring
nothing for the nag above them if the
pay be good"
True; and you have them ready al
hand. Where are they?"
AT the wine shop of Rodrigues be.
yond the plaza. You know the place.
nodded. my memory instantly re.
calling the foul den.
How many?"
"Twenty-it is enough for a sur.
prise, and they are sea-rats, senor."
But they are under otiicers?"
o their own kind, yes, but not of
our navy. The first officer is a Yam.
kee whaleman; the second | know not
what, only he IL a deep-water sailor.
Il see" j acknowledged, taking a
long breath, yet continuing to stare at
him. What you e is some one able
to command such an outfit, one who
can operate a steamship"
Like a flash the official envelope
came forth again.
Isl, 81, and you can do that, senior
know; l have been told. You hate
this Chile; you fight her already in he
hills; you hide here now for your life.
come to give you a chance to get
away free. But | not stop even with
that; no, no. my country moi stop
with that. See! here | possess the
commission, all signed and sealed by
my government, of a captain In the
navy. Only is the name left
blank for me to write in. | write in
your name; that makes you an officer
OF the Peruvian navy. See you what it
means? Chile dare not touch you ex-
cept as prisoner of war. Is that not
right, senior? But not stop even with
that-no, no! When the Esmeralda
m safely to Peru, the government
pays you five thousand American dol.
lars in gold. ! pledge you that, l.,
Emilin de O. stillo ndnnirnlm