, 1909-05-13

Inc longer | studied over the prob
lem the more thoroughly did become
lnystined and confused. What could
these men ever hope to accomplish in
This lawless fashion? They must be
tools or madmen. This was not the
age OF piracy; every league of sea was
patroiied; every port protected by
Geographic communication. Where
could they sail? Where could the ex.
pect to land? Where on all the round
globe could they hope to go to escape
the vengeance of British power on the
nigh a What object could DOS.
sibly inspire them to SO reckless an
act?
J UNCUT as my " situation un.
douDtedly was. apparently helpless
among this crew of sea devils. with.
out a man on board ia whom I couId
put trust, 1t was rendered a Thousand
lines harder by the presence of those
TWO women. In what way could | pro-
tect and serve them? / wondered IL
all the crew forward were in the plot,
or were the leaders alone involvedp
Could | count on finding a single hon.
est sailor in all thai riffraff who would
stand by me in revolt? There were
others on board-the three seamen
and the engineer of the yachts crew,
the Chllean officer captured on shore
but they were prisoners, far more
helpless even than myself. The longer
thought the darker grew the pros
pect, the closer the cords of Fate
pressed about me. There was moth
ing to do except to face the ~conspira-
tors boldly. and thus ascertain the
Whole truth. I glanced pward at the
telltale compass overhead-the YES.
seIs course had already been altered;
we were now headed westward. direct.
ly out into the broad Pacific.
/ met futile at the end of the
bridge, clinging to the handrail. his
oilskins Tapping in the head wind. He
v glanced toward me. the cool,
studied insolence of the fellow causing
me to feel more deeply thar ever be-
fore his consciousness of power.
The yacht is several points IF her
course, Mr.. futile" l said. sharply.
determined to test him. May J ask
II the change was made BY your
order?"
He swept one long arm toward the
north. and. following the direction OF
his finger, | dimly perceived a spiral
of black smoke barely visible above
the horizon.
Il thought we had better sheer of,
/, as there was no Guessing who that
fellow yonGer might prove to be-"
/ remained silent, w..tchia. the dis
| tant smuIge, and occasionally CLAN.
| cling aside into his imperturbable face.
He yawnad sleepily.
Il rather guess one of us had better
turn in, Mir. Stephens" he suggested
finally. fer Wen hare to arran2,
about our watches aft"
pr. seltly. sir. Im,!e: we haven't
breaksas;eI yet. Noan,..tr / sho4 i
prefer 10 understand matters a lite
more clearly. I'VE last b.sa throu II
the cabins. None of the Yachts olI.
GERS are on board"
| could see his thin Inns drawn
back in a sinister grin. which re.
ye..lCd his yellow teeth.
TIE Lord helreth these WHO help
lhemselyes,' he returned. Biourly. up.
rollins his eyes. The race is not al
ways to the swift. nor the battle to
he strong"
Il also Discovered" |. went on. an
gered by such abominab.e cant. that
his vessel We have captured is mo-
The Chilean Esmeralda at all. but the
yacht Sea Queen, owned by Lord Oar
lingtpn. and flying the English flag"
The he'll you say"
.t.a. 1890 49,. ~. .tgul.,,..
doubt that you knew it from the first.
Now | demand some explanation. Mr..
futile. What does this mean"
He stood leaning back against the
rail facing me, the disagreeable grin
gone from his lips, his half-closed
eyes glinting uneasily.
We'll, what of it,"
"Onlv that we have committed an