The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1910-02-04
CHAPTER v.-continued.

There Is certainly no Waterman
aft" | announced, softly, unless he be
found upon the other side of the cabin.
Batten down the companionway while
I examine the deck. Two of you men
come with me-"
We dropped over the low rail to-
gether. moving silently in our stock
ing-feet. The roof of the cabin, form
ing the quarter deck, extended clear
to the rail. We CROPPED owe this shad-
owed space as though exploring a
cave, encountering nothing except a
few camp stools, although my fingers
discovered a goodly sized boat swing
ing from davits across the stern. From
the opposite side w could peer for.
ward toward the dim light streaming
fhAn out the hatch, the deck being
thus fairly revealed as far as the fun
mel. Beyond all remained black and
impenetrable. A man sat upon a bench
against the side OF the galley, a dull
red showing from his pipe bowl. His
earliest knowledge of our presence
was when the two men closed on his
windpipe, and l pressed a revolver
muzZle against his cheek.
Not a sound, Jack" / muttered
sternly in Spanish, cor else your life
pays for it."
The pipe fell with. a click to the
deck, the fellows eyes staring up at
MS, his opened mouth showing oddly
amid a surrounding gray beard. A
ome later, securely gagged and
bound, we rolled his body close in
against the rail.
Il thought l heard a bit of a blow
and a yelp on the ~fo'castle just now,
sir" said one of the men, pointing
eagerly forward. l stood still, intent
ly listening, staring into the gloom.
Quiet enough there at present.
Probably Mr.. futile has been attend
ing to the for'ard watch. Come on,
lads, and We'll join forces with him."
Beyond all doubt the main deck was
clear as far as the. bridge, and, provid-
ing Tuttle's crew had attended to
their share of the work, as far as the
fo'castle head as well. We advanced
cautiously, keeping close within the
denser shade along the weather rail,
pausing a momen to peer over the
edge of the open hatchway into the
illuminated space below. Two Ka-
nakas, naked to the waist, their slim,
brown bodies glistening, each grasp
ing the handle of a coal scoop, were
backed up against a bulkhead con-
wersing, while on a low stool, tipped
back to a comfortable angle, his feet
on the rounded c~rosspiece, a pipe in
his mouth, his hands buried deep in
his pockets, sat a white man, with
red face and long, sandy mustaches.
His brown overalls and pink under
shirt told nothing distinctive, but the
tunfform cap, pushed well back on his
fbristling stock of hair. proclaimed him
,the vessels engineer. AS I drew back
from this swift survey, MI. Tuttle
suddenly rounded the end of the chart
house, and, with whispered word Of
inquiry to one of the men, advanced to
meet me.
WELL" l said as soon as certain of
mis- identity, 1.-THE after-deck is ours
without a blow; what have you dis
covered forward?"
Two men were posted on the TO.
castle, sir" he returned, the disagree
.able nasal tone apparent even in his
,spbdued voice. 1--WE got them both,
tbpt Mason was pricked with a knife
during the scufie."
did you close the ~fo'castle?" ]
questioned briefly.
"All fast, sir, but | doubt If any Of
the crew are below"
Well, there are some down In the
engine room. and the fellow in charge
looks as If he might fight on occasion.
Take half a dozen men with you, and
jump below. The Kanakas won't make
any serious trouble. but you had bet
ter clap a .gpn to the engineer"
| watched them as they swarmed
like rats over the ~hatch-combing and
dropped down into the light, There
was a scurrying of bodies, a sharp ex.
change Of blows, a yelp of alarm from
the startled Kanakas, a stout volley
sof English oaths, and. when the tangle
partially cleared away, the engineer
was lying fiat on his back. the knee
of the big singer at Rodriguez at his
chest, and futile holding a blue-bar-
relied revolver at his ear. I never be-
held an apgrier uan. but he was help