The Columbus journal., 1910-02-16

act OF piracy. Every naval vessel OF
the civilized world will be used to hunt
us down. We shall not be safe on any
sea. nor able to land in any port of
the globe. If We resist We shall be
blown out of the water: If captured,
our crime means death. You have de-
liberately decoyed me into this affair
for some secret purpose of your own;
you have involved ME in your crime.
and now l insist upon some knowledge
of your plan, and an explanation re-
Sarding my future authority on board"
"Oh. you are the captain" snearinS-
ly. What more can you want?"
Then. if l am. We will head direct
ly back to Valparaiso"
"Oh, l rather guess not" and Tut
ties eyes became instantly hard and
ugly. Nevertheless you're captain all
right. just SO long as YOU keep the
nose of the old girl pointed the way
We want her to 60"
That is it. is it,
Yes. that's exactly the ticket"
i 6iosiSsuS ~
ward the wheelman. The fellow was
leaning forward over the spokes. evil
dently deeply interested in our cOntrO-
yersy and endeavoring to hear all VIC
had to say. Tuttle followed the direc-
ton of my eyes, but with apparent in
difference.
"Oh. they all understand about II"
he remarked. carelessly. And now
guess maybe it's about time We gave
you the main points to chew on. Ifyou'll
step down into the chartEouse. Mr..
Stephens. I'll fetch some things ]
want to show you. an be along myself
in jiffy. Then I'll spin a yarn that'il
cause You to come with us willin'
enough. or else you're a dam fool"
There was nothing else TO do, and l
followed him down the bridge steps
to the main deck. The charthOuse
had its single door opening aft. and
was a small. plainly built structure
painted a dingy gray. with two narrow
windows on either side. and just
enough space within to contain n
deal table. locker. and three rude
benches. I sat down upon one of
these. filled and lighted my pipe and
waited in silence. gazing idly at the
chart pinned fiat on the table. 1t was
a map of these waters lying of the
Chilean coast. and a vessels course
had been pricked upon il from Juan
Fernandez to Valparaiso. This did
not particularly interest me. and my
thought drifted naturally to the WON.
an impatiently awaiting my return in
| the cabin. What a distressing situa-
tion for one of Lady Darlington's birth
! and refinement! And yet with what
| dignity of manner had she met the
Unexpected! 1t was plain to be seen
| that hers was heart of courage, not
easily broken under adversely.
And how could l hope to serve her!
What would this crew of hell-hounds,
these merciless sea-wolves, permit me
to do? Trans-ship them upon some
! passing vessel? Put into some iso
lated island port? This was scarcely
! likely, for either act would involve
the danger of an exposure they would
| be little inclined to assume. ! com
pretended already that it would be
according to their decision. and no,
mine. l had been plainly informed
how little my control extended over
their desires. And whittier were We
bound? Into what strange seas? Into
what species of wild adventure? The
utter impossibility of keeping those
two concealed below for any length OF
time was clearly evident. Ship life was
far too restricted. Both Tutue and
De Nova would naturally expect tc
lodge aft. and it was a privilege they
could not easily be denied. Yet what
would they say. how would they act
when they finally discovered these two
unwilling passengers aboard? Wha'
was my duty in all the circumstances
1t was all a deep. unsolvable mystery
yet out OF its mist constantly foatet