The state herald., 1910-04-08
NZ1Sz1AZ1l17S 6yAARSNgXjkzKzIN
la7AkWAGHsL1uHtdl1 1913

pAAoC' ihcy liuSl ue tdheu lTUEl lLlo
enemy; we must strike the first blow.
and at the very heart of the Chilean
navy. I come here incognito; come
before war has been declared; study
and observe. To brave man chances
for action come, senior, and so found
what | 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?"
ISL his eyes glowing eagerly; you
are a sailor. and so would know of
her. She is beautiful, strong, swift,
most dangerous vessel II well
handled. Have you ever seen her.
senor?"
"Only through fleld-glasses from
the balcony Of the hotel. She rode at
anchor well 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 dc 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 II l 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 mile away, and not half
dozen men aboard her. 1t is as n gift
Of heaven. Yet, sangre de Cristo! he
who should lead the venture lies de-
lirious from fever. Was there ever
such cursed luck before!" He gripped
his head between his two hands. but
was already upon my feet. my mind
instantly grasping the situation.
Don Emilio" exclaimed, eagerly,
gripping his shoulder, and compelling
him to look up. let me understand
this clearly. You had perfected plans
to capture and run of this Esmer-
aida the moment war was formally de-
clared? You have organized q crew
for the work. and they are waiting the
word here now In Valparaiso? Their
leader is suddenly stricken III. and
you have no one capable OF taking his
place-is that why you have come tc
mel"
Isl. 81. senior"
n
From Senior Loring. He has lived
In Peru. have known him long"
But you must have other officers in
your party: what OF them7"
He spread his hands In a gesture OF
utter helplessness.
"Senor. brought with me only the
one. II was not safe TO bring more.
Besides. what need? This Valparaiso
is great seaport; hero we may al
ways find the scum OF the seven seas:
here ever are plenty OF men glad
enough to fight and plunder-'tls their
trade. Cielo! we could enroll 100
devils In an hour along the water
front. hell.hounds OF the cream. caring
nothing for the flag above them II the
pay be good"
True; and you have them ready at
hand. Where are they"
AT the vino shop OF Rodrigues be.
yond the plaza. You know the placer"
l nodded. my memory Instantly re-
calling tho foul den.
How many!"
''Twenty-it is enough for sur.
prise. and they are sca-rats. senior"
But they arc under ofiicersT"
"of their own kind. yes. but not o,
our navy. Tho first of,icer is = Yam
kec whnieman: the second I know not
what. only no Ia a deep water sailor"
Il see" ! acknowledged. taking Q
long breath. yet continuing to stare a.
him. What you need Is some one able
to command such an OUTFIT. ono who
can operate steamship"
Like fash the of'ieiai envelope
came forth again.
Isl. 81. and you can do that. senior.
! know: have been told. You hate
this Chile: you fight her already In tho
hills: you hide here now for your life.
| come TO giyo you n chance TO get
away free. But I not stop even with
that; no. no. my country not stop
with that. Sect hero possess tho
commission. all signed and sealed by
my government. OF n captain In tho
Peruvian navy. Only III the name left
blank for me 10 write In. I write IN
your came: that makes you nm officof
OF the Peruvian navy See YOU what n