The state herald., 1910-05-20
CHAPTER TX.
In Which | Learn Our Port.


sank down into the depths of an
upholstered divan without, rested my
head within my hands, and endeavored
earnestly to collect thought and nerve
FOR the coming struggle. The terrible
ness of our situation only became
more apparent as | considered 1t in
the light of the discoveries already
made, and in my understanding of the
nature of those with whom / was now
associated. Neither Tuttle nor De
Nova had ever mistaken the Sea
Queen for the warship Esmeralda. 1t
was impossible to conceive that these
two trained seamen could have made
such an error, or that the men under
them could have been so utterly de.
ceived. Tuttle's boat came up directly
beneath the bows. with the riding
lamps burning brightly and revealing
the name; every man aboard must
have seen II plainly. Yet what oh.
feet could have led TO so desperate an
act OF piracy? What part was | des.
tined to play in the final working out
OF their lawless scheme?
The longer ! studied over the prob
lem the more thoroughly did ! become
mystiied and confused. What could
these men ever hope to accomplish In
this lawless fashion, They must be
dools or madmen. This was not the
age OF piracy: every league OF sea was
patrolled: every port protected by
telegraphic communication.
Difficult rs my own situation un.
donbtedly was. apparently helpless
among this crew OF sea devils. with.
out a man on board In whom could
put trust. II was rendered thousand
times harder by the presence OF those
two women. In what way could pro.
tect and serve them7 wondered II
all the crew forward were in the plot.
or were the leaders alone involved
Could ! count on finding single hon.
est sailor In all that rlifraf who would
stand by me In revoltg There were
Others on board-the three seamen
and the engineer OF the yachts crew.
the Chilean officer captured on shore
but they were prisoners, far more
helpless even than myself The longer
i 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. glanced upward at the
telltale compass oyerhead-the yes
sells course had already been altered
we were now headed westward. direct.
ly out into the broad Pacific.
met Tuttle AT the end OF the
bridge. ciinging to the handrali. his
oilskins tapping In the head wind. He
never glanced toward me, the cool
studied insolence OF the fellow causing
me TO feel more deeply than ever be,
fore his consciousness Of power.
THE yacht ia several points on her
course, MIR, Tattle." | said. sharply
determined TO test him May ask
n the change was made by your
ordcr7'
He swept one long arm toward the
north. and. following the direction oi
his finger. dimly perceived a spiral
OF black smoke barely visible above
The horizon,
Il thought we had bettor sheer on
sA there was no guessing who that
fellow yondor might prove to be-"
remained silent. watching the dis
tnnt smudgc. and occasionally CLAN
cing aside into his impcrturbablc face
lie yawned slcepily.
Il rather guess one OF ua had better
turn IN. Mf. stephens" he suggested
nnally. FOR Wen have to arrange
sbout our watches aft"
Presently. Mr.. Tuitic. We haven't
brcakiahtcd yet Meanwhile should
prefer to understand matters littl'
more clearly, I've Just been through
the cabins. None OF the yachts ON
GERS arc ON board"
could see bia thin lips drawn
Back In a sinister grin. which 70
Ncaicd HIS yellow teeth.
'The Lord bclpeth thoAo who hell
themselves" be returned. pioualy, up
rolling his eyes. THE race In not al
ways to the swift. nor the battle "a
tho strong"