The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1910-03-31
CHAPTER TX.
In Which learn Our Port.

I 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 IL In
the light Of the discoveries already
made. and in my understanding OF the
nature Of those with whom I was now
associated. Neither futile nor De
Nova had ever mistaken the Sea
Queen for the wsrship Esmeralda. It
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 It plainly. Yet what OBJ
ject could have led to so desperate an
act OF piracy? What part was / des-
tined TO play in the final working out
Of tleir lawless scheme?
The longer / studied over the prob
lem the more thoroughly did / become
mysti1ed and confused. What could
these men eyer hope to accomplish in
this lawless fashion, They must be
fools or madmcn. This was not the
age Of piracy; every league Of sea was
patroIled; every port protected by
telegraphic communication.
Difficult as my own situation uu.
doubleday was. apparently helpless
among this crew Of sea devils. with
out a man on board in whom I could
put trust, 70 was rendered q thousand
times harder by the presence OF those
W women. Ia what way could / pro-
tect and serve them2 7 wondered II
ell the crew forward were in the plot.
or were the leaders alone involved?
Could / count on finding a single hon
est sailor in all that rlnrad who would
stand by me In revolt? 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
/ 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 consplra-
tors boldly. and thus ascertain the
whole truth. I glanced upward az the
telltale compass oyerhead-the yes.
sells course had already been altered,
We We're nov headed westward. direct.
ly out into the broad Pacific.
! met futile al the end Of the
bridge, clinginE TO the handnil. his
oilskins mapping IN the head wind He
never glanced toward me. the cool.
studied insolonce o. the follow causing
me TO feel more deeply than ever be-.
fore his consciousness OF power.
"The yacht is several points on her
course, Mr. futile" / said. sharply,
determined TO test him. May / ask
n the change was made by your
ordeF?"
He swept one long arm toward the
north, aud. following the direction Of
bis dnger, / dimly perceived a spiral
Of black smoke barely visible above
the horizon.
Il thought we had better sheer on,
as there was no guessing who that
fellow yonder might prove to be-
/ remained silent. watching the dis
tant smudge, and occasionally CLAN.
cling aside into his imperturbable face.
He yawued sleepily.
Il rather guess one Of us had better
turn in. MI, stephens" be suggested
finally, for wen have TO arrange
about our watches aft"
Presently. Mr.. futile; we haven't
breakfasted yet. Meanwhile / should
prefer 10 understand matters q little
more clearly. I've just been through
the cabins. None Of the yachts ON.
GERS are on board"
l could see his thin lips drawn
back In a sinister grin. which TO
gealed his yellow teeth.
THE Lord helpeth those who hell
themselves" be returned, piously, up
rolling his eyes. The race is not al
ways 20 the swift. nor the battle e
the strong