The Columbus journal., 1910-02-16
CHAPTER TX.
In Which I Learn Our Port.


7 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 | was now
associated. Neither Tut;le nor De
Nova had ever mistaken the Sea
Queen for the warship Esmeralda. II
was impossible to conceive that these
two trained seamen could have made
snch 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 l des-
tined to play in the final working out
Of their lawless scheme?
The longer l studied over the prob
lem the more thoroughly did become
mystified and confused. What could
these men ever hope to accomplish in
this lawless fashion? They must be
fools or madmen. This was not the
age of piracy: every league of sea was
patrollcd: every port protected by
tclegraphic communication.
Difficult as my own situation un-
doubtediy was. apparently helpless
among this crew of sea devils. with
out a man on board in whom I could
put trust, il was rendered a thousand
times harder by the presence of those
two women. In what way could | pro-
tect and serve them? / wondered II
ell the crew forward were in the plot
or were the leaders alone involved
Could l count on finding a single hon.
est sailor in all that riffraff who would
stand by me in revolt? There were
others on board-the three seamen
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 conspira.
tors boldly. and thus ascertain the
whole truth. l glanced upward at the
te!ltale compass Overhead-the YES
sei's course had already been altered /:
We were now headed westward, direct.
ly out into the broad Pacific.
met Tutt!e at the end of the
bridge. clinCinS to the handrail. his
oi;skins flapping 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 is several points off her
course. Mr.. Tu;tle." l said. sharply
determined to test him. May l ask
if the change was made by your
order"
He swept one long arm toward the
north. and. following the direction ol
his finger. l d:mly 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 smudse. and occasionally CLAN
cling aside into his imperturbabie face
He yawned s'eepily.
Il rather guess one of us had better
turn in, Mr. Stephens" he suggested
finally. for wen have to arrange
about our watches aft"
Presently, Air. Tu;ile: We havent
! hreakfasted yet. Meanwhile l should
prefer to understand matters little
! more clearly. I've just been through
the cabins. None of the yachts ofri
, ce:s are on board"
could see his thin lips draw
back in sinister grin. which re
yealed his yellow teeth.
The Lord helpeth those who hell
themselves" he returned, piously, up
rolling his eyes. The race is not al
vays to the swift. nor the battle t
| the strong"
| Il also discovered" l went on. an
cered by such abominable cant, tina
this vessel We have captured is no
the Chilean Esmeralda at all. but tn
Yacht Sea Queen. owned by Lord Dal
iinctoa. and flying the English flag"
The nell you say"
Moreover. l have not the slishtes
doubt that you knew it from the first
Now | demand some explanation. Mi
Tuttle. What does this mean?"
He stood leaning back against tn
rail facing me. the disagreeable sri
gore from his lips. his half-close
eyes gliniing uneasily.
We'll, what OF it,"
| Only that We have committed 4