Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-04-22
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MsAEwACA0NEdN 1913

Lieut.. Sanchez; my brief meeting
with the Englishman; the friendly
eyes of Doris; the throb Of sudden In
terest aroused by her presence and
as quickly lost again; the sudden
swinging of the pendulum Of Fate; the
approach of De Castillo bringing unex-
pected opportunity for action and es.
cape, and those later events which had
SO rapidly followed. l struck my hand
hard against the iron rail to assure
myself l was awake, and to arouse my
dormant faculties to action.
Hold her steady as she is. Johnson"
l said. my voice tremulous from sud
den awakening. I'm going down to
recall the boats"
STEADY as she is. SIR
In the engine room. two seamen.
each grasping n gun. leaned negligent
ly against bulkhead. while De Nova,
bare-headed. his little black mustache
clearly outlined against the olive OF
his cheek. occupied the stool between
them. The Kanaka firemen were out
of sight. but the red-faced engineer
was on his knees tinkering over a
refractory bolt with a monkey-wrench.
Everything working all right, Mr..
De Nova" l questioned. quietly.
The eyes of the four men instantly
turned toward me. the engineer
Strengthening up. monkey-wrench In
hand.
mo troubles here. monsieur" and
the mate rose to his feet. his white
teeth showing. Were are We now"
Just of the point. with the light
house dropping astern. and the swell
OF the ocean under our forefoot. ! am
going to call in the boats. Have you
plenty of coal?"
"Bunkers all full. monsieur"
How is your steam?"
He stepped over to the gauge. peer
ing at IL across the burly shoulder OF
the engineer, who still stood staring
at me.
Pretty near up to &c danger mark.
monsieur"
Then stand by for signals"
The engineer came to life rs though
treated to an electric shock. his fist.
suddenly extended. his red face pur-
pling with passion.
You damned. bloody pirate!" he
yelled. glaring at me savegly. ITS
hung the whole lot OF you will be for
this bloody nights work. No. I won't
keep still. you moon-faced mulatto. I'm
free-born Briton. an I'll smash In
the heads OF some Of you yet. an I'll
live to see the rest hung in chains for
the bloody pirates you are. Just wait
till you're caught. an then you won't
be GRIMM that way ut an honest
man. Oh. you'll git It all right. my
fine lads. Thercll be hell to pay for
this job. let me tell you! It's on
nothin' you'll be dancin' then. you
murderin' spawn o hell!"
De Nova pressed the barrel OF re-
volver into the mans neck. with
ing Of white teeth. The sailors re-
mained leaning on their guns. grinning
as II in enjoyment of the play.
Never min wat he say. SIR" and
the mate glanced up toward me. as II
in apology. He bust out zat way
ever fiv' minutes since we be down
here. We have club him, two. tree
time. but he stick here Just re same.
an run ze engine. Oui. oui. 1t just
re way wiz re bull.headed Englisher."
Il see." I acknowledged. drawing
back, only watch that he doesn't kink
the machinery"
was not in the least surprised at
discovering one OF his nationality In
charge Of the vessels engine room.
nor was I sorry. He would feel little
real interest in the affair. after he
once clearly comprehended the situa-
tion. while n native Chilean might be
impelled by a spirit Of patriotism to
cause us serious trouble. Englishmen
were very frequently met with In for
eign engine rooms; this fellow had
probably been picked up because OF
better qualifications than any native
applicant: or. indeed. he might have
been a member OF the original crew OF
the yacht before II was disposed Of
TO the government. I would have
talk with him later: meanwhile he
was certainly in good hands: and l
had enough else to attend to. The
tow-ropes came in hand over hand.
and were coiled dripping on the fore
castle deck. At the end of them the
two boats emerged from out the fog.
and the men tumbled in silently over
the rail. ! watched from the vantage
of the bridge, as the whole crew tailed
onto the falls. distinguishing Tuttle's
nasal tones above the incessant shut
fling of feet.
'Nor'west by nor. Johnson-now
hold her steady. my lad"
I pulled the signal cord. dimly dis
tinguishing the faint responsive tinkle
Of the bell far beneath. Like hound
suddenly released for the chase. the
steamer sprang forward into the fog
wreaths and buried her sharp nose in
the sea.