Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-04-22
CHAPTER v.-continued.

There is certainly no watchman
aft" announced, softly, unless he be
found upon the other side of the cabin.
Batten down the companionway while
l examine the deck. Two of you men
come with me-"
We dropped over the low rail to-
gether. moving silently in our stock
ing.feet. The roof of the cabin, form
ing the quarter deck, extended clear
to the rail. We CROPPED over this shad-
owed space as though exploring a
cave, encountering nothing except a
few camp stools, although my fingers
discovered a goodly sized boat swing
ing from davits across the stern. From
the opposite side We could peer for
ward toward the dim light streaming
from out the hatch, the deck being
thus fairly revealed as far as the fun
mel. Beyond all remained black and
impenetrable. A man sat upon bench
against the side OF the galley. a dull
red showing from his pipe bowl. His
earliest knowledge of our presence
was when the two men closed on his
windpipe. and I pressed a revolver
muzzle against his cheek.
Not a sound. Jack" I muttered
U6ternly in Spanish. "or else your life
pays for It."
The pipe foil with q click to the
deck, the fellows eyes staring up at
US. his opened mouth showing oddly
amid Q surrounding gray beard. A
moment later. securely gagged and
bound. we rolled his body close in
against the rail.
Il thought I heard a bit Of blow
and yelp on the fo'castle Just now.
SIR" said one Of the men. pointing
eagerly forward. ! stood still. intent
ly listening. staring into the gloom.
Quiet enough there at present.
Probably Mr.. Tuttlc has been attend.
ing to the for'ard watch. Come on.
lads. and we'll join forces with him."
Beyond all doubt the main deck was
clear as far Us the bridge. and. provid-
ing Tuttle's crew had attended to
their share OF the work, rs far as the
fo'castle head Us well. We advanced
cautiously. keeping close within the
denser shade along the weather rail.
pausing a moment to peer over the
edge of the open hatchway into the
Illuminated space below. Two ka-
nakas, naked to the waist, their slim.
brown bodies glistening. each grasp
ing the handle Of a coal scoop. were
backed up against a bulkhead con-
versing, while on a low stool. tipped
back to a comfortable angle. his feet
on the rounded crosspiece. a pipe in
his mouth, his hands buried deep In
his pockets, sat a white man. with
Hred face and long. sandy mustaches.
His brown overalls and pink under
0hirt told nothing distinctive. but the
uniform cap. pushed well back on his
bristling stock Of hair. proclaimed him
the vessels engineer. As drew back
from this swift survey, Mr.. Tuttle
suddenly rounded the end OF the chart
house, and, with whispered word Of
inquiry to one Of the men, advanced to
meet me.
Well" I said as soon rs certain OF
his identity, "the afterdeck is ours
without a blow: what have you dis
covered forward?"
Two men were posted on the TO.
castle, SIR" he returned. the disagree
able nasal tone apparent even In his
subdued voice. I'VE got them both,
but Mason was pricked with knife
during the scufle."
did you close the fo'castle" !
questioned briefly.
"AIl fast, sir. but I doubt II any Of
the crew are below"
well. there are some down in the
engine room, and the fellow in charge
looks as II he might fight on occasion.
Take half a dozen men with you. and
jump below. The Kanakas won't make
any serious trouble. but you had bet
ter clap a gun to the engineer"
watched them as they swarmed
like rats over the hatch-combing and
dropped down into the light. There
was a scurrying Of bodies. a sharp ex-
change OF blows. n yelp Of alarm from
the startled kanakas, stout volley
of English oaths. and, when the tangle
partially cleared away, the engineer
was lying fat on his back. the knee
OF the big singer at Rodrigues' at his
chest. and Tuttle holding blue-bar.
Veled revolver at his ear. l never he
held an angrier man, but he was help