The Montgomery tribune., 1910-01-14


and observe. To brave man chances
for action come, senior. and so | found
what | sought. You know about the
Esmeralda, senor?"
| sat up suddenly in my chair, grip
ping my cigar between my teeth.
THE Esmeralda! You mean that
steam yacht the Chilean government
purchased from Brazil?"
Isl, his eyes glowing eagerly; you
are sailor, and so would know of
her She is beautiful, strong, swift
most dangerous vessel if well
handled. Have you ever seen her,
senor?"
only through field-glasses from
the balcony of the hotel She rode at
anchor well off the government mole
in the roadstead the last | remember"
He clasped his fingers on my arm,
leaning eagerly forward until his face
was pressed close to mine.
She lies there yet, senior, but only
for tonight-Dios de Dios. only for
tonight! Tomorrow they warp her
in beside the quay, her crew comes
aboard, her armament, her provisions,
and she is made ready for sea. Holy
mother, such a chance, and only for
tonight! Think of 1t. senor, and won
der no longer if / seemed crazed She
lies out there now in the darkness,
swinging to a single anchor chain, her
steam up, the nearest battery quar-,
ter of mile away, and not a half
dozen men aboard her. 1t is as a gift
of heaven. Yet, sangre de Cristol he
who should lead the venture lies de-
lirious from fever. Was there ever
such cursed luck before!" He gripped
his head between his two hands, but
was already upon my feet. my mind
instantly grasping the situation.
Don Emilio" l exclaimed, eagerly,
gripping his shoulder, and compelling
him to look up, "let me understand
this clearly. You had perfected plans
to capture and run off this Esmer-
aida the moment war was formally de-
clared? You have organized crew
for the work, and they are waiting the
word here now in Valparaiso? Their
leader is suddenly stricken i'll, and
you have no one capable of taking his
place-is that why you have come to
me?"
Isl, 81, senor.'
''How did you learn about me?"
From Senior Loring He has lived
in Peru. have known him long"
But you must have other officers in
your party; what of them?"
10 hic in 90 n
utter helplessness.
"Senor, brought with me only the
one. 1t was not safe to bring more.
Besides, what need? This Valparaiso
is a great seaport; here We may al
ways find the scum of the seven seas;
here ever are plenty of men glad
enough to fight and plunder-'tis their
trade. Cielo! we could enroll 100
devils in an hour along the water
front, hell-hounds of the ocean, caring
nothing for the flag above them if the
pay be good
True; and you have them ready at
hand. Where are they?"
"At the wine shop of Rodrigues be-
yond the plaza. You know the place."
l nodded, my memory instantly re-
calling the foul den.
How many?"
"Twenty-it is enough for a sur
prise. and they are sea-rats, senor."
But they are under officers?"
"Of their own kind, yes. but not of
our navy. The first officer is Yam
kee whaleman; the second l know not
what. only he is deep-water sailor"
Il see." l acknowledged, taking
long breath, yet continuing to stare at
him. What you need is some one able
to command such an outfit, one who
can operate steamship"
Like flash the official envelope
came forth again.
Isl, 81, and you can do that, senior.
I know; l have been told. You hate
this Chile; you fight her already in the
hills; you hide here now for your life.
l come to give you chance to get
away free. But I not stop even with
that; no. no, my country not stop
with that. See! here l possess the
commission, all signed and sealed by
my government, of captain in the
Peruvian navy. Only is the name left
blank for me to write in. write in
your name; that makes you an officer
of the Peruvian navy. See you what 1t
means? Chile dare not touch you ex-
cept as prisoner of war. Is that not
right. senior? But not stop even with
that-no. no! When the Esmeralda
comes safely to Peru. the government
pays you five thousand American dol
lars in gold. ! pledge you that. l..
Emilio de Castillo. admiral"
CTO BE CONTINUED.)
On the Levee.