Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-04-15
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Nova experiencing some dlnlculty iroHa
attempting to load too near shore. In
somewhat shallow water.
drop overheard, two OF you. and
shove or" l ordered. finally. Lively
now. lads. but no splashing."
The two fellows in the stern low
cred themselves into the shallow wa
ter, bending down so as to put their
shoulders against the planks Tor
heave. Suddenly, not three feet dis
tant. a smudge Of shadow uplifted. and
I became conscious of a pallid human
face cleaning family through the
dark Instantly l leaped toward 1t.
with such force as to send the heavily
laden boat swirling forward. the heav-
ing men plunging face downward into
the water. There was n startled ex-
clamation in Spanish. short-arm
blow shot into a dimly revealed. half
familiar face. a fierce grip at the
throat, and the two of us were on the
sand, graphing like wild cats. Out
OF the water, dripping from their
bath, the two seamen came to my aid.
and, between us, we pinned the fellow
to helpless silence.
painting from exertion. He will be
safer with us than left ashore"
It appeared even darker out on the
water than when we looked on upon 1t
from the land. but. with n few eau.
| tious strokes, We discovered the
| smudge which represented Tutue's
whaleboat. and drew up within an
oars length Of where he lay waiting.
"Mr. Tuttle." began. speaking
slowly and concisely SO that the men
In both boats could hear. this Is going
to be no boys play tonight. and eI.
| pect implicit obedience to my orders.
Do exactly what ! tell you and no
more. You know the situation OF the
Esmeralda. and I want you to put your
| whaleboat In under her bow. II you
keep n point east Of north you can
scarcely miss 1t. There Is a Jumping
| big brigantine anchored 100 feet be-
yond. with only n single light showing
on her foremast. II you come up un-
der her shadow you are not likely to
! be seen before you drift down against
the Esmeralda's cutwater. Make use
OF the anchor-chain, and get half q
dozen men quietly over the forecastle
| rail. Don't move from there until you
receive some signal from me. Then
clap down the forecastle scuttle. and
make straight for the engine room.
That will comprise the entire duty OF
your crew: and, above all things. let
II be accomplished silently. Don't per-
nit one OF your men TO carry a loaded
firearm. Use Delaying pins. II you
need to. or n marlInspike. but no guns.
| De Nova and I will go in by way OF
the stern, and We will be responsible
for the after-deck and the bridge. Has
any one question to ask?'
There was no response. the only
sounds audible being the soft tapping
of the water and the deep breathing
OF the men. I could distinguish them
leaning eagerly forward. but the faces
were undecipherable In the gloom.
| You understand clearly?"
"Ay. ay. Mr.. Stephens and Tuttle's
nasal voice had completely lost all its
| former trace Of insolence.
Then pull away slowly and noise
iessly: don't hurry: we'll give you
plenty Of time to get in. Good.by. and
good luck to you"
The balanced oars dipped gently
into the water. scarcely ripping It,
and the sharp-stemmed whaleboat
/ glided away into the surrounding
blackness like a ghost.
'All right now. De Nova l whis-
pered. I'll go forward into the bow.
Keep her head on about a point and
watch out for signals"
We slipped through the water ST.
lently. the sound Of the dipping oar.
blades little more audible than the
suppressed breathing Of the oarsmen.
| Confident that II any eyes were watch
| ing from the deck they were not like
ly to be directed astern. we made wide
detour. creeping cautiously in beneath
the slight bulge OF the yachts side.
until the fellow behind me fastened
his boathook firmly into the after
chains. Breathlessly We waited
listening. but no sound reached US
other than the slight hiss OF escaping
steam.
Hold hard!" I whispered, the word
passing back from man to man. Two
| remain with the boat, the rest follow
me-"
l crept silently up into the chains
and peered cautiously over onto the
open deck. 1t was wrapped in dark
ness and silence, the sole CLEAN OF
revealing light coming from out the
open main-hatch. and that only the
merest glimmer slightly Illuminating
the ship aDidships. There was lamp
alight in the after-cabin. but the
shades were drawn so closely l could
scarcely perceive Its presence. I be-
came aware that DE Nova stood be-
side me.
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