Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1910-02-26
CHAPTER v.-Continued.

There is certainly no Waterman
aft" announced, softly, unless he be
fouyk upon the other side Of the cabin.
Bad down the companionway while
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
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
muzzle against his cheek.
mot a sound, Jack" I muttered
sternly in Spanish, cor else your life
pays for it,
The pipe fell with click to the
de4Athe fellows eyes staring up at
us. opened mouth showing oddly
amid surrounding gray beard. A
moment later. securely gagged and
bound, we rolled his body close in
against the rail.
II thought l heard a bit of a 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. futile 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 as the bridge, and, provid-
ing Tuttle's crew had attended to
their share of the work, as far as the
fo'castle head as well. We advanced
cautiously, keeping close within the
pahsing a moment to peer over the
edge Of the open hatchway into the
illuminated space below. Two Ka-
naI1as, 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 tNe rounded crosspiece, pipe in
his 1houth, his hands buried deep in
his pockets, sat a white man, with
red face and long, sandy mustaches
His brown overalls and pink under
shirt told nothing distinctive, but the
uniform cap, pushed we'll back on his
bristling stock Of hair, proclaimed him
the vessels engineer. AS drew back
from this swift survey, Mr.. futile
suddenly rounded the end of the chart
house, and, with whispered word of
inG3iry TO one of the men, advanced to
meet me.
WELL l said as soon as certain of
his identity, "the after-deck is ours
without blow; what have you dis
covered forward?"
Two men were posted on the fo'
castle, sir" he returned, the disagree
able nasal tone apparent even in his
subdued voice. 1--WE got them both,
but Mason was pricked with knife
during the scuffle."
did you close the fo'castle?" I
questioned briefly.
"All fast, sir, but l doubt IL any of
thecrew are below"
"W9ll, there are some down in the
engine room, and the fellow in charge
looks as IL 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 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, sharp ex-
change of blows, yelp Of alarm from
the startled kanakas, stout volley
Of English oaths, and, when the tangle
partially cleared away, the engineer
was lying fiat on his back, the knee
OF the big singer at Rodrigues' at his
chest, and Tuttle holding a blue-bar-
relied revolver at his ear. | never be-
held an angrier man. but he was help