The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-08-25
CHAPTER v.-c0ntInusd.

There is certainly no watchman
aft" ! announced, softly, unless he be
found upon the other side of the cabin.
Batten 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
10 the rail We groped 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 a 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 | pressed a revolver
muzzle against his cheek.
Not a sound, Jack" / muttered
sternly in Spanish, "or else your life
pays for it,"
The pipe fell with click to the
deck. the fellows eyes staring up at
us, his opened mouth showing oddly
amid surrounding gray beard. A
moment later, securely gagged and
bound, we rolled his body close in
against the rail.
81 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. l stood still, intent
ly listening, staring into the gloom.
Quiet enough there at present.
Probably Mr.. Tuttle has been attend
ing to the for'ard watch. Come on,
lads, and wen join forces with him. -
Beyond all doubt the main deck was
clear as far as the bridge, and, provid-
ing Tuttles crew had attended to
their share of the work, as far as the
~ Nd6Ale HGdQ do we'll w Z GliN eAANNh
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 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 white man, with
red face and long, sandy mustaches.
His brown overalls and pink under
shirt 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.
We'll" l said as soon as certain Of
his Identity the after-deck is ours
without a blow; what have you dis
covered forward?"
1.-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 a knife
during the scufiie."
Did you close the fo'castle?"
questioned briefly.
"All fast, sir, but doubt if any of
the crew are below"
well, there are some down in the
engine room, and the fellow in charge
looks as if 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, a yelp of alarm from
the startled Kanakas. stout volley
of English oaths, and, when the tangle
Aartially cleared away, the engineer
as lying fiat on his back, the knee
the big singer at Rodrigues' at his
st, and futile holding blue-bar
revolver at his ear. never be-
an angrier man, but he was help
S baby. Assured of the future
engine room, / mounted the
ID took a hasty survey of both
nd wheelhouse. They we're
2d-the vessel was entirely in
sion.
CHAPTER VI.
Attain the Open Sea.