Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-05-16

hated and feared had been subiugated. cowea hv
this slip OF girl. Whispers grew louder, louder
and she caught the approval in the ewes that
constantly drew closer to her own until she was
surrounded by Gordon of sailors.
thrill OF conscious triumph set her all a.
1remble but she fought down the inclination to
De overmastering in her victory. Only through
winning the crew to her side could she maintain
her position. Backing away but still holding the
revolver level upon the captain she cast an ap-
peal1ng glance about upon the men, Her voice
trempied with excitement, with the wear and
tear upon her nerves. with the struggle from
which she had just emerged.
, FRIENDS, she whispered, then, surprised at
finding how low her voice was swallowed tho
lump in her throat and continued braveIy.
FRIENDS, am just weak girl and I need YOUR
heiP. nave two enemies upon this ship. One
OF them l was more afraid of than anything or
anybody in the world until short half hour apo
He will do anything to steal from me some pam
ers have rescued from him after he stole them
from my father. My sweetheart the man to
"nom am engaged, was accused of the theft
and arrested And I have fought SO hard to keep
themr Her voice broke a trife but she straight
ened bravely, tears still glstening on her lashes
I'm SO tired-so tired of fighting"
The murmur of sympathy from the men died
down before still more menacing silence, sill
ence that bent itself upon the sullen captain and
fastened him threateningly. Lucille felt the
change and immediately started to take full ad-
vantage of it when, from one on the outskirts
rose a shout. All eyes were turned in the direo-
ton OF his pointing finger and from out two
great smoke spirals that seemed to come from
the other side of the ocean, rose slowly, ma
Jestlcally, the thin outlines of huge boat
Lucille raised her voice and those nearest i'm
mediatey turned toward her once more their
attention seeming to unconsciousy draw that OF
the men on the outskirts from the big vessel
But the girl, scenting disaster from that sight,
read it on the sneering face of her victim
But l am more afraid of your captain
men,, she cried, her voice thrillingly vibrant
HE came to me in my cabin and demanded the
cnIua -, Lt.
and tried to make love to me. He did this to a
weak girl, men. He would treat me as he has
treated you. 1 have the way he treats you
have seen him knock you down and kick YOU and
curse you for doing exactly what he ordered
have seen him do these things and I know that
you will be justified in multiplying. ask you all
to protect me and yourselves from this mans
brutality. You see what a. coward he is You
see how he does not dare"
Her voice was drowned in the chorus of
shouts that rose at the welcome announcement
WetherelPs shoulders sloped still more while his
eyes darted from face to face, triumphant cum
ming, ferocious His body tensed as though for
spring. On every side of him were lowering
faces, the faces of men he had battered and
bruised to suit his hellish humor. The shout died
away into that ominous mob-murmur which pre-
cedes violence, when a faint booming sound
reached out to them across the waters, distract
ing their attention Something dark and round
described a parabola from the speck of ship
and leaped through the air toward them. Came
a splash of water not one hundred yards away
splash followed by cry Of alarm.
They're firing u.s."
Wetherell, needless of the pointing revolver
in the hands of the girl, sprang forward, facing
the puzzled frightened men.
Mutny! his great voice rose in derision.
"Mutiny, now when you hear girl lying to you
Mutiny now against the only who knows
where we are what doingl Mutiny now
when we have cargo of arms and ammunition
in the hold for the Chinese rebels and govern.
ment warship is pursuing us! Mutiny now and
put the man and woman in command who hired
me to carry this cargow
TITS a lie!" Lucille's voice was shrill now.
Again Wetherelrs laugh arose and the puz
zled faces of the men were turned toward ont
another indecisively
"Le, is it? Very WELL Where did I pick
you and Loubeque up? On the bit Of land.
as the men know. If he is your enemy, how did
you two happen to be at the place where
picked up the cargoP Tell the men that. Tell
the man what is in the hold. Tell them that the
punishment for mutiny is death. Tell them what
the Chinese government does to sailor on q
boat carrying arms and ammunition which cam
not be accounted for" Once more he laughed
aloud, as he turned upon his heel finging back
over his shoulder. every well, mutinyl My brave
men, do your damndest and mutiny Let this
girl get you out of the moose you are rum
ming your heads into but don't bother me any
more" q
Again the fatal booming sound from thd
warships whose outlines were growing more and
more distinct each moment. Again, that splash,
great cannon ball sped across their bows. The
proximity of their danger threw the men into q
panic. All thoughts of injustice, of chivalry dis
appeared instantly before the .omnipresence Of
the menace that threatened their lives. They
rushed upon Wetherel in a body, pleading, fair
ly on their knees, for him to take command and
avert the disaster that was upon them.
Of them all, he alone knew the position Of
the yacht, the fine points of navigation, the
crooks and turns of the ocean in this Hcinitys
And they recognized only too well that they
were between the Devil and the deep, blue sea-,
Mutiny-capture by the pursuing warship. Both
meant death.
Wetherell appeared to be considering, to
hesitate about resuming command. Suddenly he
Strengthened another cannon ball hurled acrosa
the path of the yacht. His voice rose, stentorian
as he whirled, pointing finger toward the girl
"Take that passengers revolver from her
Bring the Chinese passenger deck. They must
not be found aboard if we are captured Lower
life boat from the davits and set them adrif
with provisions for three days and cask OF
water"
He clasped his hands smartly together to
emphasize the urgency for haste. Lucille felt
arms about her, the pistol whirng from her
grasp and ricochetting toward Captain Wetherel
who, with a malicious smile, picked it up and
thrust it in his pocket.
She did not protest-there seemed for
protest. for anything. In haze she found her
self in the tiny boat that was being lowered Az
through thicker haze she glimpsed the face Of
Hugo Loubeque, facing her. The creabing of tho