The Washington herald., 1914-05-17


hated and feared had been subjugsted cowed BY
this slip of . girl Whispers grew louder, louder
and she caught the approval in the eyes that
constantly drew closer to her own until she was
surrounded by Gordon of sailors.
A thrill Of conscious triumph set her all a.
tremble but she fought down the inclination to
be 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-
pealing glance about upon the men. Her voice
trembled 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 the
lump in her throat and continued brayely
Friends, am just weak girl and need your
help. have two enemies upon this ship. One
of them / was more afraid of than anything or
anybody in the world until short half hour ago.
He will do anything to steal from me some pap
/ have rescued from him after he stole them
from my father. My sweetheart, the man to
whom am engaged, accused of the theft
and arrested. And have fought 50 hard to keep
them!" Her voice broke trife but she straight
ened bravely, tears still glistening her lashes
I'm so tired-so tired Of fighting"
The murmur of sympathy from the men died
down before a 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 adj
vantage of it when, from one the outskirts
rose a shout. All eyes were turned in the direc-
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
jestically, the thin outlines of huge boat.
Lucille raised her voice and those nearest i'm
mediately turned toward her once more, their
attention seeming to unconsciously draw that Of
the men on the outskirts from the big vessel.
But the girl, seeming disaster from that sight,
read IL on the sneering face of her victim.
But / am more afraid of your captain.
men," she cried, her voice thrillingiy vibrant.
He came to me in my cabin and demanded the
papers. He threatened me, seized me in his arms
and tried to make love to He did this TO a
weak girl, men. He would treat me as he has
treated you. have seen 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 know that
you will be justified in mutinying. 1 ask you all
to protect me and yourselves from this mans
brutality. You see what a coward he is. You
how he does not dare"
Her voice was drowned in the Us of
shouts that rose at the welcome announcement.
Wetherelrs shoulders soped still more while his
eyes darted from face to face, triumphant.
ming. ferocious. His body tensed as though for
a spring. On every side Of him lowering
faces, the faces of he had battered and
bruised to suit his heish humor. The shout died
away into that ominous mob-murmur which pre-
cedes violence, when 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,
a splash followed by a cry of alarm.
They're firing on us"
Wetherell, needless of the pointing revolver
in the hands of the girl. sprang forward, facing
the puzzled, frightened men.
"Mutiny!" his great voice rose in derision.
"Mutiny, now when you hear girl lying to you!
Mutiny against the only man who knows
where we are, what we are doing! Mutiny now
when we have a cargo of arms and ammunition
in the hold for the Chinese rebels and q govern
ment warship is pursuing u.s. Mutiny now and
put the man and woman in command who hired
me to carry this cargo"
Its lie :" Lucille's voice was shrill now.
Again Wetherells laugh arose and the puz-
lied faces of the men were turned toward one
another indecisively.
"Lie, is it? Very we'll Where did pick
you and Loubeque up? On the same bit of land,
as the men know. If he is your enemy, how did
you two happen to be at the place where 1
picked up the cargo? 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
not be accounted for" Once more he laughed
aloud. he turned upon his heel finging back
over his shoulder. Every well, mutiny! My brave
men, do your damndest and mutiny! Let this
girl get you out of the moose you
ming your heads into but don't bother me any
more" D
Again the fatal booming sound from the
warships whose outlines were growing more and
more distinct each moment. Again, that splash,
followed quickly by ripping hiss of air q
great cannon ball sped across their bows. The
proximity of their danger threw the men into 9
panic. All thoughts of injustice, of chivalry dis
appeared instantly before the omnipresence OF
the menace that threatened their lives. They
rushed upon Wetherell in a body, pleading, fair
" 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 vicinity.
And they recognized only too well now that they
were between the Devil and the deep, blue sea.
Mutiny-capture by the pursuing warship. Both
meant death.
Wetherel appeared to be considering. to
hesitate about resuming command. Suddenly he
Strengthened another cannon ball hurled across
the path Of the yacht. His voice rose stentorisn,
as he whirled, pointing a finger toward the girl
Bring the Chinese passenger deck. They must
life boat from the davits and set them adrift
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 whirling from her
grasp and ricochetting toward Captain Wetherell
who, with a malicious smile, picked it up and
thrust it in his pocket
She did not protest-there seemed use for
protest. for anything. In a haze she found her
self in the tiny boat that was being lowered. As
through a thicker haze she glmpsed the face OF
Hugo Loubeque facing her The crealing Of the
davits ceased and the tiny craft bobbed about on