The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1915-09-30

1
ture. hestated but, then. seeing
that part of my success lay in our all
remaining somewhat piratical of char
acter. l hastily slipped it above my
eyes and pulled down my hat brim.
'She will not know me now" said | to
myself.
Partial. without invitation, climbed
into the skiff with us. Cast off," |
ordered. "Oars!" And my young men.
whom by this time l had trained in
many ways nautical, obeyed in good
seaman fashion. A moment later we
lay almost under the rail of the Belle
Helene. No one hailed U.S. We seem
ed taken only for some passing skiff.
"Listen!' | whispered. There is
risk in what we are going to do"
looked at my blue eyed pirate,
L'Olonnois. who sat closer to me. On
his face was simple and complete hap
piness. At last his adventure had
like man.
what is it. Black Bart?" heard
Jean LATTE whisper hoarsely.
1--WE are to board and take yonder
ship" replied softly. IF we are to
succeed you must do precisely as
tell you. Leave the main risk to me-
| that of the law. I'll take possession
on the ground that she is my boat.
that her charter money is not paid and
that yonder yarlet is making away
with her out of the country. She holds
much treasure, let me assure you Of
that. my men-the greatest treasure
that ever came down this river.
"NOw, listen. You, I.afitte. as soon
as we get aboard. are to run and close
the hatch of the engine room. That
will pen Williams, the engineer, below.
where he can make no resistance. AS
soon as that is done run to those doors
forward which lead down to the dining
room companionway and shut those
doors and latch them. That will take
care of John, the cook. The deck
hand is away with the varlet That
leaves only the shipmaster and the
women captivoS
while you are busy in this way,
Latitte. | will hunt for Peterson. the
master, who very likely is sitting quiet
OH the forward deck somewhere The
main danger lies with him. While l
attend to him, you, L'Olonnois. run aft.
You will find there two ladies, one
very old and ugly, the other very young
and very beautiful See that they do
not escape and hold them there until
l come aft to meet you.
"All this must go through as we
have planned. Once the maiden is in
our power and the ship our own we
will head downstream for the open
sea-
Swiftly, but silently, we swept in
under the lee of the Belle Helene. The
landing ladder had not been drawn up
after Davidson's departure, so that the
boarding party had easy work ahead.
sprang upon the deck, my footballs
deadened by the rubber mating which
lay along all the decks. turned.
Above the rail behind me rose the face
of Lafitte, masked. The long blade of
Malay creese was in his teeth. In one
hand he held pistol. using the other
as he climbed. He scraped out of his
belt as he came aboard | know not
how many pistols. which fell into the
water. but still. God wot, had album
dant remaining. Nor did L'Olonnois,
close behind him. his samurai sword
between his teeth, present spectacle
less aWesome. | breathed a sudden
prayer that these might meet with no
resistance. else l could only fear the
dircst consequences.
| made a quick motion with my hand
even as sprang forward in search of
Peterson. The dull thud of the engine
room hatch an instant later assured
me that Lafitte had performed the
most important part of the work as
signed to him. Forsooth, ere long he
had done all his work as laid out for
him. 1t Glanced that as he sprang to
the doors Of the forward saloon he
met John. the Chinaman. Reaching
for him with one hand he closed the
doors With the other With such prompt
ness and precision that the cue of
John was caught in the door, and he
was imprisoned below, where he howl
ed in much grief and perturbation, un-
able to escape without the sacrifice of
his cue.
Meantime l found Jefferson. my old
skipper, much as l had expected He
was middle aged, placid, we'll poised
man, pessimist in speech, but n bold
man in soul. He was fond of an even
ing pipe, and he sat now smoking and
looking down the Illuminated lane
made by our searchlight. He turned
toward me, a sudden curiosity upon his
face, as he saw that l was stranger
OH the boat. though not stranger to
himself.
"Sir-Mr. Harry he began, half
rising.