Meade County news., 1917-12-27
him dose OF his own medicine. Move
lively; there's another Job waiting US
on deck"
CHAPTER XIV.
We CAPTURE the Ship.

|
word reached me in the passage. Mas
ters held the lantern, while the two
mates refastened the door, driving
home the nails with the iron bar. The
moment this was secure was ready
for the next act.
"Give the lantern to Olson, Masters.
You've got to look after the engine
room, and leave us to attend the deck
lob. Therell be those sea-cocks to see
to first, and then keep enough fire I'M
der the boilers for steerageway. Down
with you, and don't pay any attention
to whatever we do"
Heavy as he was he went down the
iron rungs Of the ladder like fireman
answering a call, and the three of us
who were left behind in the passage,
stared into each others faces, barely
visible in the dim radius Of light.
"What next, sir% asked Leayord
anxiously. "There's only three of US
now, an forty-three o. them."
"One less-youre counting Dade, and
he's safe enough. The boy Moon Is OF
no account, and 1 imagine there are
twenty men out In those boats who
have no heart in this business. They'd
be with us now If they had any chance
isn't that so, OlsOn2"
"Yas, slr-but they won't likely git
no chance"
"True enough yet 1t Is something to
knew that Mccain and his gang can
not count on them either, II 1t comes to
a fight. As things stand 1t Is all mat
ter of luck and nerve. There are only
six in the boat hanging to the foot of
the ladder, with Mccain left alone on
deck. We ought to be able to handle
that bunch"
Leayord dug the iron bar he held
into the deck planks savagely.
"What did yer tell Masters to only
keep up enough steam for steerage-
way for, slr?" he asked bluntly.
II was afraid they might notice, If
he fired up"
"'Taln't likely, so the tunnels don't
git ter blazin. The only fellers with
eny brains are in thet boat close IN
alongside, sir, an they can't see nuthin'
frum thar. Them common fo'castle rats
In them other boats never would notice
bit more smoke"
"What is 1t, Leayord? You have Il
plan? Speak quick, man; we can't
stand talking here"
"Tain't not much O. q plan, sir" he
explained briefly, "only don't see why
we couldn't just naturally heave this
cuss McCann overheard, er else kill
him just as you please. Eny two o. us
could keep that quarterboat crew from
comm up the ladder, an then, If Mas
ters had his boilers het up, no darn
rowboat could ever catch us. Thet
would leave us one hand at the wheel"
1t was true, the very simplicity of it
making me curse my own stupidity. !
stared into his face without uttering q
word Of comment, yet with my mind
grnsping instantly the necessary de-
tails. With single step was bend
ing over the ladder peerlng down into
the depths below. A faint far-away
light appeared at the bottom.
"MastersI" l called, my voice thrown
downward through followed hands.
saw his shadow emerge into the
circle Of light.
"Aye, aye. sir"
"Have you any pressure now?"
"Fairly good, sir. The waters draw
ing off and the wet coal will steam uT
In jiffy."
"Well, stand by for all the steam
possible, and give 1t to her the instant
you get the signal-only be careful moi
to flame your tunnels. You hear meT
"Every word, sir"
"All right; stand by, and don't fail
u.s."
"Now, lads" I said, standing erect
''First it's the after cabin, and ther
the deck. Douse the glim, Olson; we're
better off in the dark. Follow me, and
mind your footing"
The gloom was no handicap in that
narrow space where we could fee
either wall with our fingers, but
emerged into the cabin with caution
fearing the possible presence there Of
Mccain, who might even have brough
a man, or two, back on board to assis
him. The hanging lamp had been ex
tinguished, or else 1t had burnt ou
from lack of oil, but there was fain
glimmer of light in Miss Darlington
stateroom, enabling me to discover a
glance that the main cabin was unoc
cupied. Her door stood wide open, bu
with no signs of confusion within.
What had happened? There wa
nothing to tell me the truth. Had Nc
Cam succeeded in inducing her to az
company him on deck? Had he take
her there by force? or, had the gil
finally yielded to his insistence, afte
exhausting every form Of delay, he
last faith in my return having var
ished2 Nothing remained but to follo'
them, and find out what had occurred
and, if not already too late, attempt
rescue.
"There's no one here" I said in
whisper. "We'll try the deck; qulC
both of you"
We reached the head of the stairs o
our hands and knees. had my +,
volver gripped in my fingers, Leayor
l. 4