Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-01-17
CHAPTER XIV.
We Capture the Ship.

Will ct1lOIQAC LuOIOuEAnCSS- OuSdA
to curse, but was SO instant
ly gagged that only the first muff1ed
word reached me in the passage. Mas
tiers held the lantern. while the two
mates refastened the door, driving
home the nails with the iron bar. The
moment this was secure 1 was ready
for the next act
'Give the lantern to Olson, Masters.
room, and leave us to attend the deck
job. Theren 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 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-you're counting Dade, and
he's safe enough. The boy Moon is OF
no account, and / 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, Olson7"
"Yas, sir-but they won't likely git
no chance"
"True enough; yet 1t is something to
knew that Mccain and bis gang can
not count on them either, If 1t comes to
fight As things stand 1T is all a 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, sir?' he asked bluntly.
II was afraid they might notice, If
he fired up"
""Tain't likely, so the tunnels don't
git Ter b1azin'. The only fellers with
eny brains are in tibet 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
a bit more smoke"
''What is it, Leayord? You have a
plan? Speak quick, man; we can't
stand talking here"
""Tain't not much o. a plan, SIR" he
explained briefly, "only don't see why
we couldn't just naturally heave this
cuss Mccain 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.
tiers had his boilers het up, no darn
rowboat could ever catch us. Tibet
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 a
word Of comment, yet with my mind
grasping instantly the necessary de-
tails With a single step was bend
ing over the ladder peering down into
the depths below. A faint far-away
light appeared at the bottom.
Masters ~ I called, my voice thrown
downward through followed hands.
I 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 up
in q jfffy.'
"Wel1, stand by for all the steam
possible, and give 1t to her the instant
you get the signal-only be careful not
to flame your tunnels. You hear me?''
Every word. sir"
"All right; stand by, and don't fail
u.s."
'.Now, lads" said, standing erect
First it's the after cabin, and then
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 feel
either wall with our fingers, but I
emerged into the cabin with caution,
fearing the possible presence there of
Mccain, who mightNeven have brought
a man, or two, back on board to assist
him. The hanging lamp had been ex-
tnguished, or else it had burnt out
from lack of oil. but there was a faint
glimmer of light in Miss Carrington's
stateroom, enabling me to discover at
a glance that the main cabin was unoc-
cupied. Her door stood wide open, but
with no signs of confusion within.
What had happened? There was
nothing to tell me the truth. Had Nc
Cam succeeded in inducing her to nc
company him on deck7 Had he taken
her there by force? or, had the girl
finally yielded to his insistence, after
exhausting every form of delay, her
last faith in my return having van
ished? Nothing remained but to follow
them and find out what had occurred