The Elbert County tribune. [volume] (Elbert, Elbert County, Colo.) 18??-1920, 1918-06-21
Nm dose Of his own medicine. Move
lively; there's another job waiting US
on deck"
CHAPTER XIV.
We Capture the shIo.

undertook to curse, but was SO Instant
ly gagged that only the first mufied
word reached me In the passage. Mas
tiers held the lantern, while the two
mates refastened the door, driving
hcme 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
Job. There'll 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, sirf" asked Leayord
anxious1y. There's only three of US
now. an forty-three o. them"
zone 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 II they had any chance
Isn't that so, Olson?"
"Yas. sir-but they won't likely git
no chance"
True enough; yet II Is something to
knew that Mccain and his gang can
not count on them either, If 1t comes to
fight. As things stand 1t Is all mat
for rf It,r w
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 blaAn'. The only fcllers 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
bit more smoke"
what is 1t, Leayord7 You have a
plan7 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, II Mas
tiers had his boilers het up, no darn
rowboat could ever catch us. Tibet
would leaYe US one hand at the wheel"
1t was true, the very simplicity Of 1t
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 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.
saw his shadow emerge into the
circle Of light.
"Aye. aye, SIR"
Have you any pressure nowf''
Fairly good. sir. The waters draw
ing off and the wet coal will steam up
in 1ifry."
"Well, 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 met"
EVERY word, sir"
All right; stand by, and don't fail
u.s."
"Now. lads" I said, standing erect.
"Ffrst it's the after cabin, and then
the deck. Douse the glim, Olson; we're
better OF 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
emerged into the cabin with caution,
fearing the possible presence there of
Mccain, who might even have brought
a man, or two, back on board to assist
him. The hanging lamp had been ex-
tinguished. or else 1t had burnt out
from lack Of oil, but there was faint
glimmer of light In Miss Carrington's
stateroon. enabling me to discover at
glance that the main cabin was unoc-
cupied. Her door stood wide open, but
with no signs of confusion within.
What had happened2 There was
nothing to tell me the truth. Had Nc
Cam succeeded in inducing her to &C
company him on deck? Had he taken
her there by force? or, had the girl
finally yielded to his insistence, after
exhnusting 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.
and. If not already too late, attempt
rescue.
There's no one here" 1 said in a