The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1918-01-04
CHAPTER XIV.
We Capture the Ship.

yet the work was noiselessly done, and
with sailorlike thoroughness. Dugan
undertook to curse, but was so instant
ly gagged that only the first muffled
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 / 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. ThereIl 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-thrne 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 I'm 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 1t is something to
not count on them either, II 1t comes to
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 Storage
way for, sir?" he asked bluntly.
II was afraid they might notice, II
he fired up"
"'Tain't likely, SO the tunnels don't
git ter blazin'. 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
bit more smoke"
"What Is 1t, 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. err else kill
him just as you please. Eny two o. us
could keep that quarterboat crew from
comm up the ladder an then. IL Mas
ters had his boilers het up. no darn
rowboat could ever catch us. Thet
would leave us one hand Mt 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 a single step was bend
Ing over the ladder peering down into
the depths below. A faint far-away
| light appeared ut the bottom.
"Masters" 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 up
in jlffy."
swell. stand by for all the steam
possible. and give II to her the instant
you get the signal-only be careful not
to flame your tunnels. You hear met"
"Evcry word. sir"
Gall right; stand by, and don't fail
u.s."
"Now, lads" said, standing erect
First it's the after cabin. and then
the deck. D0use 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 1
emerged into the cabin with caution,
fearing the possible presence there of
Mccain, who might even have brought
man, or two, back on board to assist
him. The hanging lamp had been ex-
| tinguished, or else It had burnt out
from lack of oil, but there was a faint
gllmmer 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 ac-
company him on deck? 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
and, If not already too late, attempt a
rescue.
"There's no one here" I said in a