The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1919-08-07

room and crossed the deck. At sight
of me he stopped instantly.
"Gunsaules," said, "you are to re'
main in this cabin until give the
word. The lady here has pistol, and
orders to shoot If you attempt t.
either enter this passage, or approach
the door of Manuel's stateroom. How
did you find Sanchez?'
"Sitting up in his bunk, senior, anG
able to eat"
Does he know what Is occurring o.
board?"
"No, senior. He questioned me, but
only told him everything was an
right, so far"
In my heart believed the fellow
deliberately lied, but there was no OPP
pOrtunity to question him further, foS
at that moment the door of the com
panion opened and miscellaneous
group of men thronged down the
stairs. They were a rough hairy lot,
here and there a sturdy English coun-
tenance meeting my gaze, but tie
faces were largely foreign, with those
of two negroes conspicuous.
"Twelve here, sir; / couldn't get
HARDWOOD down from the foretop," said
Watkins.
"And there are others below whe
will join us?"
eyes, sir; six more count on"
(which means lads, that with Bar
wood, Senior LeVere, and myself, wen
total twenty-One In this shindy. Now
I'll tell you what Is up. Watkins gave
you some of 1t no doubt, but a word
from me will make 1t clearer. I'm no
pirate; I'm an English sailor, shang.
hied. Estada named me first officer
because I understand navigation"
stopped speaking, staring at one
of the faces before me; all at once IL
appeared familiar. "What Is your
name, my MANI"
"Jim Carter, sir"
"You were on the Sinbad, three
years ago?"
81 was that, Mister Carlyle" he an
swered grinning. II know'd you the
minute cum down yere."
'Then that Is all need say on that
line. Here's one of your mates, lads.
who will vouch for me. Now, as I've
been told, you are all Of you In the
same boat-you are prisoners on
board. Luck has given us chance to
make a break, and get away. Captain
Sanchez is wounded and helpless.
Pedro Estada is dead, and I've got
Manuel locked in that stateroom. His
cut-thrOats are all below, and now all
we've got to do is clap on the hatch
and keep them there. Now, what ]
want to know is are you fellows with
mew
Watkins answered mp promptly,
then Carter; the others Joining in with
less heartiness, the different accents
revealing their nationalities. knew
sailors well enough to feel assured
they would follow their leaders orse
the game started.
"Thats good enough; now we've got
TO hit hard and quick, lads. There are
six men on deck who are not with us.
Watkins will take care of them with
those fellows 1 don't assign to other
work. Jones, you and Carter make
straight for the forecastle and don't
let anyone come up the scuttle. One
of you had better drop down below,
and prevent any of those lads from
unbarring the door leading amidships.
Who is the best for that job?"
LET Carlson do It."
"An right-Carlson 1t is then. You
Frenchmen, and the two negroes, your
part will be to ship the main hatch.
Do a quick job, and clamp it down
tight"
"I'll come down to you Carlson, as
soon as we have the deck. 1t ought
not to take more than five minutes to
handle those lads, and slew around
carrondde. Watkins, you and Carter
hand out the cutlasses from the rack;
you boys will handle those better than
firearms. Good; now are you all
readyT
There was low murmur Of voices
the faces watching me showing theiI
increasing excitement and eagerness.
Our little talk had served to arouse
their confidence in my leadership, and
with cleaning weapons In their hands
they became self-reliant volunteers.
Once turned loose my greatest diff
Guilty might be to restrain them, rather
than urge them on. Revenge for past
wrongs was In each heart, and they
welcomed a chance to strike.
I whispered parting word of adj
monition into the ear Of Dorothy, re-
ceiving in return a glance from her
eyes, which gave new throb to my
heart; then Strengthened up, and pis-
tol in hand, pushed my way through
the throng of sailors to the foot of the
stairs.
'Follow me, lads" said quietly.
(To BE CONT1NUED)
Celtic Isle.