The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1919-08-22
Copyright. BY A. c. McClurg G Co

blood underneath. / heard an excla
nation from LIE We're and stood for al
| instant utterly unable to move.
knew already what I Should find, yet
finally forced myself forward-he was
stone dead, pierced with three knife
thrusts. ! stood up and faced the
mulatto, whose countenance was fairly
| green with horror.
| "What do you know about this, Sc.
| nor LeVere?" I asked sternly. 1.-THE
man has been murdered, knitted. Who
did it-and why?"
He could scarcely answer, gripping
at the table for support and never re-
moving his gaze from the face of the
dead man. Yet l believed his words
was convinced this was not the terror
of guilt.
"My Cod I cannot tell; 1 have
never dreamed of this"
Had the man enemies. Anyone
you would suspect"
Enemies? Ay, plenty of them; we
all have. We expect that in our
trade. This ship is full of devils ready
enough to do such a job; but 1 could
not name the one who did do it.
know of no cause. 1 have heard moth
ing"
81 believe you, LeVere," said.
''What can we do, senor?"
do! We must talk that over first.
We cannot meet this thing until we
are prepared. There is more danger
in hasty action than anything else"
/ shut the door behind us and turned
the key. 1t was a relief to get out
side, even into that dismal cabin, be-
yond view of Estada's dead face. Lee
We're, who had evidently lost his nerve,
sank into a chair.
You fear an uprising, a mutiny?"
questioned, when this is reported?"
"What will prevent?' he asked.
1.-THE captain cannot stir; the mate is
dead the men already craZed because
we take no prizes. They will murder
us also and take control. Those devils
"And who leads them? Who would
be captain?"
manuel Estevan," he whispered.
81 thought as much. Then it is
Esteyan we must secure first
before they know. Whatever his
men may know of what has occurred
they will make no move until they get
his orders. We must stop the posi-
bility of his issuing any. Without a
leader the advantage is ours"
? tsVn,, ,paap RI l. him
"Only as a last resort. There is no
good feeling between those quartered |
and the crew?'
"No, senior; it is hate generally, al |
though they are not all alike. The |
zeal sailors are mostly captured men
hey serve TO save their lives, and |
1nly for these others on board could |
lot be held long. Your plan, senior,
S to set the one against the other?"
Eyes, if possible. These sailor men
ire of all races. Can they be trusted"
"Some might be, sir; II is hard to
ell how many. 1t is not the race.
which counts so much, senior. There
ire those among them who would not
are to return to honesty"
"And you, LeVere?"
He spread his hands and shrugged
lis shoulders. 'There is no hope of
ne; was born to the free life."
"What then is it with you?"
"Hate, senor-revenge," and his
eeth cleaned savagely. II would spit
N this Manuel who seeks to be chief.
can never be-no; / am of black
Kin, with negro blood in my veins.
nd white men would never have it so. |
,ut / can hate, senior. That is why
am with you now. if the devil SO
ill. Your plan might work-tell me
1ore of it,
"What are the odds, say you-thirty
0 hundred? Ay, but surprise will
vercome that. My plan is this First
D secure Manuel as quietly as pos
ble but at whatever cost. With him
/ our hands, or dead, the buccaneers
ave no leader. What then? There
re men in the crew on deck and in |
ne forecastle to be trusted-Watkins I
one, and he will know others.
Oxen no doubt. They will be enough. 9
1e will whisper the truth to these.
nd have them ready for a signal The
,rward door from amidships is closed
= iron bars-is it not?"
"Si, senior" his eyes again sparkling t
18th interest. "The men quarreled, [
nd there was fighting"
'Then there is no escape in that di-
,ction and it can be no great task
close any passage leading aft. ;,
over the deck hatch and we have :
lose devils below Gagged like so many =
its. There need be no fighting star 9
ltion will bring them to terms" >lu
But. senior, your dozen men cannot NJ
lard the buccaneers below and also y
anage the bark. The crew are not A
lambs-many will sympathize with 81
ose thus locked beneath deck. Co "
lose is bad, and friend of Manuel. r.
e will fight, and there are others el
back him."
IT know that, Levere. The whole In
an is desperate, but there Is no other bl
ssible. Here is my scheme. There q
gun rack in the cabin to arm the Il