The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1919-09-05

take chance with us2 This is m,
last offer"
whats the gamer" asked a suller
voice In English, and bearded fellow
burned black, pushed his way to the
front. 81 used ter be Scotch; now
don't know what / am. One flag Is
as good as another ter me-only
want to know what sorter game I'm
playin' in. Who are yer? An wizard
yer cum frum?"
II am an English seaman" I an
| swered shortly, land how I came
| aboard makes no difference. Right
now I am the only navigator on the
Namur. Estada is dead-knifed last
night by one of the buccaneers. Man.
uel Estevan had hand in the bust
ness, and he's safely locked in state.
| room aft. Captain Sanchez is wound.
| ed and helpless, and those cut-throats
| amidships are battened down below
| matches. LeVere and are the officers
| left, and we control the deck"
eyer mean those fellers were amin
ter take the ship?"
Exactly that; now where are you
lads? With Manuel and his bunch of
pirates? Or with us?"
"What er yer going ter do with us,
an this ship? That's the fu'st ques-
tion."
had not decided that even in my
own mind, but the answer came
promptly enough.
II am going to leave that to the crew.
AS soon as we have all secure, I'll
have every man. on deck, and then
Wen talk it over. That's fair enough
isn't it2"
sit looks fair. Come on, mates; I'm
fer the Englishman."
Only one followed him, however. a
sheep-faced boy; the others remained
sullen and defiant. I had no further
time to waste in explanations. l
glanced up at Carter's face framed In
the scuttle hole.
"Carter, pass these men up and take
them forward with the others. Turn
them over to Watkins. Then come
back here, and report to me-"
They went up the ladder one by
one, and disappeared onto the deck
above. Carlson and 1 watched the
others until Carter stuck his head
once again through the opening.
"All safe. sir-they was like lambs"
every we'll; stand by to help. Now
you lads, lift this black and shove him
up to where they can get hold above"
They hoisted the unconscious form
up the ladder and forced 1t through |
the hole onto the deck. At my stern |
they crawled forth into the
sunlight. There they picked up Co
chose and carried him aft.
1 went to the main hatch, and had
the cover slipped to one side, the
armed sailors gathering close about
the edge, as I peered down. 1t was a
scene of pandemonium, revealed in the
yellow flame of slush lanterns, a group
Of white faces showing clearly, as the
prisoners below struggled forward,
and shouting Ignoring
heir mad roaring, and the threat Of
eveled guns, I stared down at the in
'uriated faces, until the clamor ceased
to let my voice be heard.
"What are you men trying to do,
righten me? You might as we'll stop
hat. This opening is lined with guns,
md if one of you fire a shot We'll pour
cad into you. More than that; if you
ttempt to climb out there is a brass
arronade trained on the hatch. So
isten! We are in control of the ship
nd mean to keep it. The old officers
re either dead or prisoners. What we
10 with you will depend on your ac-
ions, but we're ready to kill If -nrceS-
airy. If you keep quiet down there,
nd obey orders, you'll be fed, and
reated decently enough. Pass up your t
rms" f
There was no movement, only q
lare of hostile eyes, an indistinguish- L
BILE growl of voices. G
''KneeI down, lads and cover those 2
sllows," ordered sternly drawing my 5
wn pistol. "Now you below there, q
lis is my last word I'll count ten, &
nd you'll either pass up those weapons c
r We'll pour our fire into you. Take a
i'm, boys" n
There was a moment of deathly 81 II
nee, except for my counting. One
AN uttered curse, and the jamsof u
cures at the foot of the ladder en- Il
Favored to work back out of range, 81
It, before / had spoken the word c.
ght, guns were held aloft, and poked e.
D within reach, and at this sign Of
!rrender even the most desperate lost {;
cart and joined the more cowardiy. "
was a strange collection of weapons m
acked on the deck-guns, cutlasses, t.
lives and pistols of every descrip- Il
On. Probably all had not been deliv- g
ed, yet felt no further fear of the y
" pieces remaining hidden. 81
THAT'S all, is it? Very well-now Al
Ike care of this big niger we're send 81
g down; no, he is not dead, only u
unned. Now stand aside while few
your friends join you; they'll tell rs
u what's up. Make room there"
We passed the forecastle scum down TO
e by one. Ignoring the indignant ni
ar of voices which greeted my or tv
r, l watched the men shift the heavy nt