Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1919-04-16

VIM VIII VOucH LOT 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 a chance to
make 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 I
want to know is are you fellows with
met?
Watkins answered up promptly:
then Carter; the others joining in with
less heartiness, the different accents
revealing their nationalities. 1 knew
sailors well enough to feel assured
they would follow their leaders once
the game started.
'SThat's 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 I 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?"
s'Let Carlson do it."
Cali right-Carlson it is then. You
Frenchmen, and the two negroes, your
osf will hn fn CHI in fob
Do 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 a
carronade. Watkins, you and Carter
hand out the cutlasses from the rack !;
you boys will handle those better than
firearms. Good; now are you all
ready?"
There was a low murmur of voices,
the faces watching me showing their
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 chance to strike.
whispered parting word of adj
monition into the ear of Dorothy, re-
ceiving in return a glance from her
eyes, which gave a new throb to my
heart; then Strengthened up, and pis-
toll in hand, pushed my way through
the throng of sailors to the foot of the
stairs.
"Follow me, lads" I said quietly.
We emerged through the companion,
and l stepped aside as the others
rushed by. There was no shout, no
cheer, the fellows seeming to realize
the desperate nature of their work,
and the Importance of surprise. They
were outnumbered five to one, and
their only hope of success lay in rem
dering their opponents helpless before
they could rally to defense. All the
pent-up hate of years was in their
hearts, blaZed madly in their eyes
they were tigers leaping at the throat
of their prey, yet sane enough to COM
prehend even in their blood-rage that
they must act together. 1t was over
SO quickly,I scarcely saw it all. My
eyes swept from group to group-the
four toiling at the cover of the main
hatch; the fellows racing toward the
forecastle; and Watkins squad driv-
ing straight into the grouped watch
beyond the foremost. It was smartly
done; Watkins had taken no cutlass,
but went in with both fists, asking no
questions, but battering right and left,