The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-05-16
Copyright, by A. c. McClurg & Co.

| position on the chart. I asked a few
questions, although l paid but little
attention to what he said, my mind
being busted with searching out his
real purpose No doubt the situation
was very nearly as he described 1t
to be-LeVere was no navigator, and
Estada himself only an Indifferent one.
Yet at that the course to the West
Indies was not a long one, and If the
Portuguese had been able to bring
the bark from there to the Chesa-
peake, the return voyage should not
terrify him. No, that was not the
object; he was planning to keep at
sea, to waylay and attack merchant
ships, and then, after a successful
cruise, arrive at Porto Grande laden
with spoils and hailed as a great
leader. His plan was to dispose of
Sanchez-even to permit the Spaniard
to die of his wounds; possibly even
to hasten and assure that death by
some secret resort to violence. No
doubt LeVere was also concerned in
the conspiracy and would profit by it,
and possibly these two were likewise
assured Of the cooperation of the
more reckless spirits among the crew.
I remembered what Watkins had whis-
pered to me forward-his suspicious
of them both. He had been right /;
already the fuse was being laid, and,
very fortunately, l happened to be
chosen to help touch it off. The
chance 1 had sought blindly was being
plainly revealed.
1t was evident enough, however,
that Estada had no intention Of trust
ing me Immediately with his real mo-
tives. His confidence was limited,
and his instructions related altogether
to mere matters Of ship routine. I
could await developments. But / was
becoming wearied by the man.
81 understand perfectly, senor." I
broke in at last impatiently. "Ypu
will have to take for granted that I
can enforce sea discipline and navi-
gate your boat to whatever part of
the ocean you desire to sail. All I
need is your orders. This, / take it, is
all you require Of me?"
"Yes; ! plan, you execute"
"Very good; now about myself" and
I arose to my feet, determined to
close the interview. "You say 1 may
choose any stateroom on the port
side?'
'They are all unoccupied, except
one, used by the steward as a store
ROOM"
1 opened the door and stepped out
into the main cabin, the roll of charts
under my arm. Estada didn't wait for
me to question him.
Captain Sanchez stateroom is aft"
he said, with a wave Of the hand.
"There are two rooms. Jose is with
him-a negro with q knack at nurS-
ing"
"Who else is quartered aft here?"
He ignored the one thing I most de-
sired to learn, but I did not press 1t,
believing / knew the answer already.
"Levere has this middle stateroom,
and Mendez the one forward. Mendez
is third officer and carpenter. Just
at present with LeVere required on
deck he has charge of the men below.
Not the working crew; they are quar-
tered in the fOrecastle and are largely
English and Swede. But we have to
carry extra men, who bunk amidships
-hellhounds to fght-mongrels of
course. They are allowed on deck
amidships when we are at sea, but
are not encouraged to mingle with the
sailors. We're over a powder maya
zine all the time, Gates-any spark
might set it off,"
I opened one Of the doors opposite
and glanced within. The interior diff
fered but little from that of the state
room occupied by Estada, except 1t
was minus the table. No doubt they
were all practically alike.
"This will do very WELL" l said quiz
city. snow how about clothes? These
I wear look rather rough for the new
job"
"I1l send you the steward; he'll fix
you out from the slop chest"
I was glad to see him go and closed
the door on him with a sigh Of relief.
1t had all occurred so quickly, almost
without effort on my part, / could do
little but wonder what strange occur
renee would be next. What, indeed,
was there for lie to do except to await
developments? Only one thing oc-
Cured to mel must discover some
means Immediately of communicating
with Dorothy Fairfax.
The Importance Of this could not be
overestimated. With myself quartered
aft and eating in the cabin we were
bound to meet sooner or later, and the
girl must previously be warned Of my
nroconno ahoard or In hor first chr.