The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1919-06-14
Copy right. by a. c. McClurg q CO.

sound of movement, and | raped
again more loudly, my questioning eyes
seeking LeNere's face. He was listen.
ing as intently as myself.
There Is something wrong, senor,"
he whispered. for he was ever a light
sleeper"
The door was unlocked. the latch
yielding instantly to the hand and |
stepped within. A glance told every
thing. Estada lay In his bunk, with
one leg dangling outside, and his head
! crooked against the side wall. His
very posture was that of sudden death,
even had it not been pictured by the
| CHASTITY face, and the dark pool of
| blood underneath. l heard an excla-
nation from LIE We're and stood for an
instant utterly unable to move.
knew already what l 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" l asked sternly. 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 | believed his words;
was convinced this was not the terror
of guilt.
my God! / cannot tell; / 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 l could
not name the one who did do 1t. I
know of no cause. have heard moth
ing"
II believe you, LeVere," I said.
What can we do, senOr?
DO! We must talk that over first. |
We cannot meet this thing until we
in hasty action than anything else"
l 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 chair.
You fear an uprising, mutiny"
questioned, when this is reported"
what will prevents" he asked.
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
De captain?"
Manuel Estevan." he whispered
Il thought as much. Then 1t is
Manuel Estevan we must secure first
before they know. Whatever his
men may know of what has occurred
hey will make no move until they get
lis orders. We must stop the posi-
'ility of his issuing any. Without
eader the advantage Is ours"
You mean to kill him?'
only as last resort. There Is no
,ood feeling between those quartered
and the crew."
mo, senior; 1t Is hate generally, al
hough they are not all alike. The
cal sailors are mostly captured men; ,
hey serve to save their lives, and
My for these others on board could =
ot be held long. Your plan, senior, =
to set the one against the other?" /
"Yes, If possible. These sailor men i
re of all races. Can they be trusted?" T
Some might be, sir 1t is hard to s
ell how many. 1t is not the race t
hitch counts so much, senior. There a
re those among them who would not h
are to return to honesty" {
and you. LeVere?" n
He spread his hands and shrugged =
is shoulders. There Is no hope of b
le; 1 was born to the free life." o
what then Is it with yOu?' d
Hate, Senor-revenge," and his
eth cleaned savagely. II would spit
4 this Manuel who seeks to be chief.
can never be-nO; l am of black v
lin, with negro blood in my veins, :.
Id white men would never have it so. Il
ut l can hate. senior. That is why =
am with you now, If the devil so Y
Ill. Your plan might work-tell me ?
ore of it, y
what are the odds, say you-thirty :, \,
a hundred? Ay, but surprise will -
arcomo tbat Nv plop 10 thic. Efrc< |
secure Manuel as quietly as pos
Die but at whatever cost. With him III
our hands, or dead, the buccaneers B.
We no leader. What then? There hf
e men in the crew on deck and In tt
e fOrecastle to be trusted-Watkins he