The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-06-13

room n crossed the deck. AT sight
of me he stopped instantly.
"Gunsaules," l said, "you are to re.
main in this cabin until l give the
word. The lady here has a pistol, anC
orders to shoot If you attempt tc
either enter this passage, or approach
the door Of Manuel's stateroom. How
did you find Sanchez"
Sitting up in his bunk, senior, anG
able to eat"
Does he know what is occurring or
board?"
"No, enor. He questioned me, but
I only told him everything was all
right, so far"
In my heart / believed the fellow
%portunity to question him further, for
at that moment the door of the com
panion opened and a miscellaneous
group of men thronged down the
stairs. They were a rough hairy lot,
here and there a sturdy English coun-
tenance meeting my gaze, but the
faces were largely foreign, with those
Of two negroes conspicuous.
"Twelve here, sir; I couldn't get
HARDWOOD down from the foretop," said
Watkins.
"And there are others below who
will join usp
Eyes, sir; six more 1 count on"
(Which means lads, that with Har-
wood, Senior LeVere, and myself, Wen
total twenty-one in this shindy. Now
I'll tell you what is up. Watkins gave
you some Of it no doubt, but a word
from me will make it clearer. I'm no
pirate; I'm an English sailor, shang-
hied. Estada named me first officer
because / understand navigation"
1 stopped speaking, staring at one
of the faces before me; all at once 1t
appeared familiar. what is your
name, my man?"
"Jim Carter, sir"
"You were on the Sinbad, three
years ago"
81 was that, Mister Carlyle" he an
swered g~rlnning. ~ know'd you the
minute / cum down yere."
"Then that is all l need say on that
line. Here's one OF your mates, lads,
who will vouch for 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 a 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 ]
want to know is are You fellows witt
me?"
Watkins answered up promptly
then Carter; the others joining in with
less heartiness, the different accents
revealing their natiOnalities. / knew
sailors well enough to feel assured
they would follow their leaders once
the game started.
THAT'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 f~orecastle 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"
LET Carlson do it."
"All right-Carlson 1t is then. You
Frenchmen, and the two negroes, your
part will be to ship the main hatch.
DO q quick job. and clamp 1t down
tight"
"Tn come down to you Carlson, as
soon as we have the deck. 1t ought
not to take more han five minutes to
handle those lads, and slew around q
carronade. Watkins, you and Carter
hand out the ~eutlasses from the rack
You boys win handle those better than
firearms. Good; now. are you all
ready?'
There was q 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 a chance to strike.
/ whispered a parting word Of adj
mOnition into the a Of Dorothy, re
ceiving In return a glance from hel
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.
"Foll0w me, lads" ! said quietly.
CTO BE CONTINUED.)