Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1919-12-12

| lllut liiOSI Oh tIe BTltlSnefS were IOFCeu
to join In about the same way l was,
and there may be a Scandinavian or
two, with few Dutch to be counted
in that list; but the most are pirates
| from choice. It's their trade, and they
like 1t. Sanchez only aims to keep
hold of few good men, because he
has got to have sailors: hut most of
his crew are nothing but plain cut
| Threats. Indians and half-breeds, mig
| gers, creoles, Portuguese, Spanish, and
every mongrel you ever heard of. San
chez himself IS half French. The hell
hound who kicked you is POrtu-
guese, and LeVere is more niger than
anything else. I'll bet there is Il hun
dred rats on board this Namur right
now who'd cut your throat for SOW
ereign, and never SO much as think of
it again"
"A hundred? Is there that many
aboardT"
"A hundred an thirty all told Most
o 'em bunk amidships. They're not
sailormen, but just cut-throats, an sea
wolves. Yer ought ter see 'em swarm
out on deck, like hungry rats, when
thar's fight comm. It's all they're
good fer"
Watkins" 1 said soberly, after q
pause during which he spat on the
dirty deck to thus better express his
feelings, do you mean to say that In
three years you've had no chance to
escape? No opportunity to get awayY
mot a chance, mate; no more will
you. l know what yer thinkin' bout
had them notions too when l fust
come aboard-gettin' all the decent
sort tergether, and takin' the vessel
| 'Twon't work; thar amt 'nough who
wud risk it, and If thar wus, vel
couldn't get 'em tergether. Sanchez Is
too damn smart fer tibet. Every damn
rat Is spy. l amt he'd no such tall
as this afore In six months, Gates; the
mast-butt. Whatd yer have in vel
mind, mate?"
"Only this, Watkins. I've got to dc
something, and believe l can trust you
its not my life I'm thinking about
but that of woman"
"A woman! Not the one brought
aboard last night?"
Exactly; now listen-I'm going tt
tell you my story, and ask your help
My name is not Gates, and l am mo-
the man Mendez brought aboard drunk
and who was thrown over the rail b.
LeVere. That fellow was drowned.
am Geoffry Carlyle, an English skip
per-"
Thereupon I told him my story IL
detail. Then l said:
II have no plan; to become a mem
Der of the crew was my only thought
But | must act, if at all, before tn
captain RECEIVERS. He would recognize
me at sight You will aid. advis
me-"
THAT Is easier to ask than answer
mate" he admitted finally. 81 am al
English seaman, and will do my duty
but, SO far as l can see, there is n
plan we can make. 1t Is God who will
save the girl, If she Is to be saved. III
may use us to that end, but 1t |
wholly beyond our power to accom-
pllsh it alone. The only thing l ca
do Is to sound out the men aboard, an
learn just what we can expect of Their
IL any opportunity to act comes. Their
are not more than Il dozen ut most t
be relied upon. Play your part, an
keep quiet. II you can let her kno,
of your presence aboard it might b
best--for II she saw you suddenly. ur
prepared, she might say or do some
thing to betray you. There are othe
reasons why 1t may be best for her t
know she is not entirely deserted"
He leaned over, motioning m
toward him. until hls lips were at IN
ear.
ut may not prove as hopeless as
appears now" he whispered confider
TALLY. 81 helped carry Sanchez to hi
stateroom, and washed and dressed hi
wound. There Is no surgeon ABOARD
He has bad cut, and is very wea
J from loss of blood. The question O
/ our success hinges on Pedro Estadf
, This Is chance he has long bee
5 waiting for. The only question is, ha
} he the nerve to act. doubt IL he ha
alone, but LeNere Is with him, an
. that half-breed would cut the throa
. of his best friend. You understand
the death of Sanchez would max
, Estada chief"
, But" l interposed, "in that cas-
what would the crew do?"
t Accept Estada. no doubt: at leas
r the cut-throats would be with him, fo
: he Is of their sort. But Sanchez
. death would save YOU from discover,
v and" his voice still lower, so that
: barely distinguished the words, "in tn
, confusion aboard, If we were read,
the Namur might be so disabled as
: compel them to run her ashore for r,