The Taney County republican., 1919-09-25

n ring of confidence into my voice.
"ThCn the sooner we act the better.
Watkins, have LeYere order these men
aft. Let him say that Senor Estada
wishes them to break out some stores
in the lazaret. They need be here only
long enough for us to distribute these
arms among them, and for me to speak
word Of instruction to them"
''But have l no part? Is there no
way in which l can help?" asked the
girl.
"YOu have your pistol? Then re-
main here. l shall have TO go on deck
with the men, and will not dare leave
them q moment until the ship Is alb
solutely secure. Manuel is locked in
that StaterOOm, but must not be COIN
munlcated with by anyone. 1t will be
your part to see that Gunsaules
neither enters that passage leading
amldships, nor approaches this door.
Keep him in sight. You will save us
a man. Wait here now until see how
securely this passage forward is
closed"
1t was as described to me-a heavy
oaken door, nail studded, not only
locked, but held firmly in place by a
stout iron bar. There was not the
faintest possibility of any entrance
aft, except through assistance from
this side. AS returned to the cabin,
Gunsaules came out of the captains
room and crossed the deck. AT sight
of me he stopped instantly.
"Gunsaules," I said, "you are to re-
main in this cabin until l give the
word, The lady here has a pistol, and
orders to shoot If you attempt to
either enter this passage, or approach
the door Of Manuel's stateroom. How
did you find SanchezT"
"Sittlng up in his bunk, senor, and
able to eat"
"Does he know what is occurring on
boards"
"No, senior. He questioned me, but
only told him everything was all
right, so far"
In my heart l believed the fellow
deliberately lied, but there was no op-
portunlty 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 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; / couldn't get
Harwood down from the foretOp," said
Watkins.
Sand there are others below who
will join us?"
"Yes, sir; six more / count on"
(which means lads, that with Har-
wood, Senor Leyere, and myself, Wen
total twenty-one in this shlnGy. Now
I'll tell you what is up. Watkins gave
you some of 1t no doubt, but a word
from me will make 1t clearer. I'm no
pirate; I'm an English sailor, shang-
hled. EStada named me first officer
because i understand navigation"
/ stopped speaking, staring ut one
Of the faces before me; all at once 1t
appeared familiar. "What is your
name, my MANI"
"Jim Carter, sir"
"You were on The Sinbad, three
years agO?'
II was that. Mister Carlyle" he an
swered grinnlng. II knOw'd you the
minute | cum down yere."
"Then that IS all 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 break, and get away. Captain
Sanchez is wounded and helpless.
Pedro Estada is dead, and I've got
lDChtu III lliNt SAdANlOblAf aAa'
cut-throats are all below, and now oil
we've got TO do is clap on the hatch
and keep them there. Now, what l
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. I 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 / don't assign to Other
work. Jones, yop and Carter make
straight for the forecastle and don't
/ LET anyone cone up the scuttle. One
81 -,a,, had hatfar drnu dnx-u hpl0rg