The state herald., 1919-09-19
Copyright. Ly 4. c. McCiuTg z Co.

crooked hRhlnSt the biue WhH. uIb
very posture was that Of sudden death
even had II not been pictured by the
ghastly face, and the dark pool Of
blood underneath. ] heard IN excln-
nation from lie We're and stood for an
instant utterly unable to move. /
knew already what ] should find, yet
finally forced myself forward-he was
stone dead, pierced with three knife
thrusts. I stood up and faced the
mulatto, whose countenance was fairly
green with horror.
"What do you know about this, Sc
nor Levere7'' asked sternly. 'The
mnn has been murdered, knitted. Who
did it-and why3"
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! I cannot tell; have
never dreamed Of this"
HAD the man enemies. Anyone
you would suspect?"
''Enemies7 Ay. plenty Of them: we
all have. We expect that In our
trade. This ship is full Of devils ready
enough to do such Job: but l could
not name the one who did do It.
know Of no cause. have heard moth.
Ing"
II believe you. Levere." said.
"Whnt can we do. senor1"
"Do! We must talk that over first.
We cannot meet this thing until we
are prepared. There Is more danger
In hasty action than anything else"
shut the door behind US and turned
the key. 1t was n relief to get out
side, even into that dismal cabin, be-
yond view Of Estada's dead face. Le-
We're. who had evidently lost his nerve,
sank into a chair.
You fear an uprising. a mutinyr
questioned. when this Is reportedi"
"What will preventr 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
amidships."
"And who leads them7 Who would
be captainr'
manuel Estevan," he whispered.
II thought as much. Then It is
Manuel Estevan We must secure FIRST
before they know. Whatever his
men may know Of what has occurred
they will make no move until they get
his orders. We must stop the possi-
bIlity Of his issuing any. Without q
leader the advantage Ii ours"
You mean to kill himr
only as Q last resort. There II no
good feeling between those quartered
amidships and the crew."
"No. senior: It Is hate generally. al.
though they are not all alike. The
real sailors are mostly captured men
they serve to save their lives. and
only for these others on board could
not be held long. Your plan. senor.
is to set the one against the otherf"
"Yes, II possible. These sailor men
are Of all races. Can they be trustedr'
"Some might be. sir: II is hard to
tell how many. II Is not the race
which counts 80 much. senor. There
are those among them who would not
care to return to honesty"
-And you. Leverer'
He spread his hands and shrugged
his shoulders. There II no hope Of
me: was born to the free life"
"What then u II with your
Hate. senor-revenge." and his
tssth cleaned savagely. II would spit
on this Manuel who seeks to be chief.
can never bono: I am Of black
skin. with negro blood In my veins.
and white men would never have II no.
But ! can hate. senior. Tint IL why
am with you now. II the devil 10
viii. Your plan might work-tell me
moro Of It."
"What are the odds. say you-thirty
to . hundred, Ay. but surprise will
overcome that. My plan Ii this: First
to secure Manuel as quietly us pos.
sibls but At whatever cost. With him
10 our hands. or dead. the buccaneers
have no leader. What thenf There
arc men In the crew on deck and In
the forecastle to be trustcd-Watkins
10 one. and he will know Others.
dozen no doubt. They will be enough.
We will whisper the truth 10 these.
an6 have them ready for signal. The
forward door from amidships IL closed
BY Iron bars-is Il notf'
"si. senor." his eyes agnin sparkling
With Interest 'srhe men aunrrcled
and there was lighting"
''Then there II no escape In that dl.
rection and II can be no great task
TO close any passage leading aft.
Lower the deck hatch and we have
those devils below Gagged like 20 many
rats. There need b no fighting; star.
vation will bring them to terms"
"T,ut, scnor. your dozen men cannot
guard the buccaneers below and also
manage the bark. The crcx are not
al iambs-many vii! sympathixc with