Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-05-26
clApTER XXI.

tn Crew pesIdss.

Th Grew O0oe0oo.
Except tat many Of the men re-
mained armed there was no. suggestion
Of violence But for the cleaning car
ronade trsined on the main hatch. and
the small group Of gunners clustered
about IT. the scene was peaceable
enough, resembling the deck Of some
merchant ship. Levere stood notion
less at the poop rail, staring down and
his attitude and expression OF face
aroused within me q doubt Of the man,
determination to put him to the test.
Evidently he had held aloof and re-
Trained from taking even the slightest
part In our activities. The men them.
selves were mostly forward, grouped
together and sill excitedly discussing
the situation.
Stand BY to reef topsails,".I shout
ed. "We're all one watch now. Go at
it lively, lads. and when the job IL
over wen eat. and decide together
what's our next move. Two Of you
will be enough to guard the hatch and
one Of you 20 into the cabin and re-
lieve the girl there. Keep your eyes
open. I'll be down presently. Aloft
with you and see how quick Job you
can make Of It."
Watkins led the way up the main
mast ratlines. and Cole was first into
the fore shrouds, the others following
eagerly. ! watched them lay out on
the yards and was heartened to hear
the fellows s!sss Sc they -e.ket1, the
canvas melting away as If by magic. I
climbed the ladder to where LeVere
stood on the poop, but carefully
ignored his presence. my gaze on the
scene aloft. Twice / gave orders,
changing the steering direction slight
ly, and commanding the lower sails
reefed. The mulatto scowling, joined
me at the rail.
whats all this about7' he asked.
''That's no storm cloud yonder."
'TheIe II always danger In fog," !
answerl coldly. land besides there is
no use carrying on until We know
where we are bound. Ny purpose is
to keep. the men busy, and then talk
the situation ever with them. Have
you any criticism Of this plan. Senior
LeVereT
He hesitated, be: bis syes were nsc-
rowed, and ugly.
you'll do rs you please, but you
told mo No sailed for Porto Grande.
Was that Q lieY
"Not necessarily" ana I smiled
srimly. ALTHOUGH I should not have
hesitated to tell one under the circum.
stances. mean to leave that decision
to the men themselves. It is their
lives that are in danger"
THAT scuml half Of them are Eng
lish and French. All they want is to
get away: they will never 80 back to
Porto Grande without you make
them"
"How make them?"
'By false observations; there IL no
navigator forward. 1t Is trick easy
enough to play with a little nerve. ]
would never have taken part in this
mutiny IL had supposed you meant
to play into the hands Of the men,"
ut 10 very little part You took Senior
Levere. Judging from what saw. You
seemed quite content to stand aft here
and look on. However you are In It
Just - deeply as ! am, and are going
b play the game out with me to the
end. Do you understand thatl"
"What you mean, senor-play It
QUIT"
go on with the re,t Of us; take
your chance with the men and do your
duty. I am captain here. The first
sign Of treachery on your part will
send you below with those others.
don't trust you, and all I want is an
excuse to put you out Of the way--so
be careful what you DO"
turned and walked away from him
toward the forward rail. The men
were still aloft but coming in from of
the yards. Below me in the door Of
the companion, stood Dorothy. her
eyes peering curiously about the de-
serted deck. She glanced up and saw
me.
MAY I come up thereT" she asked.
Certainly let me help you. Stand
here beside me, and you can see ali
that Is being done. That's all, lads !;
breakfast is ready: lay down all ex.
cept the lookout"
a777lI i Il frEsr.r1r.r