The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1919-08-01
WOLVES OF THE SEA
Bv RANDALL PARRISH
Copyright. by A. c. McCiurg & CO


questions, although / paid but little
attention to what he said, my mine
being busted with searching out his
real purpose No doubt the situation
was very nearly as he described II
to be-LeVere was no navigator, and
Estada himself only an Indifferent one
Yet at that the course to the West
Indies was not q long one. and IL the
Portuguese had been able to bring
the bark from there to the Chesa-
peake, the return voyage should not
terrify him. No. that was not the
object; he was planning to keep at
sea. to waylay and attack merchant
ships, and then, after a successful
cruise, arrive at Porto Grande laden
with spoils and hailed as great
leader. His plan was TO dispose of
| Sanchez-even to permit the Spaniard
to die of his wounds; possibly even
| to hasten and assure that death by
some secret resort to violence. No
doubt LeVere was also concerned in
| the conspiracy and would profit by it,
| and possibly these two were likewise
assured of the cooperation of the
more reckless spirits among the crew.
remembered what Watkins had whis-
| pered to me forward-his suspicious
of them both He had been right;
already the fuse was being laid, and,
very fortunately, l happened to be
chosen to help touch it OFF. The
chance / had sought blindly was being
plainly revealed.
1t was evident enough, however,
that Estada had no intention of trust
ing me Immediately with his real mo-
tives. His confidence was limited,
and his instructions related altogether
to mere matters of ship routine. l
could await developments. But / was
becoming wearied by the man.
Il understand perfectly, senor," !
broke in at last impatiently. You
will have to take for granted that l
can enforce sea discipline and navi-
gate your boat to whatever part of
the ocean you desire to sail. All 1
need is your orders. This, l take it, is
all you require of me?'
Yes; plan, you execute"
every good; now about myself" and
| arose TO my feet, determined to
close the interview. you say l may
choose any stateroOm on the port
side?"
''They are all unoccupied except |
one. used by the steward as store |
room"
l opened the door and stepped out |
into the main cabin. the roll of charts
nm c4a
me to question him.
Captain Sanchez staterOom is aft"
he said, with wave of the hand.
There are two rooms. Jose is with
hm-a negro with knack at nurs-
ing"
"Who else is quartered aft here?"
He ignored the one thing / most de-
sired to learn, but l did not press it,
believing l knew the answer already.
'LeVere has this middle stateroom.
and Mendez the one forward. Mende5
is third officer and carpenter. Just
at present with LeVere required on
deck he has charge of the men below.
Not the working crew; they are quar-
tered in the forecastle and are largely
English and Swede. But we have to
carry extra men, who bunk amidships |
to fght-mongrels of
course They are allowed on deck |
when we are at sea, but |
ire not encouraged to mingle with the
;ailors. We're over a powder maya
line all the time, Gates-any spark
night set il OF"
I opened one of the doors opposite
md glanced within. The interior diff
Dom occupied by Estada, except 1T
vas minus the table. No doubt they
we're all practically alike.
This will do very WELL" I said quiz !
tIy. Now how about clothes? These t
wear look rather rough for the new
OBJ" 4
"I1l send you the steward; he'll fix
GU out from the slop chest" g
I was glad TO see him go and closed |
he door on him with sigh of relief. e
t had all occurred so quickly, almost {
'ithout effort on my part. could do Q
tile but wonder what strange occur s
ence would be next. What, indeed, ii
'as there for me to do except to await I
evelopments? Only one thing oc- ]
urred to mel must discover some q
leans Immediately of communicating b
18th Dorothy Fairfax. a
The Importance of this could not be I
With myself quartered
IT and eating in the cabin we were II
ound to meet sooner or later, and the II
IrI must previously be warned of my II
resence aboard, or in her first sur II
rise at the recognition / should be II
lstantly betrayed. II was to serve II
lie girl there must be, first of all. in II
,lligent cooperation between US. She II
ust not only know OF my presence y
i the Namur but also the purpose ac-
Eating me. / had reached this con-
usion when light, hesitating knock
,unded at the door,
Gunsaules entered, garments over al
IS arm, and laid out the pieces care 81
lily one by one, evidently proud OF n
d selection. Il
xAI = - k