The state herald., 1919-09-12
CHAPTER xvI-contInued.


II was n couch Of some kind against
the outer wall. She did not release
her grasp, seemingly gaining courage
from this physical contact, and my fin
gers closed warmly over her own"
Now. please" breathlessly, "how Is
sel-an ofiicerW
/ told her the strange story, as
swiftly and simply as possible. speak
Ing scarcely above n whisper, feeling
as progressed that related dream
rather than n series Of facts. 1t
seemed to me she could scarcely be ex-
pected to believe the truth of what
said. and yet she did, almost unques-
tioningly, the clasp of her fingers per-
ceptibly Tightening ms I proceeded.
She sat so close beside me that
could feel her breath upon my cheek.
"Why, if-if you had not told me
this yourself could hardly believe
such a tale" she exclaimed. "Yet 1t
must be true, miraculous as 1t seems.
But what is to be the ending? Have
you any plan Of escapef'
Hardly a plan. l have had no op-
portunity even to learn the true ma
ture Of the crew. Watkins is an hon.
est sailor. and he has told me Of 9TH
ers on whom / could rely. There are
those aboard-but ! do not know how
many-who would mutiny II they had
leader and reasonable chance Of
success must reach these and learn
who they are. Fortunately the voyage
promises to be long enough to enable
me to plan carefully"
You have discussed the voyage
with this man-Estada
He told me what he had decided
upon; not to return to their rendez-
vous until after they had captured
some prizes and could go with gold
chinking in their pockets"
"Where Is their rendezvous7"
AN island In the West Indies, prob
ably not on the chart. They call II
Porto Grande."
"And they will sweep the ocean be.
tween here and there seeking victims? ?
Unarmed merchantmen to rob and
sinki And you-you will be compelled
to take part In such scenes. such acts
Of pillage and perhaps murderT
II presume I must seem to be one
Of them to avoid suspicion. Have you
any snggestionsr'
There Is conspiracy on board nj
ready" she said quickly. that you may
not know about"
"You mean to depose Sanchezi'
Yes; you had suspicioned It? They
thought me unconscious In the boat,
and talked among themselves-the
two at the stern. Estada and that
beast Manuel. did not understand
all they said. but do not think they
intend the captain shall recover"
you think II best that he shouldf"
'oh. do not know; there is no
best that ! can see. Yet would have
more faith In being spared disgrace
II At the mercy Of Sanchez. than his
lieutenant. Both may be equally guilty.
equally desperate. but they are not the
came men. ! may be wrong. for l
Judge as a woman. yet ! would feel
safer with Sanchez. The other merely
desires with the passions Of brute.
No appeal would reach him: he would
laugh ut tears and find pleasure In
suffering. And yet you would have
ne appear friendly with Estadaf
I'VE cannot permit him to feel that
either Of us are enemies. He is the
power aboard; our lives. everything
are In his hands. II he means 10 be
nd OF Sanchez tho man In doomed, fol-
he will md way to accomplish his
purpose; murder means nothing q
these men,"
"Of course you are right" she nc
knowiedged. Our cnse is no desper
ate We must resort to any weapons
You believe II will serve the possibiiit,
Of escape II permit this monster I,
imagine that ] have some interest II
himr'
ITO do no might delay the expio
Lon." ] replied grnvcly. "and Just nov
any delay In welcome. doubt II evel
Estada will resort TO force on board
indeed force will be the very last chr,
he will cnre TO plny In your case. Yo,
are English and nil the practical sen
men on board nre from northern Eu
rope - English and scandinavian
These men are not pirntcs from choic
they are prisoners who have take
On TO saYe their own lives. with hi
DULLES and cutthroats nmidships h
:an compel them TO work. but hc dnr
not 20 too far. Once these fellow
unite In mutiny they could tnke III
ship. An assault on you would
dangerous"
1T In these men you count ont"
Yes; but for me TO gain their conf
dence and leadership will rcQuir
time. The slightest slip would mcn
failure and mercilcss punishment A
best the situation IN absolutely de-
Vsrate-but I see no other solution
sADd ny service Ia dccclt-ihe &C