The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1919-09-18

never dreamed Of this"
Had the man enemies. Anyone I
you would suspect"
Enemies? Ay, plenty of them; we .
all have. We expect that in our b
trade. This ship is fun Of devils ready
enough TO do such Il job; but l "ould
not name the one who did do it.
know of no cause. l have heard moth
ing"
"I believe you LeVcrc" said.
"What can we do, scnor?'
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 a relief to get out
side, even into that dismal cabin, be-
yond view of EStadn's dead face. Le-
We're. who had evidently lost his nerve,
sank into chair,
"You fear an uprising, a mutinyF
| questioned. "whcn this is reportcd|
What will prcventY he asked.
1.-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 them? Who would
be captain?"
manuel Egtevan," he whispered.
II thought aS much. Then 1t 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 posi-
bility of his issuing any. Without a
leader the advantage is ours"
"You mean to Kill him"
"Only as last resort. There is no
good feeling between those Quartered
amidships and the crew."
mo, 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 senior,
Is to set the one against the other"
eyes, if possible. These sailor men
are of all races, Can they be trusted|
"Some might be, sir; It is hard 10
tell how many, II is not the race
which counts so much senior, There
are those among them who would not
care to return TO honesty
"And You, LeVere"
He spread his hands and shrugged
his shoulders. "Therc is no nope OF
me; was born 10 the free life"
"What then is it with you"
"nate. scnor-revcnge," ana his
teeth cleaned savagcly. 81 would spit
on this Manuel who seeks to be chief.
] can never be--no; | am Of black
skin, with negro blood in my veins,
and white men would never have 1t so.
But | can hate, senior. That is why
! am with you now, if the devil so
will. Your plan might wOrk-teIl me
more Of It,"
"What are The odds, say you-thlrty
to hundred? Ay, but surprise will
overcome that. Ny plan is this: First
to secure Manuel as quietly as pos
sible but at whatever cost. With him
in our hands. or dead. the buccaneers
have no leader. What then? There
are men in the crew on deck ana IN
the forccasilr to be trustCd-Watl;ins
/ is one, and be will know others, a
dozen no doubt. They will be enough
. We will whisper the truth to these
and have them ready for signal. The
J. forward door from nmidships is closed
by iron bars--iS it nOtf"
] "Si, senior" his eyes again sparkling
p; with interest. "The men quarrecd
n and there was fighting.'
u "Then there Is no escape In that dl
rcction and It can be no great tasE
to close any passage leading AFT
Lower the deck hatch and we have
those devils below Gagged like so man!
rats. There need he no fighting; star
d walton will bring them TO terms
I. "But. senior, your dozen men canno
s guard the buccaneers below ana als'
n manage the bark. Tho crew arc no
n all lambs--many will sympatnize wit
n those thus locked beneath dcck. ca
10 chose is bad, md a friend Of Manue
d He will fight, ana there are ether
IS to back him."
n- 81 know that. LoVere. The whoi
plan Is desperate, but there Is no othe
, possible. Here IS my scheme. Ther
1t Is n gun rack In the cabin to arm tn
dozen men we can trust, The other
n have nothing hut their sheath kniye
] The buccaneers can he secured below
v before these other lads ever reall1
In what is happening As soon as "
nd have control Of the SHIP Wen rour
is them up forward. They won't Dol
b. face the guns. I'll give them the
ne choice"
Of And what will you tell tbom' S
a. nOrT'
an l caught my breath, conscious
his meaning. My secret hope cou
ret not be revealed to this fellow. II
as answer came quickly to my lips.
Ife "The whole truth, Senor LeVere
he that Manuel conspired to seize {
Fly bark through a mutiny Of the bucC