The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1919-07-25

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| guese. and Leyere is more niger than
anything else. I'll bet there is hun
bred rats on board this Namur right
now who'd cut your throat for a SOW
ereign, and never so much as think of
1t again."
"a hundred? Is there that many
aboardr'
"a hundred an thirty all told. Most
o. 'em bunk amidships. They're not
sailormen, but just cut-throats, an sea
wolves. Yer ought ter see 'em swarm
out on deck, like hungry rats, when
thar's fight comm. It's all they're
good fer"
watkins" / said soberly, after
pause during which he spat on the
dirty deck to thus better express his
feelings, "do you mean to say that in
three years you've had no chance to
escape? No opportunity to get away?"
mot chance, mate; no more will
you. know what yer thinkin' bout. l
| had them notions too when fust
come aboard-gettin' all the decent
| sort tergether, and takin' the vessel.
| Twon't work; thar amt 'nough who
wud risk it, and If thar wus, yer
couldn't get 'em tergether. Sanchez is
too damn smart fer tibet. Every damn
rat is spy. / amt he'd no such talk
as this afore In six months, Gates; the
last time cost me twenty lashes at the
mast-butt What'd yer have in yer
mind, mater"
"Only this, Watkins I've got to do
something, and believe can trust you
IFS not my life I'm thinking about, |
but that of a woman"
"a woman, Not the one brought |
aboard last night?"
Exactly; now listen-Im going to |
tell you my story, and ask your help.
My name is not Gates, and / am not
the man Mendez brought aboard drunk.
and who was thrown over the rail by
LeVere. That fellow was drowned. |
am Geoffry Carlyle, an English skip
per-"
Thereupon l told him my story in
detail. Then / said:
Il have no plan to become a mem
Der of the crew was my only thought.
But / must act, if at all, before the
captain RECEIVERS. He would recognize
me at sight. You will aid, advise
me?"
''That is easier to ask than answer,
mate" he admitted finally. 81 am an
English seaman, and will do my duty,
but, so far as / can see. there is no
plan we can make. 1t is God who will
save the girl, if she is to be saved. He
may use us to that end, but it is
wholly beyond our power to accom-
plish it alone. The only thing l can
10 is to sound out the men aboard, and
earn just what we can expect of them '
f any opportunity to act comes. There
ire not more than dozen at most to
De relied upon. Play your part, and [
Keep quiet. If you can let her know S
If your presence aboard it might be
,est-for if she saw you suddenly, I'M o
prepared, she might say or do some q
hing to betray you. There are other c
easOns why it may be best for her to r
now she is not entirely deserted" n
He leaned over, motioning me Il
oward him, until his lips were at my f;
ar. n
at may not prove as hopeless as it b
ppears now" he whispered confiden- G.
tally. II helped carry Sanchez to his Ia
and washed and dressed his h
'ound. There is no surgeon aboard w
lie has bad cut, and is very weak L
rom loss of blood The question of IL
ur success hinges on Pedro Estada b.
his is chance he has long been hi
-aiting for. The only question is, has III
e the nerve to act. / doubt if he has 10
lone, but LeVere is with him, and m
rat half-breed would cut the throat to
his best friend. You understand? W
the death of Sanchez would make al
stada chief" 81
But" / interpOsed, sin that case is
hat would the crew do?"
accept Estada, no doubt; at least ga
lie cut-throats would be with him, for ell
: is of their sort. But Sanchez's m
,ath would save you from discovery, fla
ID" his voice still lower, so that ! eli
rely distinguished the words, Gin the ]
infusion aboard, IL we were ready, 20
e Namur might be so disabled as to tn
mpel them TO run her ashore for re- tn
lirs. That would give you chance. OF
once we reach Porto Grande there TIL
no hope" FIJI
A marling-spike pounded on the tt
uttle, and Haines' voice roared ms
wn. so
'sPort watch Hustle out, builiesl" sol
| sy