The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-03-20
CHAPTER XIV.
! Warn Dorothy.

The Portuguese, evidently well pleased at my prompt acceptance of his proposal talked on for some time, explaining to me something of the sit uation aboard the Namur, and point ing out what he believed to be our position on the caart I asked a few questions, although I paid but little attention to what he said. my mind being busied with searching out his real purpose. No doubt the situation was very nearly as he described it to be-LeVere was no navigator, and Estada himself only an indifferent one. Yet at thut the course to the West Indies was not q long one, and if 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 wns planning to keep at sea, to waylay and attack merchant ships, and then, after a successful cruise, arrive at Porto Grande laden with spells and hailed as q 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. l 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, I happened to be chosen to help touch it off The chance I had sought blindly was being plainly revealed.
 It was evident enough, however, that Estada had no intention of trust ing me Immediately with his real mo- lives. His confidence was limited, and his instructions related altogether to mere matters of ship routine. I could await developments. But I was becoming wearied by the man.
 "I understand perfectly, senor." I broke in at last impatiently. You will have to take for granted that I can enforce sea discipline and navi- gate your boat to whatever part of the ocean you desire to sail. All I need Is your orders. This, I take it, is all you require of mel"
 "Yes; plan, you execute"
 "Very good; now about myself" and I arose to my feet, determined to close the interview. "You say I may choose any stateroom on the port side?"
 "They are all unoccupied, except one, used by the steward as a store room"
 l opened the door and stepped out into the main cabin, the roll of charts under my arm. Estada didn't wait fol me to question him.
 "Captain Sanchez staterOom is aft, he said. with q wave of the hand There are two rooms. Jose is witt him-a negro with a knack at nurs ing"
 "Who else is quartered aft here?"
 He ignored the one thing I most de sired to learn, but I did not press it believing I knew the answer already
 'Levere has this middle stateroom and Mendez the one forward. Mende is third officer and carpenter. Jus at present with LeVere required ol deck lie has charge of the men below Not the working crew; they are guar tered in the forecastle and are largel English and Swede. But we have t carry extra men, who bunk amidship -helIhounds to fght-mongrels 0 course. They are allowed on dec amidships when we are at sea, bu are not encouraged to mingle with th sailors. We're over a powder magG zine all the time, Gates-any spar might set it off"
 I opened one of the doors oppOsit and glanced within. The interior di fered but little from that of the state room occupied by Estada, except was minus the table. No doubt the were all practically alike.
 "This will do very we'll" I said qu etly. "Now how about clothes? Thes I wear look rather rough for the ne' job"
 "In send you the steward; he'll fl you out from the slOp chest"
 I was glad to see him go and close the door on him with a sigh of relic It had all occurred so quickly, almo! without effort on my part, I could C little but wonder what strange OCcu renee would be next. What, indee was there for me to do except to ava developments? Only one thing 0 cured to mel must discover son means immediately of cOmmunicatiI with Dorothy Fairfax.
 The importance of tl4is could not overestimated. With myself quartere aft and eating in the cabin we we1 bound to meet sooner or later and u girl must previously be warned of II presence aboard, or in her first sJ prise at the recognition I should instantly betrayed. If I was to ser the girl there must be, first of all, telligent eration between us. Sl