The state herald., 1919-08-22
Copyright. BY a. c. McClurs & Co.

Copyright. by A. c. McClurg 4 Co.
| hound who kicked you Is q Portu
guese, and leVere is more niger than
anything else. I'll bet there 10 hun
dred rats OH board this Namur rlgh,
now who'd cut your throat for SOW
erelgn, and never SO much as think Of
1t again"
"A hundred3 Is there that many
aboardT
"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 a fgh, comm. It's all they're
good fer"
"Watkins." l said soberly, after q
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
escapei No opportunity to get awayT'
"Not q chance, mate; no more will
you. know what yer thinkln' bout.
had them notions too when 1 fust
come aboard-gettin' all the decent
sort tergether. and takin' the vessel.
'Twon't work; thar amt 'nough who
wud risk II, and II thar wus. yer
couldn't get 'em tergether. Sanchez is
too damn smart fer thet Every damn
rat is a 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, mate7"
"Only this, Watkins. I've got to do
something. and believe I can trust you
its not my life I'm thinking about.
but that Of a woman"
"A woman! Not the one brought
aboard last night?"
Exactly; now listen-Tm going to
tell you my story. and ask your help.
My name is not Gates, and I am not
the man Mendez brought aboard drunk,
and who was thrown over the rail- by
LeVere. That fellow was drowned. l
am Geofrry Carlyle. an English skip
per-"
Thereupon l told him my story in
detail. Then I said:
II have no plan; to become a men,
ber Of the crew was my only thought.
But l must act, II at all, before the
captain recovers. He would recognize
me at sight. You will aid. advise
meT
THAT is easier to ask than answer,
mate" he admitted finally. II am an
English seaman. and will do my duty.
but. DO far al I can see. there Is 10
plan we can make. 1t Is God who will
save the girl. II she is to be saved. He
may use rs to that end, but It is
wholly beyond our power to accom-
plish II alone. The only thing I can
do is to sound out the men aboard, and
learn Just what we can expect of them
II any opportunity to act comes. There
are not more than dozen at most to
be relied upon. Play your part. and
keep quiet. II you can let her know
Of your presence aboard It might be
best--for II she saw you suddenly. un.
prepared. she might say or do some.
thing to be'ray you. There are other
reasons why It may be best for her to
know she is not entirely deserted"
He leaned over. motioning me
toward him. until his lips were at my
ear. ----------
1T may not prove as hopeless Al II
appears now." he whispered confiden'
TALLY. II helped carry Sanchez to his
stateroom. and washed and dressed his
wound. There is no surgeon aboard
He has . bad cut. and is very weak
from loss Of blood. The question OF
our success hinges on Pedro Estndn
This 10 q chance he has long been
waiting for. The only question is. hns
he the nerve to act. I doubt II he has
alone. but Levere ID with him. and
that half.breed would cut the throat
Of his best friend. You understand
the denth Of Sanchez would make
Estada chief"
"But." interposed. "in that case
what would the crew dor
accept Estadn, NO doubt; mt leas,
the cut'throats would be with him. fol
he In Of their sort. But Sanchez,
death would save you from discovery
and" his voice still lower. 80 that
barely distinguished the words. "in tn,
confusion aboard. II we were ready
the Nnmur might be 30 disabled as 4
compel them to run her ashore for 70
pairs. That would give you n chance
II once we reach Porto Grande thcr,
II no hope"
A mnrlingspikc pounded on tn,
scuttle. and Hnlnes' voice ronrct
down.