St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1919-08-02

toward the forward rail. The men
We're still aloft but coming in from off
the yards. Below me in the door of
the companion, stood Dorothy, her
eyes peering curiously about the de-
serted deck. She glanced up and saw
me.
May come up there?' she asked.
Certainly let me help you. Stand
here beside me, and you can see all
that is being done. That's all, lads:
breakfast is ready ;, lay down all ex-
cept the lookout"
We watched whAe they streamed
down the ratlines and gathered for
ward of the galley, squatting in groups
on the deck. To all appearances the
fellows had not a care in the world,
or any thought of the stirring scenes
just passed through. The girls hand
touched my sleeve, and | turned and
looked into her face.
"Have you considered Captain San
chez?" she asked.
why no." in surprise, "he is help
less below, badly wounded
"Not SO badly as you suppose" she
said swiftly. He is able to be up and
about his stateroom. I heard him
moving, and I believe the steward has
told him what has occurred on board,
and ~endeayored to bear a message
from him to those men amidships. ]
held my pistol to his head and locked
him in the pantry. He is there now
with the sailor you sent on guard
That is what I came on deck to tell
you"
HE is a danger, of course, but not q
serious one" I said confidently. 'It
is safe enough to leave him undis,
turbed at present. The first thing ]
need to do is to satisfy those men. III
attend to that now, and then see to
the proper securing of Sanchez. Re
main here with LeVere while / go for
ward, and watch that he does not at
tempt to go below"
The fellows had not finished mess
but ] felt the danger of further delay
and talked to them as they sat Oh
deck, explaining briefly the entire stu
alton, and the causes leading up to the
mutiny. | dealt with the matter In
plain terms, making no apparent effort
to influence them, yet forcibly com
Polling each Individual to realize what
would be the result Of our recapture
They listened earnestly, asking an oc
casional question, and passing com
ments back and forth freely among
themselves.
/ sent Watkins to the cabin for 8
roll of charts, and spreading these out
endeayored as well as / could, to make
clear our probable position and thu
nearest point of land. When / haC
completed the explanation, and stood
before them awaiting decision, 1t wa:
Haines who acted as their spokesman
This yere is Cape Howarth?" HI
asked, a grimy thumb on the point in
dictated. SAN yer say It's bout q hun
dred and fifty miles West?"
"Yes, about that?'
"An' thar's ne settlement?"
~Some colonists fifty miles north Il
ALL"
THAT'S bout right" He turned Il
the Others. "Say mates, this is how
figure. We can't go on no long cruis'
with all those bloody rats in the hold
They're bound ter find some way GU
If we give 'em time 'nough. Fer as TT
concerned, I'm fer dividin' up whu
we've got, and ter hell with piratin
What Ter yer say, mates? Shall W
run the OF hooker ashore, an leav
her thar, while we tramp the coast
We're just a shipWrecked crew. Wha
say yer?"
There was a chorus Of approval sui
ficient in volume to satisfy me, and
accepted this as a decision.
"All right, lads,"I said briefly. II
my judgment your choice is a wis
one. I'll have an observation as 500
as the fog clears and wen head In 70
the Cape?"
"When do we divide the swag1"
'Fffty miles off the coast. That
fair enough, isn't it? And my shar
goes to you"
There was a struggling cheer, but
broke it up with a sharp order.
"Now stand by for work, all Of yor
Watkins and Carter, I want you aft"
Continued Next Wek.l