The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1919-04-11
sBut>hoM did you come into it?"

daytreak about a hundred miles of
the east end of Cuba, Our skipper was
Scotch, and he put Up sone fight, u
it wasn't any use. There was only
three of us left alive when the pirates
cam aboard. One IF these died two
days later. and another was washed
overheard and drowned down in the
Cult. am all that is left Of the
Ranger
You saved your life by taking orr
Sanchez had the two of US, who
were able TO stand. back in his cabin.
He put it to us straight. He said il
was up 10 US whether we signed W or
walked the plank; and he didn't APP
pear to care a damn which. we chose"
And you say others Of this crew
have been obtained in the same man
ner:" / questioned, deeply interested,
and perceivins in this a ray Of hope.
Not exactly-no, / wouldn't pre-
cisely say that. It's true, perhaps,
that most of the Rrftishers were forced
to join in about the same way was,
and there may be a scandinavian or
two. with "a few Dutch, TO be counted
in that list; but the most are pirates
from choice. It's their trade, and they
like it. Sanchez only aims TO keep
hold of A few good men, because be
| has got 10 have sailors; hut most OF
his crew are nothing but plain cot
threats. Indians and half-breeds, mig
| gers, creOleS. Portuguese, Spanish, and
every monGrel you ever heard Of. San
chez himself is half French. The hell
hound who kicked you is 4 Portu-
guese. and LeVere is more niger Thar
! anything else. I'll bet there is q hun-
| fred rats on board this NaInur right
now who'd III your throat for d SOW
treiSn. and never SO much as think Of
ii again"
"A hundred? Is there that many
! eboardT'
"A hundred an thirty all told. Most
! o. EN- bunk amidships. They're not
yailormen. but just cW-throats, an sea
wolves. Yer ought ter see EN- swarm
out on deck. like hungry rats, when
thar's q fight comm. It's all they're
good fer"
Watkins | said soberly, after a
| pause during which he spat on the
| dirty deck 10 thus better express his
| feelings, do YOU mean to say that in
{ three years you've had NJ chance to
escape? No opportunity TO get away!
mot a chance, mate; DO more will
YOU. / know what yer thinkin' bout !
had them notions TOO When / fust
come abOard-gettin' all the decent
sort tergether. and takiE' 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 thet. Every damn
rat is a spy. l amt he'd 10 such talk
rs this afOre in six months, Gates; h
last time cost me twenty iasbes at the
mast-butt. What'd yer have in yer
mind, mater"
."Only this, Watkins. I've got to do
something, and believe j can trust you
its not my life I'm thinking about,
but that of a woman.
"A woman! Not the q brought
aboard last pight?"
Exactly; now listen-Im going TO
tell you my story. q 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. /
SIN Ceoffry Carlyle, an English skip
per-"
Thereupon l told him my story In
detail. Then / said:
Il have no plan to become q 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. II am an
English seaman, and will do my duty,
but, SO far as 1 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-
plieh it alone. The only thing l can
do is to sound out the men aboard, n
learn Just what we can NO.: Ct them
80 e~sf5ffunfiy to ACT cones: Inere
are not more than a dozen at most to
be relied upon. Play your part. and
keep quiet. If you al let her know
of your presence aboard it might be
best-for if she saw you suddenly, un-
prepared, she might say or do some /,
thing to betray 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.
: ut may nj prove as hopeless 9 It
xaIpears now. he whispered oonffdeh-
italy. II helped carry Sanchez 10 his
stateroom, and washed and dressed his
wound. There is no surgeon aboard.
He has a bad cut. and is veEy weak