The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1919-10-30
CHAPTER XXI.
is
The Crew Decides

NAMED armed there was no suggestion
Of violence. But for the cleaning car.
ronade trained on the main hatch. and
the small group Of gunners clustered
about It. the scene was p%eaceable
enough. resembling the deck Of some
merchant ship. Levere stood notion
less at the poop rail. staring down and
his attitude and expression Of face
aroused within Inc a doubt Of the man,
9 determination to put him to the test.
Evidently he had held aloof and re-
Trained from taking even the slightest
part IN our activities. The men them
selves were mostly forward, grouped
together md still excitedly discussing
he situation.
STAND by to reef topsails," / shout.
ed. Were all n watch now. Go at
It lively, lads. and when the Job Is
over wen eat. and decide together
what's our next move. Two OF you
will be enough to guard the hatch and
one of o go into the cabin aud re-
lieve the girl there. Keep your eyes
open. I'll be down presently. Aloft
with you and see how quick u job you
a make Of It,"
Watkins led the way up the main
mast ratlines, and Cole was first into
the fore shrouds. the others following
eagerly. watched them lay out on
the yards and was heartened TO hear
the fellows sing us they worked, the
canvas melting away as If by magic. !
/ n1tttthnt cha laA1A. 80 l,n.n n ~
stood on the poop, but carefully
ignored his presence, my gaze on the
scene aloft. Twice | gave orders,
changing the steering direction slight
ly, and commanding the lower sails
reered. The mulatto scowling, Joined
me Mt the rail.
whats all this about?" he asked.
That's no storm cloud yonder."
There is always danger In fog"
answered coldly, land besides there Is
M use carrying on until we know
where we are bound. My purpose Is
to keep the men busy. and then talk
the situation over with them. Have
you any criticism OF this plan. Senior
Levere?"
He hesitated. but his eyes were mar
rowed. and ugly.
you'll do as you please, but you
told me we sailed for Porto Grande.
Was that n iie?"
mot necessarily" and | smiled
grimly. although | should not have
hesltated to tell one under the circum-
stances. menn to leave that decision
to the men themselves. 1t is their
lives that are in danger"
THAT scum half Of them are Eng.
fish and French. All they want Is to
get away; th0y will never go back TO
Porto Grande without you make
them"
How make them?"
by false observations; there Is no
navigator forward. II Is a trick easy
enough to play with a little nerve. !
would have taken part In this
mutiny II l had supposed you meant
TO play into the hands of the men,"
ut Is very little part you took Senior
Levere. judging from what | saw. You
seemed quite content to stand aft here
and look on. However you are In Il
just as deeply as | an. and are going
10 play he game out with me TO the
end. DO you understand that?"
What you mean, senor-play 1t
out?"
Go on with the rest OF US; take
your chance with The men and do your
duty. | am captain here. The first
sign OF treachery on your part will
send you below with those others.
don't trust you, and all | want is an
excuse TO put YOU out OF the way-so
be careful what you do"
turned and walked away from him
toward the forward rail. The men
were still nloft but coming In from OF
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 there3' she asked.
Certainly let me help you. Stand
here beside me, and you can see all
that IL being done. That's all, lads
breakfast Is ready; lay down all ex
cept the lookout"
We watched while they streamed
down the ratllnes and gathered for
! ward Of the galley, squattlng in group,
7 on the deck. To all appearances IN,
fellows had not n care In the world
. or any thought Of the stirring scene,
Just passed through. The girls hant
touched my sleeve, and | turned ant
looked into her face.
"Have you considered Captain San
chezT" she asked.
"why no." In surprise, ''he Is help
. less below. badly wounded"
Z mot so badly as you suppose sh,
> said swiftly. "He Is able to be up an,
: about his stateroom. heard hin
0 moving. and believe the steward ha
told him what has occurred on board
' md e~ndeavored to basr a messag
from him to those men ~amldships.
Z held my pistol to his head and locke,
him In the pantry. He In there now