The Mena weekly star., 1919-06-05

Nuii. am all that IS left or the Ranger"
 You saved your life by taking on?'
 Sanchez had the two of us, who were able to stand. back in his cabin. He put it to us straight He said it was up to us whether we signed up or walked the plank and he didn't ap- pear to care a damn which we chose"
 And you say others of this crew have been obtained in the same man. ner?" l questioned. deeply interested and perceiving in this a ray of hope.
 Not exactly-no, l wouldn't pre- cisely say that. It's true. perhaps, that most of the Britishers were forced to join in about the same way I was, and there may be a Scandinavian or two, with 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 few good men, because he has got to have sailors; but most of his crew are nothing but plain cut throats. Indians and haIf-breeds, nig- gers, creoles, Portuguese, Spanish, and every mongrel you ever heard of. San chez himself Is half French. The he'll hound who kicked you is Portu- guese, and Levere is more nigger than anything else. I'll bet there is a hun dred rats on board this Namur right now who'd cut your throat for SOW hfnlr NR it again"
 "A hundred? Is there that many sboardT
 "A hundred an thirty all told. Most D '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 fight comin. It's all they're good fer"
 Watkins" I said soberly, after a 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 escapel No opportunity to get away?'
 Not chance, mate; no more will you l know what yer thinkin' bout. I had them notions too when I fust come aboard-gettin' all the decent sort tergether, and takin' the vessel. 'Twon't work; thar ain't '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 ain't 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, mater
 "Only this, Watkins. I've got to do something, and believe can trust you its not my life I'm thinking about. but that of woman"
 "A woman Not the one brought aboard last night?"
 Exactly; now listen--pm going to tell you my story, and ask your help. My name is not Gates, and l am not the man Mendez brought aboard drunk, and who was thrown over the rail by LeVere. That fellow was drowned. am Geoffry Carlyle, an English skip per"
 Thereupon I told him my story in detail. Then I said:
 q have no plan; to become a mem Der of the crew was my only thought But I must act, if at all before the captain reeovers. He would recognize me at sight. You will aid, advise mef'
 'Tilat is easier to ask than answer, mate" he admitted finally. q am an English seaman, and will do my duty but. so far as 1 can see. there is no plan we can make. It 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- plish it alone. The only thing I can do is to sound out the men aboard, and learn just what we can expect of them if any opportunity to act comes. There are not more than dozen at most to be relied upon. Play your part, and keep quiet. If you can 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.
 "It may not prove as hopeless as il appears now" he whispered eontiden tially. q helped carry Sanchez to his stateroom and washed and dressed hi: wound. There is no surgeon aboard He has bad cut, and is very veal from loss of blood. The question oi our success hinges on Pedro Estada This is chance he has long beer waiting for. The only question is, has he the nerve to act. I doubt if he has alone. but LeVere is with him, anC that half-breed would cut the throai of his best friend. You understand the death of Sanchez would make Estada chief"
 But" I interposed, "in that cast what would the crew do?" Accept Estada, no doubt; at least the cut-throats would be with him, fol he is of their sort. But Sanchez'' death would save you from discovery and" his voice still lower, so that barely distinguished the words, "in tht confusion aboard if we were ready