The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-05-30
CHAPTER xVI-Csntinued.

"Yes; hold my hand while l guide
sou; we can sit here"
1t was a couch of gome kind against
the outer wall. She did not release
her grasp, seemingly gaining courage
from this physical contact, and my fin
gers closed warmly over her own"
Now. please" bleathlessly, chow is
1T possible you aye aboard this yes
sel-aD ofiicer?"
l told her the strange story, as
swiftly and sinply as possible, speak
ing scarcely above a whisper, feeling
as l progressed that / related a dream
rather than a series of facts. 1t
seemed to me she could scarcely be ex-
pected to believe the truth Of what l
said, and yet she did, almost unques-
tioningly, the clasp of her fingers per
ceptibly tightening as / proceeded.
She sat so close beside me that I
could feel her breath upon my cheek.
why, tiff you had not told me
this yourself I could hardly believe
such a tale" she exclaimed. "Yet 1t
must be true, miraculous as it seems.
But what is to be the ending? Have
you any plan Of escape"
Hardly a plan. | have had no op-
~portunity even to learn the true ma
,uYe of the crew. Watkins is an hon
est sailor, and he has told me Of 9TH
ers on whom / could rely. There are
those aboard-but l do not know how
many-who would mutiny if they had
q leader and a reasonable chance of
success. / must reach these and learn
who they are. Fortunately the voyage
promises to be long enough to enable
me to plan carefully"
you have discussed the voyage
With this man-Estada?"
HE told me what he had decided
upon; not to return to their rendez-
vous until after they had captured
some prizes and could 60 with gold
thinking in their pockets"
where is their rendezvous?
"An island in the West Indies, prob
ably not on the chart. They call it
Porto Grande."
And they will sweep the ocean be-
tween here and there seeking victims?
Unarmed merchantmen to rob and
sink? And yOu-yOu will be compelled
to take part in such scenes, such acts
Of pillage and perhaps murderY
II presume I must seem to be one
of them to avoid suspicion. Have you
any suggestiOnsw
"There is conspiracy on board al
ready" she said quickly, "that you may
not know about"
You mean to depose Sanchez"
"Yes; you had su%spicioned it? They
thought me unconscious In the boat,
and talked among themselves-the
two at the stern, Estada and that
beast Manuel. I did not understand
all they said, but I do not think they
intend the captain shall recover"
You think it best that he should?"
"Oh, I do not know; there is no
best that ! can see. Yet I would have
more faith In being spared disgrace
If at the mercy Of Sanchez. than his
lieutenant. Both may be equally guilty,
equally desperate. but they are not the
same e I may be wrong, for l
Judge as a woman, yet l would feel
safer with Sanchez. The other merely
desires with the passions of a brute.
No appeal would reach him /: he would
laugh at tears and find pleasure In
suffering. And yet you would have
me appear friendly with EstadaT"
I'VE cannot permit him to feel that
either of US are enemies. He is the
power aboard: our lives, everything
are In his hands. II he means to be
rid Of Sanchez the man Is doomed. for
ne will find q way to accomplish his
purpose; murder means nothing to
these men,"
"Of purse you are right" she &C
knowledged. "Our case is SO desper-
ate we must resort to any weapons.
You believe 1t will serve the possibility
Of escape IL l permit this monster to
imagine that I have some interest In
himY"
ITO do so might delay the explo-
sion." l replied gravely. rand just now
any delay is welcome. I doubt IL even
EStada will resort to force on board ;
indeed force will be the very last card
ne will care to play In your case. You
are English and all the practical sea-
men on board are from northern Eu-
rope - English and Scandinavian.
These men are not pirates from choice
they are prisoners who have taken
on to save their own lives. With his
DULLES and cutthroats amidships he
a compel them to work, but he dare
not 60 too far. Once these fellows
unite In mutiny they could take the
ship. An assault on you would be
dangerous"
1T Is these men you count on3"
YES but for me to gain their conf
dence and leadership will require
time. The slightest slip would mean
failure and m~erciiess punishment. At
hest the situation IL absolutely des-
Veratp- hut g no other, solution"