Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1919-04-16

est sailor, and he has told me Of 9th.
ers on whom / could rely. There are
those aboard-but I do not know how
many-who would mutiny if they had
a leader and 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 go with gold
thinking in their pockets"
where is their rendezvous?"
can 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 murder?''
81 presume I must seem to be one
of them to avoid suspicion. Have you
any suggestions?"
There is conspiracy on board al
ready she said quickly, shat you may
not know about"
'You mean to depose Sanchez?
"Yes; you had suspicioned it? They
thought me unconscious in the boat,
and talked among themselves-the
two at the stern, Estada and that
beast Manuel. / 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, l do not know; there is no
best that can see. Yet / would have
more faith in being spared disgrace
il at the mercy of Sanchez, than his
lieutenant. Both may be equally guilty,
equally desperate, but they are not the
same men. / may be wrong, for /
judge as woman, yet / would feel
safer with Sanchez. The other merely
desires with the passions of 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 Estada?"
1--WE cannot permit him to feel that
either of us are enemies. He is the
power aboard; our lives, everything
are in his hands. If he means to be
rid of Sanchez the man is doomed, for
he will find way to accomplish his
10
these men,"
"Of course you are right" she ac-
knOwledged. "Our case is so desper-
ate we must resort to any weapons.
You believe it will serve the possibility
of escape if I permit this monster to
imagine that / have some interest in
him?"
ITO do so might delay the explo-
siOn," replied gravely, "and just now
any delay is welcome. / doubt if even
Estada will resort to force on board !;
indeed force will be the very last card
he 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
can compel them to work, but he dare
not go too far. Once these fellows
unite In mutiny they could take the
ship. An assault on you would be
dangerous"
st is these men you count ont"
"Yes; but for me to gain their conf
dence and leadership will require
time. The slightest slip would mean
failure and merciless punishment. At
best the situation is absolutely des-
perate-but / see no other solution"
sand my service is deceit-the act
ing of part to blind the eyes of
EStada?"
II sincerely believe your greater
chance of security lies In this course.
The fellow Is a supreme egotist; op-
position will anger him, while flattery
will make him subservient. You have
the wit and discretion to hold him
within certain limits. 1t Is a danger