, 1923-02-14
WV

ran owe his face. and "A loathful
thrill shocked him into reality.
He tried to o and sat up. He
heard a frenzicd squeak:ng, and a
light 'scamDerinE on wood, and he
knew that 4 rat had run ne his
boCy.
All the sensations OF consciousness
assailed him abruptly. He knew
where he was in~stantly-the tumble
OF casks and kegs and boxes told him
he was in the ships l~aznret.
Next he became aware that some.
thing was the matter with his arms
They achcd cruelty. After n mo-
ment's experimenting and reflection
the truth came to him with shocking
force-hIs arms were drawn behind
| him, and his wrists were handcuffed
together. The shock OF that dis
covery dissipated the fog over his
mind.
This sun of his memories was clear,
and for the moment 1t crushed and
terrified him. For 1t was evident
that the brig was in Carew's hants.
They had been surprised in the fog,
n piracy had occurred, murder mad
been done, and Wild Bob and his
yellow followers had taken the ship.
MacLean was dead! And Little
Billy was dead! Captain Dabney was
dead! The crcw-God knew, per
haps they were slaughter cd too!
AnC Ruth-Rutt. 49, awe, in Ca.
rew's hands. at the mercy Of the
brute she so feGrel. Ruth vas alive
to suffer what fate?
And he-he who loved her-was
chained and helpless.
Panic. rage, despair. shook Martin.
In excess of misery. he groaned
| aloud, a smothered sob of anguish.
Martin. lad! Ave you come
around? You're sIttIn' ID. Ow, swig'
gle me. lad, Pipe up"
The words came from the huddled
figure behind a stanchion, in a
husky, ~beseeching rumble.
Words tore barbed through Mar
tins sore throat, and were hardly
managed by his dry. swollen tongue.
IAN neutrality-suspicious."
He got unou his knees and hunch-
the stanchicn.
"Drink-dry-wnter," he gabbled
painfully.
'Marty-ATarty, lad, I'm glad
you're 'ereI'' came the heartfelt
whisper from tho boatswatn. Il
feared e 'ad chokcd the life out Q
| We. Dry. ye say? So am l, lad. Cussed
so much I can't splt-an' my backs
bloomin' well busted from bending
| over Juggling this stanchion""
Martin. leaning against n tier OF
boxes, was able to see the boatswain
more clearly. IIc saw that the big
man was in his underwear. The
b,atswain was seated on the floor
and his arms and legs. ironet9 en-
c!rcled the stanChion.
Can We stand. Martin? ave they
ironcd you, too"
Behind back-hand," Martin man
eyed TO gulp u Throat bad
can't talk-dry-'
"Be'ind your back broken In the
boat swain. "Ow-blast tho cruel
devilsl Behind your back-ironcd
beind your back, An you lyIn' on
YOUR arms these hours! But al yo
stand. Martin? Ave you the use O
YOUR legs? Because, them boxes
you're Ieanln' against arc canned
roods-tomatoes an such
But Martin heard no more. He had
struggled to his feet and began to in
yestigate. 4 vision OF himself quai-
fling deeply OF the cool. wet contents
OF those cans. filled Martins mind to
the exclusion Of aught else.
The row OF boxes was about breast
high. Unable to use his hands, Mar
I'm leaned over and explored with
his chin. The fourth box rewarded
him. lie rubbed his jnwbone over
the cold, smooth. round tops Of cans.
The boatswain. following his pro
gross with ego and ear, counscled
him:
Turn around, bend over, and
reach W backwards. No2 Well, try
and get on top O. tho pile, and flop
over
It required repeated attempts, but
J at last he pluckod n can out and
kicked Il ~ the FlnnaLIsM