White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1925-10-23
Continued from Last Week.
CHAPTER XIV
The Scared Soul

II drugged him." said Michael rap
idly in Russian. "Take them quickly
my MASTER" he went on, offering the
pistols to me- II go to get more. He
has the constitution Of an ox-he will
not sleep long"
Glory be, here was a knockout, and
no mistake! Sincerity shone In the
boys eyes; he could be trusted. No
matter why; what secret hate i'm
PEELED him to deliver The Hawk to us
that could wait until later. For the
present he had the upper hand.
Quickly l passed the guns to the
others-two for Knowlton, who was
undoubtedly the best shot, and one
each for Mulvane and myself
Michael had gone. Mulvane, quick
to accept a nadvantage you put before
him, took charge.
"Follow that boy, Bellew, and see
that he turns loose the Aleutian men,"
he ordered Hold the pirates that
are now in the foc'sle. Knowlton and
will take care of the after-guard."
Jane was for the moment forgotten:
but there was nothing she could do,
save keep under cover.
At the break Of the first deck-house
met Michael Behind him were
Thorne, the mate, and three members
of the Aleutians crew.
Skipper and two others coming"
said Thorne. That's all that's left OF
us. Gimme gun!"
Michael hurried into the main cabin,
where, apparently, the arms were
kept. Back he came, bringing more
automatics. We had The Hawk this
time!
Captain Allen and the other two
came up then, and 1 told all of them
Of Mulvane's plan. Without waiting
for Captain Allen to act, Thorne took
charge. Just as he was placing his
men in positions calculated to stop
any rush that might be made from the
foc'sle, once the pirates discovered
what was up, we heard hail from
aft.
Cali clear here, Bellew!" 1t was
Mulvane. A bewhiskered head poked
itself out of the foc'sle; regarded us
with plain establishment, and then
vanished
Hold 'em, Thorne!" told the
mate. They'll be up to something
now. want to see Mulvane."
On the poop found a man neatly
trussed and rolled into the scuppers.
1t was The Hawks first mate. A
thoroughly frightened helsman conned
the ship, Knowlton standing behind
him with gun. We had the Osprey!
"Send Thorne aft, and man to
take the Wheel" ordered Jimmy. "And
tell Captain Allen that we want new
course" Luck was playing our hand;
we'd come sailing into some American
port with as fine bunch OF pirates
under hatch as anybody could ask.
Going forward l met Jane. She was
frightened, but eager to help. 1 hand
ed her a gun.
STAND guard over The Hawk, until
we get the ship In charge" told her.
1t looked easy enough; the pirate was
drugged. We'd have him in irons in
few minutes more. She flew to obey.
Forward, found Thorne, worried.
"They may be sewed up, but don't
be too sure about It," he warned. 1.-THE
bulkheads below decks may be honey
comber with passages. These fellows
are armed. We've got to guard against
their popping up on us from some
other place."
Just then heard the sound of run.
ming feet behind me. 1t was Jane,
and her eyes were swapping with ex.
element.
"The Hawk is gone!" she cried.
| Dazed at her words, / raced back
with her, Thorne, swinging his gun,
at our heels. But 1t was true; the
cabin was empty.
Then we heard tramping on the
poopdeck overhead, and the muffled
bark OF guns. Out of the cabin we
tumbled, and at the foot of the ladder
leading to the poop were Knowlton
and Mulvane, backing down and fir
Ing at someone above.
Forward, everybody" yelled Null
vane, and he and Knowlton covered
our retreat. l got one glimpse Of the
poop, and 1t was black with pirates.
There, too, was the towering figure of
The Hawk. He had recovered, as Mi
chael had feared likewise Thorne had
been right In his guess that below
decks was a passage leading aft from
the foc'sle. The pirates had slipped
beneath us and joined their master.
Bullets whined along the deck,
splintering stanchions. We crouched.
and returned the fire, but they out
numbered us five to one. Step by
step we retreated until we were close
to the break OF the focsle.
Someone spoke In Russian behind
US, and wheeled, gun in hand, think
ing 1t was one Of the pirates. Michael
was at the foc'sle door, reckoning to
us. The situation came to me in a
flash: the foc'sle was empty, with all