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LUCILLE LOVE. The Girl of Muslere
'Ey the “MA.STETR. TEW”
Copyright, 1914. All moving picture right « reserved by the Univereal Film Manufacturing Company,
who are now exhibiting this production in leading theaters. Infringements will be vigorously prosq
c uted.
S YNOPSIS OF THE FOREGOING CHAPTERS.
While students together at West Point, and in
love with the same girl, Sumpter Love proves
Hugo Loubeque a thief, and Loubeque is dishorn
orably discharged. Love wins the girt. The en
mity thus begun finds outlet in later years at
Manila, when a butler thief in the employ of
Loubeque, now ah international spy, steals valu
able papers from the Government safe of Gen
eral Love. Loubeque sails with them on the
steamship Empress and General Love accuses
Lieut. Gibson, his aide and the sweetheart of his
daughter Lucille, of the crime. Loubeque sends a
wireless message clevqrly insinuating that Gen
eral Love had sold tlte papers to a foreign power.
To save the honor of the man she loved and to
erase the stigma from her father's name, Lucille
prevails upon Harley, c Government aviator, to
’.ahe her out to the ship, in his aeroplane. To foil
Lucille, Loubeque destroys the wireless apparatus
pn the Empress and is hurt in the resulting ex
plosion. In her search for the papers, Lucille be
comes his nurse, anc when the. ship tahes fire, se
cures them. The vessel is burned to the water s
edge and Lucille drifts to a strange island on the
par of a crushed lifeboat. Lucille is rescued by
friendly savages. She is given an amulet for
turing the Chief's daughter, and it proved potent
tgainst the machination of Hugo Loubeque, who
likewise cast on the is.Ond, plans to get the
papers. He burns Lucil'e's hut, but she escapes
vith the precious papers. He sends a decoy mes
lage asking her to come t\s the home of a neigh
boring chief, whose wife is ill and in need of
tursing. On the way there she falls into a covered
\it, dug by Loubeque acme her path. Her guide,
;n old crone, tahes the papers from Lucille, and
,ives them to Loubeque, who goes with them to
•ie jungle. His guide ana servant steals them,
>ut is hilled by a lion, a,.d Lucille, who had
ailed them three days, recovers them from the
tody. Lucille meets a strange cave dwelling peo
ple, is attacked by monkeys, escapes in a canoe,
i nd is cairied into an undergr \nd “vhirlpool.
CHAPTER XX.
The Uvitcrtous Other Passn.gcf,
- AKTF.It, faster, In ever shortening
fx -r** circles the creamy foam of savage
< Vjlhl T waters drew the frail catamaran
ifaln I 'ho ugly. block rock that
■ 8 row front oat it* center, leering
l (■I f upon the helplessneau of the Hcll
cate morsel being hrought him.
11l And Lui#*le, the useless, lrroken
111 paddle in her hands, fought des
\fflalf perately against her fate, though
knowing the bit. of wood could do
milling in calm water much less against this
rtthing whirlpool.
Instead of dulling her brain, the very use
rssness of her efforts quickened every faculty,
anted up her natural instinct, for life. Quito
il r *.|l\ a l ten culm visited her, a calm that
■e.-fr<| upon her spirit like a soothing halm,
pucting and ending ,*Wiout being soporific. She
; sled from h*»- efforts, drawing the paddle
01, mile from tin water with an effort, ller eyes
were alert, burning in their intensity as she
Umled before her, staring at the rock that
teemed so inevitably for her gravestone without
J;c slightest is'rturbation.
Homal and round in the circles of waters
o' frail craft sped. The now of the catamaran
] irncd the grasping whirlpool aside, seeming to
leap joyously at this opportunity for a mag
nificent annihilation against, the rock Instead of
I i lag slowly rent to bits by the water it had
111 tv ays conquered. For a brief fraction of u sec
ond tlie circular progress was halted, the canoe
being held steady, quivering as another force
seized it and tried to fight, against the whirl
pool. Lucille held her breath, measuring the
length of time a new hope arrived In hours in
stnid of the. seconds It really «m Then the
craft shot out of the current and continued upon
its wild chase toward tlte nek.
It. was now n matter of but two revolution*
at best liefore the end. Lucille saw this with
eves that flinched not, yet that refused to hold
any dread. Half way round the circle some in
stinct from within caused her to lift the jrnddle
end, thrusting it out even as she closed her eyes
tgainst the contact with the rock that seemed
Inevitable. The stout wood splintered in her
luitids as it crushed against the monster rock,
tearing it from lier grasp with such force that
tn involuntary cry issuod aiiuultaneously from
her lips.
She crouched back a-shudder, her eyes closed
against teeing the end, her lift« opening and clos
ing without the blessed relief of word*. Once
more the current that hod withheld the craft
reached out and fought against the whirlpool.
Lucille knew It was useless but even this brief
respite seemed worth while. Something sloshed
against her cheek and her hands Instinctively
reached up, clutching, grasping, dinging to the
thick tangle of creejs-rs let down from the en
circling jungle.
The canoe whirled out from under her while
She clung there, the savage water leaping, snap
ping at fier feet Came a crunching to her ears,
v sound tost made her hold tighter upon the
She looked up, reaching at a higher jiolnt
Hi tike vine-tangle, u place where the auction of
4he wafer might be avoided.
"r-qiervion loaned her strength. Times it
gsenied she eould not draw herself another inch,
o*.t one took at the white whirlpool beneath gave
fresh energy to her arms. Uesaun came to her
aid as she saw mcr progrem waa taking her to
ward laud as well as in the air For ju«t a (sec
ond she rested, then bravely reached out and
clambered along the thick vine until ahe now the
earth I>ene«kh. then dropp'd and lay (muting
upon the ground, shaking with a nervous chill as
the reaction seized her.
loud voices wakened her from the state of
(self pitV which followed tbe civil 1. Klie looked
up swiftly, now that, tine dense fastnesses encir
cling her were roullv ]*regnable, fearing a new
enemy A moment liefore she in her loneliness
and misery would have sacrificed almost any*
tiling for the night of a human Iveitig. Now that
■lie knew men. and men who spoke lier own
gnr, were within hearing distance she shrank
back, afraid.
Fate hod been an kind to tier and man so
unkind that she realized her chief danger tint*
nltaneously with the recollection of what she
had to guard. She clutched si the little sack,
thrilling lit the rustle of the papers she had
fought so hard to gain, at thought of what they
meant to her sweetheart In Manila. The diary
told her that Hugo lembeque hod thousands of
men working to do hia will, Bhe must be very
wary of whom she trusted. Better the jungle
than I xpubaq'-ir airttin.
The thrill protattinjr creek of oar locks
drove away her soar, supplant insr it with one of
wild alarm. The meu were poinj? away, were
leaving her alone here. She had ohoaen thU
junflf where ahe knew Hup" Louheque to be in
preference to a fairly certain chance of eeoajm.
Of the million* of inhabitant* of the globe why
•Imsw atM . .. .
that imdnew ha/1 induced her to hang 1 back be
fore tbits opportunity which waa slipping with
every faint creaking sound that reached her
ears. Bhe filing herself wildly through the tangle
of thick vegetation that barred her way from
the sound, crying aloud at the. top of her voice
for anaistance even though she knew no sound
could carry to tin* men. She found herself stand
ing upon a pebbly little- beach that snatched a
serene crescent of water from the ocean. Strain
ing her eyes she could. dimly see a large rrrw
boat at the tip of the crescent, its objective
point being obviously a beautifully slender yacht
anchored well out to sea.
bneille waved her arm* in the air wildly,
running up and down the beach in desperation
as ahe saw her opportunity for escape from the
terrible jungle receding. Her throat was racked
from the dry sob* which <-scaped her, sobs of
rage and chagrin at her own cowardice and folly.
The papen- were in her the papers
for which she fought ho hard and which were so
useless here. And, at the first opportunity to get
away, get where they might do some good, her
courage had failed her.
Suddenly she stopped dead in her trades, her
fist* tightly clenched as the pressed them
aitaliiHt, her breast, frightened for fear what she
had. seen might turn out nothing more than an
optical. illusion. Then, with a gasp of delight
she made out that thu boat luid stopp'd, that the
man standing in the Ik»w was no chimera of her
brain, and that it was Istiig turned- arul wo*
coming toward her. Was coming toward her.
Over and over again she recreated it. She
horl been even at the last moment and was going
to bo taken away. Hire lifter! her eyes in an un
ftpoken prayer, a prayer that included a promise
never again tsi allow liardship tr> no weaken and
blind her as It iuul done this time. And the
prayer wnt not even finished before the lioat
/rounded lightly at, her feet and she found her
self Hjmaking to a heavy-featured, youngish man
who waa evidently in command of the yacht,.
There was something sinister about the man,
something sho could not define and which she set
down to lev a freakish feminine mood, that mads
lu-r distrust him even while sh(- told her story.
Shi- noticed that lie wris paying but slight ntteri-
I ion to her words but that, his eyes were fastr
enerl upon her face in such bold admiration that
she instinctively drew away from him.
Suddenly he turned to his men, roughly or--
den them lo prtqsire for the row out, then
unstated Lucille P> a sent. alongside himself. 'Try
though she would she could not feel the joy
that seemed natural as the boat slipped through
the water, propelled by the sturdy oarsmen. She
studied them keeniy. Hough, jwiwerful men they
were, but she was woman enough to know them '
to bo the sort easily handled by a beautiful
woman, the weaker the easier. Something told
her before she was done with the captain of the
yacht there won Id citnt the necessity for ap
pealing to them. And she saw that this man was
heartily disliked, that his arrogant, manner, his
gruff commands were not pleasant to hi* crew.
Khe noticed also that two of the Oarsmen hod
face that showed signs of recent battering. Tbs
Intuition that had served her so well before
told lier Captain Wetherell, for such was the
name he used In Introducing himself, hod been a
party to this.
It waa the sixth day out that, for the first
time, (the «nw the man upon the deck in day
time. Captain \Y ether ell was scanning the sky,
his brow clouded ojid his heavy jaw thrust for
ward like un angry bull-dog Lucille was stand
ing beside the old bontmvt!*!, questioning him
and whiling away the long sultry dny by listen
ing to the stories he loved to tell her. She waa
suddenly aware of the keen, lowering scrutiny of
her host and, ns wins her custom, Immediately
started toward lier eahin. She heard a swift
atop across the deck and hurried the faster, only
pausing to look tuck wiiej* she reached her door.
A little cry of pity and rage came from her
lips when, with on ugly oath, VVetherell lifted
Ids great fist and floored the old seaman, grin
ning maliciously down at the man, then, with a
shrug of the shoulders starting to turn away.
Every womanly impulse nose up within her- at
the outrageous, uncalled-for attack. Forgetful of
lier own precarious position, forgetful of every
thing save the pain of the old man upon the deck,
she started to his assistance, when the door of
the Chinaman’s state-room slapped open and the
occupant strode across the deck toward Weth
enell.
And then Lucille halted stone-still, her eyee
widening with amazement and terror. Bhe could
not analyze her sensation, did not attempt to do
■o, but there was something a I.nit the move
ments of tlie man, a commanding mastery, a
control of self-evident rage us he srpoke with
IVet.hrreU In low tones of suppressed passion
that struck a chill to her heart.
The captain eyed the man angrily for a mo
ment, then turned and slipped away, his very
back dropping like that of a whipped cur. Lucille
i urned to enter her cabin but something caused
the door to stick open a scant Inch or so. Bhe
felt an inclination to scream for aid blit amaze
ment at recognition of the man who stepped
Into tlie eahin behind her, softly closing the
door, held her dumb. For, under the yellow
coloring, the made-up slanting eyre, the Mon
ogollau mask he had mo cunningly assumed, fear
loaning clarity to her vision, she recognised
Hugo Loubeque and Instinctively both hands
clos|>ed at the little bag alvout her neck which
lveld the precious papers. The spy smiled at the
impulsive gesture.
“You nave guessed the reason for this In
trusion. Miss love,” he murmured gravely, his
rich voice holding a note of deference and apol
ogy whioh she recalled as so much a part of him,
which waa continually checking her hatred for
the man. “1 am sorry but you surely must see
by now that there la no escape from me; you
must understand that this pursuit Is most un
pleasant but that you have no chance to thwart
me. The )m(iers, If you please. 9
The terror-widened eyes of the girl nar
rowed slowly as her gone traveled from the in
domitable face to the outstretched hand. No
chance, he said! Hut. there was a chance, always
had beenta chance; always would be, so long as
sho retained the courage to fight him! The game
"ns In her hands, had been equal up to now.
Her li|« port,'d in a smile as alia moved toward
the door and held It open for him to leave. He
frowned im|Mtiently, shaking hia head as though
at the stubbornness of a child.
“Mist Lucille,” he continued, his tones sharp
er, “you must- njipreciate my forbearance toward
yoai so far. It canuot continue forever. Un
doubtedly you know my power. Hoes it not
startle you to And me iu a position of authority
upon this yacht. It Is always so, Everrwhere I
find my assistants. Forty years of my" life has
been spent In ordering events so that such ob
stacles as you have encountered would be at my
command. Till now, 1 have refrained frean se
curing the documents you hold by violence. You
know the reason for my forbearance. But, un
derstand now, that it ran continue no longer.
The iSi|HTK. if you please."
* She quaUvtl befvic tlij HgU'.jiiug that parted s
from his sombre eyes. Common sense, the in
stinct for self-preservation, everything urged her
to obey. Yet when her hands sought her bosom
the feel of the precious little bag renewed her
courage, gave lier strength to meet his eyes with
a courage greater even than his own assurance.
Her eyes held to his with an effect of fright
ened fascination. It was the change in his tone,
tin- difference iri his wording of the demand that
told Hugo Loubeque’s patience had been finally
frayed to the breaking point, that craft and
diplomacy would be things of the past did she
not relinquish the papers to him now. Yet Duty,
Love—twin shadows, wraith-like, yet of iron
strength held her back from obedienee. The spy
recognized the. spirit in the girl and stepped to
ward the port-hole, motioning with his hand to
ward the dancing waves without, his voice low
pitched yet surcharged with ominousness.
“Think, Miss Love, think of our positions.
Match my strength, brut* strength, against, your
own; measure the strength of any one of the
thousands who implicitly obey me. Those waters
tell no tales, give up no ghastly secret*. See how
thle waves reach up toward us; think how the
liody of each wave is but a mouth, large enough
and Hjieedy enough to gulp any object thrown
toward it. Think of that. Miss Love, I beg of
you, then give me the little bag you wear about
your neck.
His voice was full of pleading yet his eyes
held* a death message which made her shudder
as she realized the sincerity of his threat.
“You seek to save the ones dear to yon,
child, from the one I hate. You think me wicked,
cruel, relentless, and I am all of these things.
You fight me on the impulse of love and I fight
hack with the poison of a hate that is my '-erv
life, my heart and soul and my body. Forty
yearn ago I might have done as yon do now,
but all the imimises of that time aro dead, killed
by your father; all the love I ever had, the only
love, has been deadj for forty years, killed by
your father; all the ambition of that time of
TOiith, the haiipinem of hope, the pride of father
land, is dead, has been dead for forty years,
killed by your father, General Sumpter Love.
And you- von think that I would stop at. vio
lence to prevent your thwarting me; yon think
1 would trade those forty years of hate for the
faint splash of a girl's body on the waters of
this gTeat waste. TYue, the sound would din in
my ears of nights but the forty years have
been filled with just such sounds; true, there
would be regret for one who recalls memories I
thought quite dead —but the forty years have
supplanted those memories with aetlv* dreams of
hat* —hate—hate."
The while his tones grew lower, they carried
a vibrant thrill that struck at her very heart.
His face was flinty, ns, with passionate pleading
she lifted her eyes to hia Instinctively she re
coiled os a shadow fell lietiveen them. loubeque
frowned as Captain Wetherell joined them, his
eyes flashing a questioning glance at the pallid
face of the girl. Lucille watched the two men
breathlessly, realizing a* she looked at them,
that they hated each other, realizing also that
she was the ranee of this hatred. Like a battle
of dogs It w-ns, the two, silent, motionless men.
Then the spy limved gravely' and stepped on the
deck, followed closely by the eaptnin of ths
yacht.
Cold the waves were to the eye where, be
fore, they had been warm and Inviting; heart
less the splash against the yacht’s frail side*
where before it had soothed her weary brain to
(dumber and to pleasant dreams. And after nil,
wn» she not foolish In attempting to coinbat this
giant of a man? Was she not absolutely in his
(lower? How- had he come aboard the boat,
dared apeak to Captain Wetherell as he had,
were he not speaking the truth regarding his
position here?
Her question was partially answered by the
whispers of the men growing louder and louder
until she could distinguish the angry voice of
Wetherell. lifted now in surly rebellion. Lucille
shrank back against the wall visualizing from
the man’s tone* the expression on bis face. A
greater horror than the waves came leaping to
her mind. Hugo Loubeque wn* her protection
from this brute. She knew it was true. And the
man’s voice showed now that be was out from
control, that be was in rebellion against the Iron
hand of the spy.
There flashed across her mental vision every
lineament of the man a* he struck down the old
bosun, and. as though the picture subconscious! v
developed there called up the actual Individual
Captain MVetherell steppeo Inside her cabin, with
out the formality of knocking, closing the door
cautiously behind him. hts every movement fur
tive hia face wearing a sheepishly leering ex
preasion aa he stood there, regarding the gM
who faced him, her eve* dilated with a horror
she tried vainly to conceal and cover under th#
fuiee ~f Indignation at the intrusion.
“""hat—what do you want?”
__ tk f pasted her lip*
she realized she had made a mistake, that her
tones showed fright. She tried to correct the
error by drawing herself haughtily erect but
knew the man had recognized her mind. The
captain laughed aloud, eyeing her keenly the
while.
“Don’t be alarmed,” he said softly. “I have
settled with Mr. Loubeque. You need have no
further fear of him, my dear.”
Fear! Lucille felt a great yearning for the
spy, a need of his protection even a* a moment
before she ha/1 thought it impossible to be in
auch mortal terror of anyone as she had been
of Hugo Loubeque and his crafty manner.
“No fear; I don’t understand!” Her voice
quavered.
“I mean he understands who is master of
this boat now. ne attempts to give me orders,
to bribe me to force you to give up some papers,
to threaten me —” Wetherell broke off with a
laugh, ’ing a bit closer to her even as she
retreat 9 "'fore him. “As though anyone could
force me to harm you,” he 'cered.
“What do you waus#** as she spoke a
thrill of conscious triumph surcharged her as
she realized the tremble had left her voice and
with its departure had come again that strange
feeling of self-assurance.
Wetherell halted uncertainly, held back by
her change. Then Tim helplessness of the small
tense figure crouching in the shadows, her eyes
dark pools of defiance set in a face of pallid
determination gave him courage and again he
moved closer. His voice was hoarse now, his
great hands clasping and unclasping.
“Want?” he repeated, then with a short,
barking laugh, “I want the papers and I want
you.”
‘t» #**i’t understand —” though her voice was
steady, her expression showed his meaning to be
clearer to her than anything else in the world.
He leaped forward, clasping her about the
waist with his great arms, the right hand mov
ing toward her mouth, closing over the delicate
lips and smothering her cry of wild alarm.
“Want you," he cried. “I w’ant you and I
want the jiaprrs. Loubeque knows it, but lie’s
out of the way now. Give me the papers and I
will keep them away from him. Give me the
papers ”
He sprang back with a low-toned oath of
surprised incredulity even as her brittle laugh
echoed through the cabin. Slowly, a step at a
time, inch by inch, Lucille forced the man to
ward the door. In smothering her screams he
had freed her right arm and her tiny fist, fight
ing against his. beating at. his body had encoun
tered his revolver which she deftly abstracted
and had pressed against his chest.
“The papers are quite safe where they are,”
she murmured sweetly, the glint in her eyes
belling the tones. “Come, captain, don’t try to
take this gun awav from me. That would be
foolish. Hemember t am accustomed to firearms
and that you have placed me in a position where
I should not hesitate to use a bullet. Come, cap
tain, Jets see hoiv the men you have bullied like
the sight of you now.”
Wetherell opened hts lips to curse but there
was an expression of icy determination on the
girl’s face, iu the tense lines of her figure, in the
tremorle*s feel of the gun against him that made
him do her bidding. He told himself that it was
all a joke, a preposterous thing, but the feel of
the weapon continually brought, him back to the
stern reality of the predicament his carelessness
had brought him into. Only w-hen he felt the
cabin threshold lieneath his feet and knew an
other step would bring him in sight of the crew
did lie halt, the maxillary muscles swelling defi
antly. Lucille laughed again, the same mirthless,
brittle laugh, emphasizing It with a sharp nudge
of the gun sight.
It was a scant fifteen reconds the man and
girl stood there, their eyes challenging. But the
eyes of Lucille were steady, determined; those of
the captain were truculent, defiant. Then Weth
erell flinched and dropped his murderous expres
sion. Quickly he looked up once more and for an
instant Lucille feared she had gone too far.
Then, with a surly shrug. Captain Wetherell
marched across the threshold and upon the deck,
liefore his men. while Lucille felt the joy of such
a triumph a* she had never known before. Her
plans were formulated for the next move, had
been prepared from the instant she drew the
man’s own gun upon him. Risky it was and with
slight chance for success, but—there was a
chance. It iva» sufficient.
Wetherell sullenly moved before her.
CHAPTF.R XVIII.
Triumph Precedes Catastrophe.
\{pi FN" one look* upon the unbelievable It takes
some time for the brain to become accus
tomed to a picture presented to the vision. As
the sailors looked up ami saw Captain Wetherell
sullenly marching under impetus of the revolver
is Lucille's baudr th”.' •tn< i K ) <t:sed And stared,
open mouthed, unable to believe the evidence of
their own eyes. Gradually it dawned upon them
that the tyrant, the brutalizer, the man they all
hated and feared had been subjugated, cowed by
this slip of a girl. Whispers grew louder, louder
and she caught the approval in the eyes that
constantly drew closer to her own until she waa
surrounded by a cordon of sailors.
A thrill of conscious triumph set her all as
tTemhle but she fought down the inclination to
be overmastering in her victory. Only through
winning the crew to her side could she maintain
her position. Backing aw-ay but still holding the
revolver level upon the captain she cast an ap
pealing glance about upon the men. Her voice
trembled with excitement, with the wear and
tear upon her nerves, with the struggle from
which she had just emerged.
I rier.ds, she whispered, then, surprised at
finding how low her voice was; swallowed the
lump in her throat and continued bravely.
Friends, I am just a weak girl and I need your
help. I have two enemies upon this ship. One
of them I was more afraid of than anything or
anybody in the, world until a short half hour ago.
He will do anything to steal from me some pap
ers I have rescued from him after he stole them
from my father. My sweetheart, the man to
whom I am engaged, was accused of the theft
and arrested. And I have fought so hard to keep
them!” Her voice broke a trifle but she straight
ened bravely, tears still glistening on her lashes.
I m so tired—so tired of fighting.”
The murmur of sympathy from the men died
down liefore a still more menacing silence, a sil
ence that l>ent itself upon the sullen captain and
fastened him threateningly. Lucille felt the
change and immediately started to take full ad
vantage of it when, from one on the outskirts
rose a shout. All eyes were turned in the direc
tion of his pointing finger and from out two
great smoke spirals that seemed to come from
the other • side of the ocean, rose slowly, ma
jestically, the thin outlines of a huge boat.
Lucille raised her voice and those nearest im
mediately turned toward her once more, their
attention seeming to unconsciously draw that of
the men on the outskirts from the big vessel.
But the girl, scenting disaster from that sight,
read it on the sneering face of her victim.
“But I am more afraid of your captain,
men,” she cried, her voice thrillingly vibrant.
“He came to me in my cabin and demanded the
papers. He threatened me, seized me in his arms
and tried to make love to me. He did this to a
weak girl, men. He would treat me as he has
treated you. I have seen the way he treats you,
have seen him knock you down and.kick you and
curse you for doing exactly what he ordered, l
have seen him do these things and I know that
you will be justified in mutinying. I ask you all
to protect me and yourselves from this man’s
brutality. You see what a coward he is. You
see how he does not dare ”
Her voice was drowned in the chorus of
shouts that rose at the welcome announcement.
Wetherell’s shoulders sloped still more while his
eyes darted from face to face, triumphant, cun
ning, ferocious. His body tensed as though for
a spring. On every side of him were lowering
faces, the faces of men he had battered and
bruised to suit his hellish humor. The shout died
away into that ominous mob-murmur which pre
cedes violence, when a faint booming sound
reached out to them across the waters, distract
ing their attention. Something dark and round
described a parabola from the speck of a ship
and leaped through the air toward them. Came
a splash of water not one hundred yards away,
a splash followed by a cry of alarm.
“They’re firing on ns.”
Wetherell, heedless of the pointing revolver
in the hands of the girl, sprang Forward, facing
the puzzled, frightened men.
“Mutiny!” his great voice rose in derision.
“Mutiny, now when you hear a girl lying to yout
Mutiny now against the only man who knows
where we are, what we are doing! Mutiny now
when wfe have a cargo of arms and ammunition
in the hold for the Chinese rebels and a govern
ment warship is pursuing us! Mutiny now and
put the man and woman in command who hired
me to carry this cargo!”
“It’s a lie!” Lucille’s voice was shrill now.
Again Wetherell’s laugh arose and the pua
zled faces of the men were turned toward one
another indecisively.
“Lie, is it? Very well. Where did I pick
you and Loubeque up? On the same bit of land,
as the men know. If he is your enemy, how did
you two happen to be at the place where I
picked up the cargo? Tell the men that. Tell
the man what is in the hold. Tell them that the
punishment for mutiny is death. Tell them what
the Chinese government does to a sailor on a
boat carrying arms and ammunition which can
not be accounted for.” Once more he laughed
aloud, as he turned upon his heel, flinging back
over his shoulder. “Very well, mutiny! My brave
men, do your damndest and mutiny! Let thia
girl get you out of the noose you are run
ning your heads into but don’t bother me any
more ”
Again the fatal booming sound from the
warships whose outlines were growing more and
more distinct each moment. Again, that splash,
followed quickly by a ripping hiss of air as a
great cannon Imll sped across their bows. The
proximity of their danger threw the men into a
panic. All thoughts of injustice, of chivalry dis
appeared instantly liefore tlie omnipresence of
the menace that threatened their lives. They
rushed upon Wetherell in a body, pleading, fair
ly on their knees, for him to take command and
avert the disaster that was upon them.
Of them all, he alone knew the position of
the yacht, the fine point* of navigation, the
crooks and turns of the ocean in this vicinity.
And they recognized only too well now that they
were between the Devil and the deep, blue sea.
Mutiny—capture by the pursuing warship. Both
meant death.
Wetherell appeared to be considering, to
hesitate about resuming command. Suddenly he
straightened as another cannon ball hurled across
the path of the yacht. His voice rose, stentorian,
as he whirled, pointing a finger toward the girl.
“Take that passenger’s revolver from her.
Bring the Chinese passenger on deck. They must
not- be found aboard if we are captured. Lower
a life boat from the davits and set them adrift
with prolusions for three days and a cask of
water." c
He clasped Ills hands smartly together tm
emphasize the urgency for haste. Lucille felt
arms about her, the pistol whirling from her
grasp and rieochetting toward Captain Wetherell
who, with a malicious smile, picked it up and
thrust it in his pocket.
She did not protest—there seemed no use for
protest, for anything. In a haze she found her
self in the tiny boat that was being lowered. A«
through a thicker haze she glimpsed the face of
Hugo Loubeque, facing her. The creaking of the
davits ceased and the tiny craft bobbed about on
the bosom of the waters. She did not move. It
seemed a dream, a nightmare. A great hole ap
peared suddenly in the wave not ten feet from
them and the spray splashed against her cheeks.
Hugo Loubeque silently, grimly, seized an oar,
motioning her toward the second.
“We must get out of the firing zone,” he said
quietly, reassuringly, almost gently. Singularly
enough, as she tugged at the great oar, thg tie
most felt kindly toward the spy.
(Continued Next r