Argosy, Vol. 85, No. 3 — page 53: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

AMERICANS “It is done, senores!” he reported. “To sacrifice the beautiful boat is a sin, yet we cannot drown these pigs who have elected to laugh at the great Senor Girton! You will stand back, senores?”’ It was more than a request, and they were already standing back; for over the side of the Pavoroso swarmed uncouth men—great, husky men, picged for their jobs as heavy-weight dock-workers, large, tough men in shirts and flapping linen trousers, who went to work without one second’s delay as Alvarez, their employer, barked commands! The general sense gained by Hemmett and Girton during those dizzying seconds was that the Pavoroso’s regular crew was being ordered into, and then thrown bod- ily, into the speed-boat. Fists flew here and there for a moment; some one fired a shot and, thanks to a dreadful uppercut from a brown fist, toppled over the side with the smoking pistol still in his hand! A white-faced little officer, evidently first assistant engineer, came trotting to report that steam was up and the anchors weighing—nor had he more than stam- mered the words and hurried away than the quiver of engines shook the vessel. And fifty yards astern the packed motor-boat, with- its yelling, snarling. passengers, drifted toward the shore. The Pavoroso shook again. The fifty yards widened suddenly. The chase was on! CHAPTER XV. A SHELL ACROSS THE BOWS. QuCcH is the psychological distinction between motion and the lack of mo- tion, Girton and Hemmett felt their spirits rising higher with every turn of the high-powered engines. Carmen, Mercedes, and Barton’s wife might be in a position quite. as perilous as heretofore, or even more perilous if Jones chanced to resent the pursuit, but at least help was coming nearer to them every minute now. AFTER ALL. 395 The destroyer surged out between the crescent points of the harbor and headed south in the brilliant light of the rising tropical moon before they quite realized that the thing had been accomplished and that Alvarez was missing. He turned up suddenly, smiling. ‘“ All .seentS well, senores!” he reported briskly. 79 Eh?” ““T have visited every part of the vessel save the engine-room, which seems to be working nicely. There are on deck no more than six or seven of the crew, for many were ashore on leave, and these six or seven, having felt the hands of my men, are humble and willing to obey!” ‘““You’re—you’re a wonder, Alvarez!” Girton muttered. ‘To serve yourselves, senores, that is a joy,” the younger man stated, with a smile. ‘“‘ Later, perhaps, these men of mine will be of further service, and upon them you may depend, for they are tried and true fighters, loyal to me, which means loyal to yourselves. I speak, they obey. What is next to be done?” There was something distinctly helpful about Alvarez, with his excited smile and his utter confidence in the force he had precipitated so astonishingly on the destroyer Pavoroso. Looking at him, it was rather difficult to believe that all would not end well—and Hemmett even smiled faintly. “Tt might be as well for both of us to leave this rail and give up trying to see a vessel already out of sight,” he said, “and find out just what we’ve got aboard. How’s the wireless man, Alva- rez?” ‘Small and easily cowed!” Alvarez reported. ‘“‘ He was smoking in his little cabin, senor, when we came aboard, with the telephones on his ears and evidently expecting something. You will now find him somewhere outside his cabin, and here is the key. You will take it?” “I may need it,” and Hemmett dropped it into his pocket. ‘“ We'll leave CoMmicloolkks C©