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An' whar'd yer cum frum?" "I am an English seaman," I answered shortly, "and how I came aboard makes no difference. Right now I am the only navigator on the Namur." "What's happened ter Estada?" "He's dead knifed last night by one of the buccaneers. Manuel Estevan had a hand in the business, and he's safely locked in a stateroom aft.

As I returned to the cabin, Gunsaules awaited me to announce breakfast. "What already?" "It is six-thirty, Senor. Those were my orders." "Very well; I suppose Estada and Manuel usually eat first?" "Si, Senor." "That leaves me alone; suppose you rap on the lady's door yonder, and ask if she will join me. Say your message is from Senor Gates."

With this folded and concealed in my hand, I silently pushed open the door, and took a hasty glance about the cabin. It was unoccupied, yet I must move with caution. It was possible for one on deck to look down through the skylight, and even if Estada was not in his own room, the nurse assigned to Sanchez might be awake and appear at any moment.

"I would spit on this Manuel who seeks to be chief. I can never be -no; I am of black skin, with negro blood in my veins, and white men would never have it so. But I can hate, Senor. That is why I am with you now, if the devil so will. Your plan might work tell me more of it." "It is simple enough, LeVere, and came to me but now as I looked upon Estada lying there dead.

He has two objects before him -to permit Sanchez to die of his wounds, if that is at all probable; and to win the men by some successful capture. These fellows only retain command by success. The taking of a rich ship will make Estada a hero, while a defeat would mean his overthrow, and the ascendancy of someone else. There is no other test of a robber chief.

Then, clear enough to be distinctly heard across the narrow strip of water, came the voice of Estada, in a gruff inquiry: "So you are hiding here, Cochose? What are you looking for in the sea?" "What? Why that damned Englishman." The response was a savage growl, intensified by husky dialect. "Mon Dieu! He fought me like a mad rat." "The Englishman, you say? He was here then?

The chance I had sought blindly, was being plainly revealed. It was evident enough, however, that Estada had no intention of trusting me immediately with his real motives. His confidence was limited, and his instructions related altogether to mere matters of ship routine.

"You will have your choice of those at port. Come now have you an answer ready?" "I would be a fool not to have," heartily. "I am your man Estada." The Portuguese, evidently well pleased at my prompt acceptance of his proposal, talked on for some time, explaining to me something of the situation aboard the Namur, and pointing out what he believed to be our position on the chart.

And was the Spaniard already lying dead in his cabin? This was the only solution of the mystery which seemed probable, and yet this did not wholly satisfy my mind. Not that I questioned the fiendishness of Estada, or his coconspirator, Manuel, or their unwillingness to commit such a crime, but it seemed so unnecessarily brutal.

I sat down on the stool, staring about the compartment, realizing suddenly how well fortune had served my cause the chance to impersonate the drunken sailor; the meeting with Watkins, my chance words to Estada on deck, and now this translation from forecastle to cabin.