Show q U RU OF THE SEA BY tf e cavm 44 sa THE STORY THUS FAR FAK alter after belne being adrift tor for tour four days day on OD IL rare raft dick jordan Is 1 picked up op by a until sailing vessel in the caribbean mall aea ea the captain li is named tucu bucu an evil ehll looking halfbreed half breed dick realizes realize that he be li Is among men who are little more than pirates lie he invents invent a story of some smuggled jewels jewell to lain gain time he be tells tucu bucu that these jewels are attached to a float boat near the sunken steamer itea coer on the way to the area where a the steamer lies they tight sight a derelict derel lct schooner toco taco changes chances the course cours to meet it when they come close to th the IS drifting r efting vessel a man appears on the deck and shouts to them in a demented manner CHAPTER IU III crazy muttered captain tucu bucu lett left alone an gone crazy pull awall he added addressing the carias at the oars the boat started in the direction ot of the schooner but it covered a quarter of the distance when another figure appeared on an the deck if the sight of the old man had surprised the boarding crew the second apparition tor for it seemed like an apparition to many certainly to dick jordan on the deck ot of the lugger created amazement and consternation the newcomer was a woman lightly clad and with her er hair streaming down her shoulders and back halt half way to her waist she had the appearance of one who has been interrupted in the midst ot of her toilet rushing on deck to ascertain the meaning ot of the commotion she glanced in the direction ot of the lugger shading her eyes with one hand band and then back at the old man on the deck she spoke to him in a low voice which he heeded for or he withdrew from sight and permitted her to do the talking what boat Is that she asked in a clear ben bell like voice tucu bucu hesitated tor for a moment before replying then in his most persuasive voice he informed her the san miguel of limon the girl or young woman it was difficult to estimate her age at the distance but to dick she seemed young and comely seemed in doubt hesitating before replying but her eyes were busy studying the boats crew and the lines of the lugger finally as if she had made up her mind she retorted in a tharp sharp peremptory way well what do you want you cant come aboard captain tucu bucu smiled a bit craftily we took her tor for a derelict abandoned you can see now she replied the girl quickly then as it if anxious to pacify them she added in a pleasanter plea santer voice thank you tor for coming but we dont need any help we can manage tucu bucu was a little nonplussed nonplus sed but the grin left his ugly face yvant Yc ant get into port with that wreck well help rig her up no thank you was the cool retort we can manage the small boat had been drifting nearer all the time and as if alarmed by this the girl added sharper than before keep away cleasel get tangled in the wreckage tucu bucu turned to his mate and exchanged a lew few words with him and then addressed the girl again chos that old man aboard she drew herself up and frowned you mean my father captain bedford Is he be caan there was a smile of derision on his face which the girl caught resenting it she nodded curtly and said yes I 1 now it if you have no further business here go back to your own ship id like to speak to the caan was the cool retort motioning to the carias to dip their oars again you canet was the frightened reply hes he not well and has gone below dick goes to aid of a brave girl dick caught the note of alarm in the voice he fie gave a start and glanced around him the handful of carias left on the lugger were grouped forward intently interested in the schooner and the conversation going on between the sit skipper ap and the girl no one paid the least attention to him it tucu bucu goes aboard he muttered under his breath ill go too after more talk tucu bucu and his crew made fast to the schooner and prepared to climb aboard she cried 1 I forbid you coming im in command here and I 1 tor for bid dick hear the finish ol of the ren prentence en tence he had quietly dropped over the stern of the lugger and was wa once more battling with his old enemy the sea swimming slowly with his head low down in the water and making a wide detour around the stern ol of the derelict dick reached it with out attracting attention nobody noboa on the agger lugger had bad noticed his de cle and those aboard the schooner were too interested in theli their prize to give heed to anything else dick climbed up the rigging hang ing over the side opp opposite site the lug ger and secured a firm grip on the deck rail with both hands tucu bucu and his men were still forward arguing with the girl dick could hear her high pitched voice raised in remonstrance if you put a toot foot on this deck ill she was saying the law jaw allows it youre boarding my ship against my will dick thrust his bis head above the rail the men reached the deck yet but were hanging over the side with heads in view the girl was facing them with a defiant glitter in her eyes and an ugly looking automatic in one hand tucu bucu saw it and hesitated 0 ordinarily adl he would break a woman with as little compunction as he would a dog and ride roughshod over her opposition but the one facing him was no ordinary creature she was cool and collected pointing a gun at his heart with a hand that did not tremble Yf ather asked us aboard lady tucu bucu replied after a pause an insinuating pleasantry in his voice an we come because 0 that wheres where he gone 1 I told you I 1 was in command here was the short curt reply that sufficient now get bacal tucu bucu glanced aft and then forward wheres where the crew he asked smiling 3 ahen as if drawn by common impulse they turned and gazed at each other the girl woman paled slightly through her tan but answered unhesitatingly theres therea no crew aboard no one but father and me now you know the truth I 1 it t was a bold challenge delivered in a voice that never quavered dick smiled his admiration she was capable of handling the situation he made a bet with himself if that she would force the men back through sheer will power and bravado but neither the girl nor dick had figured upon the craftiness of old tucu bucu anticipating some such holdup the half breed had been playing tor for time until two of his men could work unobserved along the side of the schooner and climb up the rigging back of the girl neither of them was aware of this until her father the demented skipper of the schooner suddenly turned up again and announced his presence with glee he had seen the two carias crawling up and instead of repelling them he rushed to offer assistance captain bedford babbles too much aluch come aboard mates he cried ill help ye its a great prize ive picked up so much money that I 1 dont know what to do with JL it come aboard an ill show ye the game was up the girl turned a horrified gaze at her father and then swung back again just in time to see tucu bucu make a leap tor for the deck As it if determined to punish him tor for his audacity she opened fire at short range with a growl of pain the half breed dropped to the deck with one arm ump and useless damn her break her neck burley he growled but black burley had no intention ot at facing acing the gun pointed at him now he dropped out of sight behind the bulwark crowding those back of him into the water she would have driven them into their boat at the point of her gun it the two helped on deck by the old skipper had bad not attacked in the rear when she saw them running toward her the she gave a little cry of alarm and tor for the first time seemed to lose her nerve tucu bucu raised his voice at the two carlas urging them to the flank attack the crash of the pistol had evidently stunned captain bedford tor for he stood helpless and amazed with mouth wide open dick at this juncture decided to cast his lot in with the girl the two carias had to pass close to him when the first came abreast of his hiding place he shot out a leg and tripped him the second partly stumbled over the first quick as a lash flash dick landed a blow with his fist on the point of the mans jaw and completed the tall fall both were armed with long curved knives that tor for ugliness uclint could not be beaten before either could recover from hla his surprise he relieved them of their weapons then giving the first one a kick he ran in the direction of the girl who with tucu bucu had been watching him with amazement keep them covered cove redl 1 I dick called ill take care of these two shoot the first head that bobs up encouraged by the assistance that had so come to her the captains daughter turned more fiercely than ever upon the loader leader ill give you ten seconds to get over that rail she said in a menacing voice if youre not gone by that time ill kill you like I 1 would a dog black burley thrust a head above the bulwark A bullet burled buried itself in the woodwork so near that he dropped out of sight again onel began the girl two tucu bucu growled and showed his teeth but his eyes were upon dick whose interference had aroused him to furious hatred ill cut aheart out he breathed thickly bhreel counted the girl at the seventh count tucu bucu picked himself up slowly and painfully made his way over the side dick returned to the disarmed carias and with their own knives as weapons drove them into the sea when they disappeared leaving the deck cleared of all enemies he be hurried to the girls assistance she was peering over the side of the schooner to see it if the crew were leaving in their boat keep bacal dick warned they may she nodded and stepped cautiously behind the bulwark for protection dick glanced around tor for some weapon A loose spar as heavy as a man and twenty feet long attracted his attention picking it up he carried it to the side of the schooner and with a heave threw it outward so that it just grazed the top of the rail it rolled over with a clatter carrying everything with it there was a growl and scream below that informed him his ruse had succeeded in its descent the long spar had knocked three carias into the sea and falling failing on the buggers lug gers small boat nearly smashed the bottom out of it captain tucu bucu evidently decided that retreat until he could reorganize his forces and plan a new attack was the better part of wisdom he bellowed a command to his men to pull away from the schooner and a few moments later dick and captain Bed fords daughter saw the boat returning to the lugger they remained motionless and silent watching until the boat had drawn off beyond pistol shot then as if drawn by common impulse they turned and gazed at each other the girl was quiet and sober her eyes regarding him inquiringly almost suspiciously there wa was no hint of a smile on her face the events had tested her courage to the breaking point and the strain was apparent in the fine lines drawn around the ups lips and in the heavy circles under her eyes turn will return dick predicts weve got rid of them tor for a time dick said glancing in the direction of the lugger but return she nodded following his eyes then turning to him again she asked were you with them yes he admitted but not of them she frowned and raised her eyes inquiringly they picked me up a few hours ago he explained 1 I was about dead been in the water for tour four days and nights when men they rescued me he added smiling at the recollection of it 1 I in a mood to inquire tor for credentials I 1 was glad to get any help later I 1 found out what they were what are they she asked quietly fishermen beachcombers beach combers sea scavengers pirates almost anything and everything 1 I see she murmured thoughtfully then you think they want to steal this schooner they took it tor for an abandoned derelict at first he replied truthfully and of course as such it was their legitimate prize they were surprised and disappointed when they saw you and your father aboard it 1 I can understand that she replied but when when I 1 ordered them away they act as it if if she stopped and frowned again but you said they were sea scavengers and pirates she added nodding 1 I suppose that means they intend to take the schooner anyway lawfully or unlawfully im afraid so captain tucu bucu I 1 imagine the kind to be easily discouraged it if hes decided the schooners ners worth it hell return later besides soberly i he has another reason tor for making a second attempt what Is that she asked he laughed and shrugged his shoulders for one thing hell want to get even with me for or interfering and second to get hold of those jewels I 1 told him about TO BE CONTINUED |