The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

A SECRET OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC. 421 ‘“T’m out of it !’’ groaned Latimer. ‘‘ My revolver is in my cabin.’’ ‘‘Sois mine,’’ said Thorne. ‘‘ We’d better get under cover.’’ ‘Tonio had already dodged down the forecastle steps again. ‘‘Let ’em have the deck, cap’n,’’ shouted Mr. Sessions. ‘‘ We’ll hold the cabin !’’ He and Pepper made a dash for the forward companionway and dived below. At the same moment Thorne saw Miss Latimer at the galley door. Monckton was with her. ‘““There’s the gal!’’ yelled Atwell, catching sight of the brig’s second mate. ,‘‘ Drive her into the cabin. We want the galley.”’ But as he spoke the galley door was slammed to and fastened. ‘‘She’s got my revolver,’’ exclaimed Captain Latimer, in delight. “They/’ll not get into that galley ina hurry. We’ll starve ’em till they’ll be glad to come to terms.”’ He and Thorne followed ’Tonio into the forecastle. Thorne stopped to fasten the door. The slide in the deck was already closed and ’Tonio bolted it. ‘They'll take off a hatch and get to the stores,’’ suggested the passen- ger; in response to the captain’s last remark. ‘They won’t if Sydney keeps her wits about her, an’ I reckon she will,’’ replied the captain, with pride. ‘‘ The galley opens intothe hold. She can keep any of those scamps from getting down by the hatches. The galley can be reached from the cabin, too. ‘The mates can relieve her. ‘They’ll be all right, and if we had some sort of a shooting iron, we'd be all right, too.’’ Thorne thought of the strange cloud he had seen rolling up from the south, and wondered what would happen when /aé struck the brig. ’Tonio- climbed upon the mess chest to light the swinging lamp; but Captain Lati- mer bade him let it alone. ‘“‘It’s dark in here. Ifwe light that thing those wretches can come along, pry aside that shutter, an’ pick us off, if they’re so minded.’’ Just then there was a fusillade of shots on deck. ‘The captain groaned aloud. He did not fear for himself; but he trembled for his daughter’s safety. Suddenly Thorne heard a faint rap on the after bulkhead of the fore- castle. He stepped softly across the room and listened. The noise was repeated. Something creaked in the partition and to his vast surprise a narrow door swung slowly open. ‘“What the mischief’s that?’’ shouted Captain Latimer, while ’Tonio uttered a howl of terror. Somebody stood at the door with a lantern. ‘“Come this way,’’ whispered the newcomer hoarsely. ‘‘ You haven’t a moment to lose. ‘They are attacking the galley, sir.’’ It was Carter Monckton ! “How did you get here? What sort of deviltry is this?’’ gasped the captain. He snatched the lantern from Monckton’s grasp and examined the secret door. Gomirchookseco 5}