The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-11-24

other I'll shoot you, whether it's here be- fore all the eyes of Milwaukee, or alone in the middle of the Huron. You must each take your own counsel, and do as you like for yourselves. But I've got a little plan of my own on, and if you choose willingly to help me in il your fortunes made. Look at the thing squarely boys. What's the use of your killing me? Sooner or later you'll get hung for it, and it's very unpleasant thing, can assure you, hanging, As the captain spoke he placed his un- occupied hand loosely on his throat, and pressed it gently backward. Pete and Hiram shuddered little as he did SO. Well, what's the good of ending your lives that way, ehl But I'm doing a little speculative business on these lakes, where want just such couple of men as you two-men that1l do as they arc told in a matter of business, and ask no squeAmish questions. If yeu care to help me in this business, you can stop and make your fortunes if you don't you can go back 10 Milwaukee with the tug"
 You speak fair enough said Pete, dubitatively, !" but you know, cap'n, you ain't man to be trusted. owe you one already for stealing my silver.'
 "Nery little silver" the captain an- swered, with wave of the hand and graceful smile. " Bonds, United States bonds and greenbacks. most of it. con- veued beforehand for easier conveyance by horseback. These, however, are busi- ness details which needn't stand in the way between you and me, partner. ai- ways was straightforward in all my deal- ing, and I'll come to the point at once, so that you can know whether you'll help me or not. This scow's plugged at the bottom. My intention is, first, to part the rope that ties us to the tug next, to transfer the cargo by night to a small shanty I've got on Manitoulin Island and then to pull the plugs and sink the scow on Manitoulin rocks. That way get insurance for the cargo and scow, and carry on the grain in the slack sea son. lfyou consent to help me unload, and sink the ship, you shall have half the profits between you if you don't, you can go back to Milwaukee like couple of fools, and I'll put into port again to get a couple of pluckier fellows An swer each for yourselves. Hiram will you go with me-
 How shall know you'll keep your promise ~ asked Hiram.
 For the best of all possible reasons" replied the captain. iauntily because if don't you can inform upon me to the insurance people"
 In Hiram Coffin's sordid soul there was a moments turning over of the chances and then greed prevailed over revenge and he said, grudgingly.
 Well, cap'n, I'll go with you
 The captain smiled the smile of calm self-approbation, and turning half round to Pete.
 And you:' he asked.
 If Hiram goes, go too Pete an- s~eted, half hoping that some chance might occur for conferring with hls neighbor on the road, and following out ,heir original conspiracy. But Ca ptain Pierpoint had been too much for him he had followed the excellent rule divide ct impera." and he remained clearly master of the situation
 As soon as they were well outside Mil waukee harbor. the tug dragged them into the open lake. all unconscious of the strange scene that had passed on the deck so close to i; and the oddlv-mated crew made i,s way. practically alone. down the busy waters of Lake Michi. gan.
 Captain Pierpon, certainly didn't spend comfortable time during his voyage down the lake ar through the Straits of Mackinaw. To say the truth, he could hardly sleep a, All. and he was very fagged and weary when they arrived a, Mani toulin Island Bu, Pete and Hiram, though they had many chances of talk ing together, could not see their way to kill him in safety and Hiram al least. in his own minG. had come 10 the conclu- sion that II was better 10 make little money than to risk ones neck for a foolish revenge. So in the dead of night, on the second day out. when a rough wind had risen from the north, and fog had come over them, the captain began to cut away at the rope that tied then, to the tug He cut the rope all around. leaving a sound core Tn the centre and when the next gust of wind came, the rope strained and parted quite naturally, so tha, the people on the tug never sus- pecied the genuineness ofthe transaction. They looked about in the fog and storm for the scow. but of course they couldn't find her, for Captain Pierpoint. who knew his ground well, had driven her straight ashore before the wind and beached her on small shelving cove on Manitoulin Island. There they found five men waiting for them. who helped unload the cargo with startling rapidity. for it was all arranged in sacks, not in bulk, and high slide fixed on the gang way enabled them to slip it quickly down into an underground granary excavated below the level of the beach. After un- loading. they made their way down be- fore the breeze toward the jagged rocks of Mani;oulin.
 It was II o'clock on stormy moon light night when the Fortuna arrived od the jnu,ng point ef the great island. A :" black squall.' as they call il on the lakes. was blowing down from the Saul, Ste. Marie. The scow drove about aim