The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-30
CHAPTER xXxlI-rCoxrrSUEpl.

were aDIeaSt OF NE in moment, twenty or
thirty Of them. They shouted as they ran,
using language which has gone from my
memory. / guessed they had come to sack
the cabins down here from the nature of
their shouts, one to another; but they
roared so hoarsely, their oaths were so
plentiful and unintelligble their speech so
hard to understand. some of them being OF
the provinces, that | could only conjecture
their designs. My voice. though soprano,
was piercing and clear l cried out, 'Do you
you know who we are?" "Aiut they But
ler's ot?" shouted one of them.
Yes, the three of u.s." l cried. Hell
be here in moment. along with Barney
Aaron. We're keeping out of the muddle
ahBve till you've found out who's your
friends"
IT'S the spunky young devil as jawed the
DOCTOR" said voice.
This is my cabin" said / There's
nothing to take in it. But what's your
friends he keeps, dom: he? Look here
Pve been with you. If not of you, and tasted
every joy of yours but your irons. curse
them! and with a staggering. bouncing.
Tollieking manner l sprung to my bunk and
pulled out the convict mattress and pillow
and flung them on the deck. "No. 237," l
cried, pointing, and forcing shout Of
laughter.
Some of the convicts echoed that insane
burst of merrimert Their laughter was
hideous with its note of raw hoarseness.
what that's bundle there?" cried one of
them, heavy jawed. low-brOwed rufian.
skins and yacks and dummies is IT, my
bludger? Where's your pal?" cried another
man.
'sShow out! Show outY reared a third
voice.
'l's women's clothes. Look and then let
them be-" l cried, still preserving my bounc-
Ing, daredevil air
They were elbowing in. The atmosphere
was sickening with the fellows warm, hard
breathing. Many of them, l judged, had
got at the cuddy stock Of liquor Viii and
the mate stood side by side in the corner.
Never shall forget the show Of faces that
confronted me-men with broken noses,
one With harelip, one with a diabolical
Fqunt. Some were gray; two OF three
flaming red. But the features and color
counted for nothing. Their looks were
deyilish and horrible, and the prevailing
expression an infuTiate triumph of the bas-
est spirits, infsmed by drink and animated
yet by the brutal and maddening lust Of
pllnder.
At this instant 1 heard Toms voice at
the back OF the crowd. He cried out: rs
this fail? Is this how their promises are
TO be kept? What have they done? Aaron.
help me 10 clear this cabin"
The rearmost of the conyicts were
violently twisted out of the doorway. As
Tom forced his way IN, the fellows reeed
to the thrust Of his elbows. Aaron was
shouting: Out you cub! A bargid's a
bargid. You We no right hereW And while
lie shouted lie lay about him, and some Of
= N.-F.
digious thrust of his arm, tumbling others
down as they bounded, until perhaps a
dozen Of the felons lay SPRAYING in the
passage outside the cabin door, cursing
roaring, laughing and filing the place with
the Internal din OF a madhouse.
rs it all right with you, Narrower" cried
Tom, passIOnately.
"All right" answered, land right also
with our two friends"
Dow look here" exclaimed Barney
Aaron, whom I did not instantly recognize,
for he had removed his convict clothes and
wore a long peacoat, cap and trousers be-
longing to Captain Sutherland. Look
here" he exclaimed. addressing the cOnvlcts
who stood in crowd at the cabin door.
"Our agreebet with Butler was that his two
yug freds was to be let abode. 1t was pro-
bised. Why dote you keep your word?
Dye dow where y'are2 You're at sea, and
there's dot a bad you cad trust the ship to
but Butler" and here he put his immense
hand upon Toms shoulder. There's a
third party he's asked our kideness for He
shall have it, We owe lib 10 grudge. The
chief bate Of this ships always beed quiet
bad. Did ady bad ever hear hi0 sig hard
word at a prisoder? He's Buffers fred, ad
that's edough. Buffers OGr fred, ad'Il carry
you in safety 10 where you bay scatter. Ale
that what you want?"
I'VE never came ere to 'uTt EN-, said
one of the cOnvicts.
Dye know them nowP" shouted Tenn.
Look and tell all hands of you. fore and
aft, that these three are my friends, and are
not 10 be molested. II tney are not well
used by YOU all-if the smallest injury be-
falls them through any one of yOu-l in
stantly chuck the job of navigating the
snip. You may threaten me; you may
torture me; you may hang me. I'll fling
the navigating instruments overheard, and
leave the ship to drown you on lee shore,
OF to run foul of an English man-of-war."
l cannot express the savageness with
which he spoke-the hatred and contempt
with which he surveyed the crowd of ugly
raseals.
Oats plain English. Are you satisfied %
cried Barney Aaron. clapping his hands on
his thighs and STOPPING and bowling his
words at them.
Come along, bullies. No use wasting
time here" cried voice.
In moment tile convicts broke away
they burst into the cabin next door and
filled the pantry, and l heard them laugh
ing and yelling as they flung the food they
crOckery against the bulkhead Tom shut
the door.
"Ad low are you, yug gentlebnd ?" said
Aaron. Offering me his hand. 80 the
doctor wadted to bake be your pal, Ell? He
breaches good serbud," he added, shutting
one eye and looking at Mr.. Bates. what
dye thik OF this, sir, for piece Of Org9di-
satodP Is it prettily badaged?'
1T is grandiy managed" said /, answer
ing for The mate, who seemed incapable of
speech, and who stood staring at the repul-
sive. massive, smallpoxed face and wonder
full figure OF the prlze-fighter with looks of
dread and aversion. You, Mr.. Aaron, will
have been the genius Of this splendid
stroke"
II thk bay claib to ave 'ad a small 'ad
In it," he answered, with an indescrbable
smirk Of self-complacency as he gazed a.
Tom.
''Hark at those brutes outside" cried my
sweetheart. 'TheTe'll be no navigation,
there'll be nothing 10 be none with the ship
If those hellhOunds are not to be brought
under some sort of government"
You bust let theb howl il out OF theb-
selves They've got at the dirk and that's
dot going to quiet eb, said Aaron. perhaps
sub oil theb will be jUbping overheard pres
eddy. or going for each other with the SOL
ders' sballaTds; we're rather duberous."
He spoke witt great affectatioH of gentl-
lily and superiority. At any other time
should have burst into fit OF laughter at
the fellows grotesQue. genteel air, coupled
with the Undesirable leering snirk OF self
eomplacency that was fixed upon his pitted
face
CAPTAIN Butler, what use can you make
OF me2" said Mr.. Bates, finding his voice on
sudden. II owe you my life and l want
TO prove myself grateful, and l want to
show myself grateful for Mr.. Aaron's
friendship and protection"
Let Mr. Bates go and take charge of the
deck, SAID Tom, looking at Aaron.
Aaron, with a cunning grim shook his
head Trust the ship TO wnd of her bates
Rocked that he's g0jg to steer you to the
wait upod youp said Aaron
The ship must be watched" said Tom.
Suppose squat should burst down upon
usl Suppose something with paddle heels
AMI white pennant flying should heave
into sightP' He added, with an oath which
| never before had heard in his mouth and
looking Aaron ferceIy In the face as he
spoke: flow am to teach these wTetches