Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-03-30

come oft with their tickets dirtied. Oh.
you one eyed, mutton headed fools!"
Cambel stared at him curiously. His
truculent tone had left him completely.
His hands had quilted the pistol butts and
were gripped on the bridge rail. His ell
bows were beating nervously against his
ribs.
From some mouth in the blackef shad-
ow- came q deep, derisive laugh. Then a
voice, presumably from the laugher, said:
"Who wants to go to New Orleansf Who
wants to go nearer than the next key or
reef or sand bank or whatever it may be:
Let's pile up the blazing old tramp on
that and then boss cruise across to Cuba.
There's nice snug bays in Cuba where the
guarda costas don't ask questions. Or If
they did, bit of yellow ballast out Of the
boats would stop their jaw quick enough"
The voice laughed again and ceased.
"Who spoke there:" Captain Kettle de-
manded.
Out rolled into the bright circle the
massive body of the donkeyman.
"You!"
The donkeyman knuckled his greasy
cap in assent, but added that he was no
mutineer. I'm your man, captain" he
said, '.but I'd be pleaseder to help ye car
rying out the crews wishes than going
agin them. Yell be dealt by honestly,
alphabetically, yes, better than ye ever
have been in this world yet or ever will be
again. It's a chance that won't come of
six years of Sundays-an-the steamer
will be lost at say. Blowed to rivuts an
ould iron by q conspirator's bomb. It's a
most natural ending for her"
Kettle stared at the donkeyman with
l.; hn efo
out Of his head. His face was thrust out
at full neck's length; his fingers beat a
vague tattoo on the white iron rail of the
bridge.
Then the crews original spokesman lift
ed mp his unlucky voice for the second
time: "Ach. friends, we're Wasting min
utes. We haf made up our mindts. Why
should we not go and tivide ter cold with
out furder pother? Good ole man, du bist
gerichring. you'll come and scramble for a
share like ter rest of us, Won't your"
Slowly Captain Kettle stiffened. His
eyes lost their stare and glinted unpleas-
ant fire in their more proper orbits; his
lower jaw closed up with a snap; his fists
slid to his jacket pockets and gripped
there.
"You painted Dutchman!" The words
came snarled through clinched teeth.
The crew rIstlcd uneasily.
do live to hear set of dogs like you
! debating to me? Does any man here
| think he's going to have an inch of his
| own way aboard of me?"
Come, Captain Kettle" said the quar-
| termastor who had talked before, don t
be unreasonable The Dutchman means
well, though he didn't put it Bristol fash
| ion. And besides we've made up our
| minds to share in that gold, and you'd
better chip in and share, too, without a
| dust. It'll be a deal comfortabler for all
| hands, and besides it's got to be done
\ anyway. We're all determined, and we re
| too many for you, even if Mr.. Cambel
does stand in on your side"
Kettles face lit up with the joy of bat
tie. "Are you, by James," he snapped.
"We'll see about that. I'D handle twice
your number to my own cheek any day.
| I've done it before on dashed sight
uglier lot than you and came out topside,
and I'm going to do it again now. Mr..
| Cambel's with me, too, this time, and
| we've got 90 bullets aIsong us thatI all
go home in somebody ribs before any of
you get at hand grips with us. Now, Just
| play on that, you scum. There's not q
enc of you got pistol
| 'Oh, haven't we:' commented q nasal
voice on the outskirts of the crowd. i
guess your out there, mister. I'm heelcd
for one.'
| "Crack!'
The man shr!ekcd and fell in lin,
heap on the deck. His weapon clatteret
down beside him. Kettle kept his smoking
pistol muzzle raised steady as an iror
wrist could hold it.
The others instinctively drew at frs
L H.
nary seaman, younger and more pluck,
| than the rest darted forward to regain til,
fallen revolver. As his fingers closed owe
it his eyes instinctively sought the bridge
Cambel had his revolver sighted over tn
crook OF an elbow, Kettle his at arm
length. Both were covering him.
Filing that thing overheard, or you'll
| be dead before you can wink!'
The crews only revolver spun through
the air and hit the water with a tinklin;
splash.
Now, stand forward, the two fools VIII
have been your spokesman"
The crowd stood like mon petrified.
| Quick, or I'll make practice into tn
brown of your
The quartermaster in the cardigan jack
ct stepped out of his own accord, unde
faint now and white. The German wa
hustled to his side.
Have you got coin, quartermaster?'
"No, sir"
Have you-sausage?"
Yes, herr
Then spin it out, and do you, quartz,
master, call to him. And mind you cal
right, because Pm going to shoot the loser
and perhaps you're the least useless of til
two. Spin, confound you. Spin, sausage
or, by James, I'll shoot you where yo
stand and settle it that way
The German put something between hi
dished palms and shook it violently, the
clinched one hand and thrust it ont int
/. :, \HES8ii
..-.sa- IN NJ
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