Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-02-11
pocketed, and of the latter tossed oy-

where are the canal driyers?'' de-
manded the chief mate, as he raised his
mead from the last chest; where are
our seasick gentlemen, who sleep all
nlgHt-What-what," he added, in q
SHUTTER of surprise.
He was looking down three S-incn
barrels Of three heavy Colt revolyers.
cooked and held by three scowlfng. sun
burned men, each of whom was tuck
ing with disengaged left hand the cor
ner OF a shirt into waistband, around
which was strapped belt full of cart
ridges.
Hands upr' snapped the tall man;
hands up, every one of We. Up with
,em-over yer heads. That's right..''
The pistols wandered around the heads
OF the crowd and every hand was ele-
waited.
Whats this? What dye mean?
Put those pistols down. Give them up.
Lay aft, there, some O. We, and call the
captain" clustered the mate with his
hands held high. Not man stirred to
obey. The scowling faces looked dead
ly in earnest.
Right about, face" commanded
the tall MAN. ''March, every man.
Back to the other end O. the boat. Lar
annie, take the other side, and round up
anybody We see. Now, gentlemen,
hurry"
Away went the protesting procession,
and, Joined by the carpenter, sail max
er, donkey man and cook, rounded
up from their sanctums by the man
called Laramie, 1T had reached the
main hatch before the captain, pacing
the quarterback, was aware Of the dis.
turbance. With Captain Belchior to
think was to act. Springing to the
cabin skylght, he shouted: Steward,
bring up my pistols. Bear hand.
Lower your weapons, you scoundrels;
this is rank mutiny.'
A pistol spoke, and the Captains hat
left his head. ''There goes your hat"
said voice, "now for a button" An
other bullet sped, which cut from his
coat the button nearest his heart.
"Come down from there-come down.
said the voice he had heard. Next
Shot goes home. Start while I count
three. One-two-." Captain Belchior
descended the steps-"hands up, same
as the rest Up went the Captains
hands. Such Workmanship was be-
yond his philosophy. "Pache," went
on the speaker, .'go up there and get
the guns he wanted.'' The steward,
with two bright revolvers in his hands,
was met at the companion hatch by a
man with but one; but that one was so
big, and the hand which held it was so
steady, that it was no matter Of sur
prise that he obeyed the terse com
mand, "Fork over; handles first" The
Captains nickelplated pistols went into
the pockets of 'Pache's coat, and the
white-faced steward, poked in the back
by the muzZle of that big tirearm,
marched to the main deck and Joined
the others.
500 down that place, 'Pache, and
chase out any one else We find" called
the leader from behind the crowd.
'Bring 'em all down here" 'Pache
descended, and reappeared with a
frightened cabin boy, whom, with the
man at the wheel, he drove before him
to the steps. There was no wind, and
the ship could spare the helmsman.
"Now, then, gentlemen" said the tail
leader, 81 reckon we're all here. Keep
yer hands up. Well have pow WOW.
'Pache, stay UP there, and you, Lara
mie, cover 'em from behind. Plug the
first man who moves.
He mounted the steps to the quarter
deck, and as he replaced empty shells
with cartridges, looked down on them
with a serene smile on his not ill look
ing face. His voice, except when raised
in accents of command, had IN 1T the
musical, drawing, plarntiye tone so pc
culiar to the native Texan-and so de-
ceptive. The other two, younger and
rougher men, looked as they glanced at
their victim through the sights of the
pistols as though they longed for the
word of permission to riddle the ship's
company with bullets.
you'll pay for this, you internal cut
throats,'' spluttered the Captain. This
is piracy
Don't call any names now" said the
tall man; ''tain't healthy. We don't
want to hurt We, but tell We seriously,
we never were nearer death than We
are now. It's risky thing-and a
foolish thing, too, gentlemen, to steal
three American citizens with guns un-
der their shirts and take 'em so far
from land as this. Hangin's the fit and
proper punishment for boss stealtn'
but man stealin's so great crime that
I'm not right sure what the punishment
is. Now, we don't know much about
boats and ropes though we can tie q
hangman's knot when necessary-but
we do know sumthin' bout guns and
human natur-here, you, come way
from that fence" The Captain was
edging toward Delaying pin, but the
sneakers voice had lost its plaintiye-
ness. and three tubes were looking OF
him. He drew inboard and the leader
resumed.
Nov, fust thing, who's foreman o
this outfit? Who's bossy
sI.m caritain. here"