The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1897-02-11
Fright about facer commanded FIN,

fright about face.' commanded th,
tall man. March, every man. Bacl
to the other end O. the boat. Laramie
take the other side and round up any
body ye see. Now, gentlemen, hurry
Away went the protesting procession
and, joined by the carpenter, ,sailmaker
donkey man and cook. grounded up
from their sanctums by the man cal.
ed Laramie, it had reached the mair
hatch before the captain, pacing th'
| quarterback, was aware of the distur
bance. With Capt BeIchior to thinl
was to act. Springing to the cabir
skyiight, he shouted: Steward, bring
up my pistols. Bear hand. Lowe
your weapons, you scoundrels. Thi
is rank mutiny.'
A pistol spoke and the captains ha
left his head There goes your h at,
said voice, now for button .''Anoth
er bullet sped, which cut from his coat
the button nearest his heart. Come
down from there-come down." sale
the voice he had heard. Next shot
go9s home. Start, while [ count three
One-two-" Capt Belchior descend
ed the steps-''hands up same as the
rest Up went the captains hands
Such workmanship was beyond his
philosophy. ''Pache," went on the
speaker; go up there and get the
guns he wanted" The steward, with
two bright revolvers in his hand, was
met at the companion hatch by a man
with but one; but that one was SO big,
and the hand which held 1t was SO
steady that it was no matter of sur
prise that he obeyed the ters command
fork over, handles first" The cap
tain's nickel. plated pistolf went into
the pockets of 'Pache's coat, and the
white faced steward, poked in the
back by the muzzle of that big fire
arm. marched down to the maindeck
and joined the others.
$50 down that place, 'Pache, and
chase out any one else ye fnd," called
the leader from behind the crowd.
Bring 'em all down here. "Pache de-
scended and re-appeared with a fright.
ened 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 he!msman.
Now, then, gentle-len,," said the
tall leader; Il reckon we're all here.
Keep yer hands up. Well have
powwow. 'Pache stay up there, and
you, Laramie, cover 'em from behind.
Plug the first man who moves"
lie mounted the steps tn the quar-
terdeok, and as he replaced empty
shells with cartridges, looked down
on them with serene smile on his
not ill-lookirg face His voice, except
when raised IL accents of command,
had IN 1t the musical drawing, plain
tive tone, SO peculiar to the native
IeXan-and so deceptive. The other
two, younger and rougher men, look
ed, as they glanced at their victims
through the sights of their pistols, as
though longing for the word of per-
mission to riddle the ships company
with bullets
You'll pay dearly for this, you in,
ternal scoundrels," spluttered the
captain; this is piracy"
Don't call any names. now," SAID
TIE tall man, 'taint healthy. We don't
want to hurt ye, but l tell ye seriously,
ye never We're nearer to death than ye
are now. It's risky thing and a
foolish thing, 100, gentlemen. to steal
three American citizens with guns
under their shirts and take ,em SO far
from land as this. Hanging's the tit
andproper punishment for boss stealth
but manstealin's SO great crime that
I'm notright surewhat the punishment
is. Now, We don't know much bout
boats and ropes though we can tie a
hangman's knot when necessary
but we do know somethin' bout guns
and human natur'-here, you, come
way from that fence" The captain
was 3dging toward Delaying pin, but
the speakers voice had lost its plain
tiveness and three were looking at
him. He drew inboard and the leader
resumed:
Now, fust thing who's foreman O
this outfit? Who's boss?"
You are2 You are not I'm cap
tain. Get up on that shanty." u,he
small house over the mizzen hatch was
indicated and Capt. BeIchior climbed
it: The tubes were still looking at
him.
Now, yon, tbere-you man who Lit
me last night when | was sick, who are
you and what?"
Mate, d you"
up with you and don't cuss. You
did a cowardly thing, pardner--an
unmanly thing. You don't deserve to
live any longer, but my darter back
here at school thinks | killed enough
men for one life time, and mebpe she s
-meb5e she's right. Anyhow, she
she don't like it, and that lets you out
though won't answer for 'Pache
and Laramie when my backs turned.
Iou kicked 'em both, but I'll Just re
turn the blow" The mate had bnt
slaughtered out on top of the hatch
house. when the terrible pistol spat
out another red tongue, and his veil
followed the report, as he clapped his
hands to the ear through which the
bullet had torn.
Hands up there" thundered the
the shooter, apd the mate obeyed
while stream of blood ran down in
side his shirt collar
ANY more bosses bere?" The So
cond mate did not respond. but Pache's
pistol sought him out, and under its
influence and his cultural Il know
you; get up" he followed his superb
orS.
Any more?"
A manly looking fellow stepped on,
of the group and said: "You got the
captain and two mates. I'm Bosu1
here, and yonder's my mate. We're
next, but we're not bosses in the way
o being responsible for anything thai
has happened, or might happen to you
We be long forrard. There's no cal
TO shoot at the crew, for there's not 6
man among 'em but what 'ud be glaC
to See you get ashore, and get there