Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-09-16

sights of the pistols as though they
longed for the word of permission to
riddle the ships company with bullets.
You'll pay for this, you internal
cut-throats r. 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 you, but tell you
seriously you never were nearer death
than you are now. It's risky thing
and foolish thing, too, gentlemen, to
steal three American citizens with guns
under their shirts and take EN- so far
from land as this. Hangins the fit
and proper punishment for hoss steal
in but man stealin's 90 great crime
that I'm not right sure what the pun
ishment is. Now, We don know much
bout boats and ropes, though we can
tie hangman's knot whs necessary,
but we do know sumthin' bout guns
and human natur'-here, you, come
way from that fence" The captain
was edging toward a Delaying pin, but
the speakers voice had lost its plain
tiveness, and three tubes were looking
at him. He drew inboard, and the
leader resumed
Now, fust thing, who's foreman OF
this outfit? Who's boss"
I'm captain here. "
"You are? You are not. I'm cap
tain. Get up on that shanty.' The
small house over the mizzen hatch was
indicated, and Captain Belchior
climbed it. The tubes were still look
ing at him.
Now, you, there, you man who hit
me last night when l was sick, who
are you and what"
"Mate, d-n you"
"Up with you and don't cuss. You
did a cowardly thing, pardner-an un-
manly thing. You don't deserve to live
any longer, but my darter back here
at school thinks I've killed enough
men for one lifetime, and mebby shes
right-mebbe she's right. Anyhow,
she don't like it, and that lets you out,
though l won't answer for Pache and
Laramie when my backs turned. You
kicked EN- both. But III Just return
the blow" The mate had but straight
ened up on top of the hatch-house
when the terrible pistol spat out an
other red tongue, and his yell followed
the report as he clapped his hand to
the ear through which the bullet had
torn.
"Hands up, there r thundered the
shooter, and the mate obeyed, while a
stream of blood ran down inside his
shirt collar
"Any more bosses here?' The Sec
ond mate did not respond, but Pache's
pistol sought him out, and under its
influence and his cultural 81 know
you; get up" he followed his superi-
ors.
"Any more?'
A manly looking fellow stepped out
of the group and said you've got
the captain and two mates. I'm bos-
sun here, and yonders my mate.
We're next, but we re not bosses in the
way of bein' responsible for anything
that has happened or might happen to
you. We b'long forrard. There's no
call to shoot at the crew, for there's
not a man among EN- but what 'u'd
be glad to see you get ashore and get
there himself.
"Silence, bossunl" bawled the cap
tain. But the voice Of authority SEEM
ed pitifully ludicrous and incongruOuS
coupled with the captains position
and attitude, and every face on the
deck wore a grin. The leader noticed
the silent merriment and said:
Laramie, l reckon these men'll
stand. You can come up here. I'm
gettin' long in years and kinder stead
yin down, but l s'pose you and Pache
want some fun. Start yer whistle and
turn loose"
Up the steps bounded Laramie, and
with ringing whoop as prelude be-
gan whistling clear, musical trill,
while Pache, growing out, Dance,
dance, you white-livered coyotesT
sent bullet through the chief mates
boot heel.
"DanceI" repeated Laramie be-
tween burs of the music. "Crack,
crack r went the pistols, while bullets
ratified around the feet Of the men on
the hatch and Laramie's whistle rose
and fell Oh the soft morning air.
Old Sol, who has looked on many
scandalous sights, looked on this and
hid his face under a cloud, refusing
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