The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-14


MED me.
For the next few days all was quiet. We
held our westerly course; the soft dreamy
trade wind blew steady; the smooth tropic
seas enticed to sloth and though the sea-
men had demanded that in the matter OF
food all should now fare alike. yet they
were we'll hammered enough, and gave no
trouble.
Now, one night. being more restless than
ordinary. 1 went on deck in the middle
watch, for | was sick TO death of the hot
cabin and my sad thoughts and l hoped
the cool air of night might perchance give
me rest So | lay ME down in the scuppers
and tried to sleep. Above me hung the
silent stars. The ships great brown wings
spread abroad among them. shutting
half heavens face, and L watched the leach
OF the topgallant sail as il swung to and
fro with the ships motion. blotting the
stars out and then showing them again.
And gazing thus dreamily forgot 20 think,
and would soon have slept, when 1
aware of voices. Where the speakers stood
L could not see. but their voices Travelled
softly and clearly to my ears, and in the
hush of the night l could hear their words.
lis said he hath a chart. and all
marked
| And keeps 1t from his comrades? That
be not pirate fashion, JAM
mo, nor Bristol fashion neither"
All! l knew this voice. Jan Polperro!
And. moreover, L knew instantly that it
was of me they must be speaking and of
my venture in Magellan strait. l listened
| with all ears
| Hark We, my heart said the first
| speaker. IF the captain of a free trader.
such as we be now, hath knowledge of gold
| and hides it from his company it's death by
| pirate law"
| LAY. Seth. But it's even worse yet"
| CThis was Jan Polperro)
| How SOP said Seth
He not only hides it, lad, but hath done
| murder for the sake thereof. Dost mind
Here / could no longer foroear, but rose
and, in moving, made somewhat of a STIR
| which they heard, and ceased their talk.
| Then 1 crept steadily toward them, and
presently saw their two heads where they
| leant over the bulwarks.
l drew my dirk. This fellows knowledge
/ should perish with him. at any cost. 1
stood i'm deep shadow, and they saw me not /;
and hearing nothing. they began to talk
| again; but now L was my feet L could
only hear their mumbling, though / was
nearer.
Even drew my weapon 1 thought, IF
| kill him, there will be a tumult II /
| miss-?''
Then 1 thought, II will pick quarrel,
and stab him ere he knows" For our sea
1 manners. ever rough the best, had not
improved since we turned pirates, and a
quarrel was an everyday occurrence. so
that this fellow and myself at blows would
not seem so very strange. So / crept on
nearer. and, barefoot as 1 was, they heard
me not. sheathed my dirk however that
1t was free in the scabbard. Then, coming
close behind. 1 lurched against Polperro.
Curse you"' / cried. What mean YOU
clumsy lubber?" and 1 struck him across
the face.
For a moment the man was astonished
then, feeling my smack, his blood boiled up;
and though for a moment the dignity of his
| commander stayed his hand he hauled off
roaring. What for did you strike II" and
put his hand to his hanger for since our
change of discipline every man wore his
weapon.) But was too quick for him. My
dirk was out first, and, with yell of hate
and fear, savagely jabbed at him. hoping
to reach his heart and silence him forever
Had that stroke gone home my life had
perchance, been different; but he up Will
his arm and my weapon pierced him in tn,
thick of the shoulder, and L felt my point
break against the bone.
, He screamed with rage and pain, anC
made at me. But now the other fellow
rushed in, and with a heavy sweep of hi
arms parted US, SO that L reeled back ant
fell over the coil of the mainsheet, leaving
; Polperro with my dirk in his shoulder.
Instantly there was noisy crowd rount
us; and heard Otway's voice, Hello! wha
. means all this?'
, Then a hubbub answered him from ever,
side, and one man bringing a lanthorn, W.
? saw each others faces. Then rose cries o
! all kinds.
Here be Captain Kid numbering on
crew."
"Ay! He is too forward at killing men
T and keeps his gold himself"
why shares he not equal by pirat
law"
, Where be his sailing directions for tn
| treasurer
, What is all this?" roared Otway in
moment of silence. What say you. Cap
, | tain KID?
drelsv' retorted /.
o Then the noise again began. "Scour
+. drels?" 'Mutinous?" Nay. seize him u
1
= TO drive us,' I'VE be all gentlemen
= fortune now,' and such like.
: / began TO see that my life was in dar
9 | ger. 1t was plain that L was suspected
. knowing where this treasure lay hid-na,
some seemed TO fancy it vas aboard. An
. the crowd became so fierce that Otway-
whether as friend or foe TO me- l kno
not-cried that he would have me locke
up till daylight, when the crew might d,
eide what should be done. And In the en-
= he had me led back to my cabin, where h
placed one fellow inside and another sentr
at the door. And,s says he, in leaving, Il,
me advise you TO keep quiet, if you woul
. live
. l flung myself into my cot and trie
: to think over the position in which / foun
myself. But could not. / lay tossing an
cursed myself for fool, in that / Ia
taken evil for my good and gained nothin
by it.
= Presently 1 thought. they will all be ;
. me tomorrow, and ransack my cabin" ar
/ determined to destroy my papers-spec
- ally the old writing and the cipher whiC
;, led to the treasure. Then | felt the wour
= had made in my leg, and found it heaIe
> or near so, and the little roll of writir
= safe from all prying eyes. Yet what GOO
>, should this do to me if, on the morrow,
:, was to die? For / feared even this
, rose from my cot and went TO my cha
4. .sxl,