The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-10

with two bright revolvers in his hands
was met at the companion hatch by q
man with but one; but that one was
so big, and the hand which held it
was so steady that it is no matter of
surprise that he obeyed the terse COM
mand: fork over, handles first" The
captains nickeI-plated pistols went
into the pockets Of Pache's coat, and
the white-faced steward, poked in the
back by the muzZle of that big fire
I arm, marched down to the main deck
and joined the others.
Go down that place, Pache, and
chase cut any one else We find, called
the leader from behind the crowd.
! Bring EN- 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
end the ship could spare the helmsman.
Now. then, gentlemen" said the
! tan leader; L reckon were all here.
Keep yer. hands up. Wen have pow
WOW. Pache, stay up there, and you,
Laramie, cover 'em from behind. Plug
the first man who moves"
He mounted the steps to the quar-
/ ter-deck anG as. he replaced empty
! shells with cartridges. looked down on
/ them with serene smile on his not
Unlocking face. His voice, except
when raised in accents of command,
, had in it the musical drawing, plant
! i've tone, so peculiar to the native
! TeXan-and so deceptive. The other
/ two, younger and rouSher men, looked,
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
fernal cut-throats," spluttered the
captain; this is piracy"
Don't call any names now said
the tall man: faint healthy. We
don't want TO hurt We. but l tell We
seriously, ye never were nearer death
than We are now. It's a risky thing
and a foolish thing too, gentlemen,
to steal three American citizens with
guns under their shirts, and take EN-
so far from land as this. Hangin's the
fit and proper punishment for boss
stealin', but man-Stealin'S SO great
crime that I'm not right sure what the
punishment is. Now we don't know
much bout boats and ropes-though
we can tie d hangman's knot when nee
essary-but we do know somethin'
bout guns and human natur'-here,
you, come way from that fence" The
captain was edging toward Delay
ine-pin but the speakers voice had
lost its plaintiVeneSS, and three tubes
were looking at him. He drew inboard
and the leader resumed.
Now. fust thing-whos foreman O.
this outfit? Who's boss?"
I'm captain here
You are2 You are not. I'm cap
tain. Get. up on that shanty." The
small house over the mizzen hatch was
Indicated and Captain Belchoir
climbed it. The tubes were still look
ing at him.
Now, you. there-you man who hit
ME last night when 1 was sick, who
are you and what?'
Mate. d you.
Up with you and don't cuss. You
did cGWardiy thing. pardner-an I'M
manly thing. You don't deserve TO live
any longer, but my darter back here
al school thinks I've killed enough
men for one lifetime. and mebbe she's
right-mebbe she's right. Anyhow, she
don't like it, and that let's you out
though l won't answer for 'Pache and
Laramie when my backs turned. You
kicked EN- both; but I'll just return
the blow" The mate had but straight
ened UP on top of the hatch-house,
when the terrible pistol sDat out an
.ther red tongue and mis- yell followed
the report, as he clapped his hand to
see ear through which the bullet had
torn.
Hands up there" Numbered 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 gutteral Il I
know you; get up he followed his /
suoeriors
Any more?'
A manipulating fellow stepped out
of the group and said: You've got
the captain and two mates. I'm bosun
here, and yonders my mate. We're
next, but we're not bosses in the way
o. being 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 'ud be glad
to see you get ashore, and get there
himself"
Silence Bosun,'' 'bawled the captain,
but the voice of authority seemed pitt
fully 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. reckon these men'u
stand. You can come up here. I'm
yettin' long in years and kinder steady
n down, but L s'pose you and 'Pache