The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-10

aware Of the disturbance With Captain
Belcher. to think was to act. Springine
to the cabin skylight he shouted Stew
ard, bring up my pistols Bear hand.
Lower your weapons, you @coundrel~,
This is rank mutiny.'
A pistol spoke and the captains hat
left his head There goes your hat,
said a voice. nov for button An
other bullet Sped which cut from his coat
the button nearest MS heart Come down
from there. come down said the voice
he had heard Next shot goes home
Start while / count three. One-two-.'
Capt Belcher descended the steps
hands up same as the rest Up went
the captains hands Such marksman-
ship was beyond his philosophy. "Pachc,
went .on the speaker; go mp there and
get the guns he wanted" The steward,
with two bright revolvers in his hands.
was met ut the companion-hatch by Il
man with but one: but that one was So
big. and the hand which held it was
so steady that il is no matter of surprise
that he obeyed the terse command:
fork over, handles first The captains
nickel-plated pistols went into the peck
cts of the Pache's coat and the white
faced steward, poked in the back by the
muzzle Of that big frearm. marched
down to the main-deck and joined the
others.
"G0 down that place. Pache.' and
chase out any one elese We find, called
the leader from behind the crowd.
Bring em all down here" Pache de-
seconded and reappeared with fright
ened cabin boy, whom. with the man nj
the wheel. he drove before him to the
steps There was no wind and the
ship could spare the helsman.
Now, then. gentlemen, said the tall
leader: Il reckon we're all here. Keep
yer hands up. Wen have powwow.
Pache. stay up there. and you, Laramie,
cover en- from behind. Plug the first
man who moves
He mounted the deck to the quarter,
deck and as he replaced empty shells
with cartridges. looked down on them
with n serene smile on his not ill-look
ing face. His voice. except when raised
in accents Of command, had in it the
musical, drawing, plaintiye tone, So
peculiar 10 the native Texan-and so de-
ceptive. The other two younger and
rougher men. looked. as they glanced
ut their victims through the sights of
/ the pistols. as though longing for the
word OF permission, To riddle the ships
company with bullets
You'll pay dearly for this, you intern
III cut-throats. spluttered the captain
this is piracy
Don't call any names, now, said the
| tall man faint healthy. We don't
: hut I fnn 81
We never were nearer death than ye are
now. Its risky thng-and a foolish
thing. too. gentlemen. 10 steal three
/ American citizens with guns under their
shirts. and take EN- 50 far from land As
this. Hangin's the fiji and proper pun
| ishmeut for hoSS-stcalin but man
stcalins 50 great crime that I'm not
fright sure what the punishment is Now,
we don't know much about boats and
| ropcs-though we can tic n hangman' 5
| knot when necessary hut we do know
! somethin bout guns and human natur
here. you come way from that fence.
| The captain was cdging toward be-
| laying-pin. but the speakers voice had
lost it's plaintiyeness at him. He drew
inboard and the header resumed
Now, fnst thing who's foreman .
this outfit? Who's boss
I'm captain here"
"Yuu are? .Iou are mol. I'm captain
/ Get mp OH that shanty. The small
house over the mizzen hatch WAS midi
Gated and Captain Bclchoir climbed IT,
The tubes were still looking at him
Now. You, there YOU man who hi
me last night when | was sick who ar
yen and WHAT"
Mate. id you.
4 "Up with You and don't cuss. You