Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-10-13
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PART V.
CHAPTER XXVI.-CoNrINuEp.

We were both of us capsized in Sec
ond, and both of us rolled, almost to-
gether, into the scuppers, the dead red
cap, with his arms still spread out,
tumbling stiffly after us. So near were
we, indeed, that my head came against
the cockswain's foot with a crack that
made my teeth rattle. Blow and all,
I was the first afoot again, for Hands
had got involved with the dead body.
The sudden canting of the ship had
made the deck no place for running
on; had to find some new way of es-
cape, and that upon the instant, for
my foe was almost touching me.
Quick as thought l sprang into the
mizzen shrouds, ratified up hand over
hand, and did not draw breath till
I was seated on the cross-trees.
I had been saved by being prompt; !;
the dirk had struck not half foot be-
low me, as pursued my upward flight;
and there stood Israel Hands with his
mouth open and face upturned to mine,
perfect statae of surprise and Gisap-
pointment.
Now that I had a moment to my
Self, lost no time in changing the
priming of my pistol, and then, having
one ready for service, and to make as
surance doubly sure, I proceeded to
draw the load of the other and re-
charge it afresh from the beginning.
My new employment struck Hands
all of heap; he began to see the dice
going against him; and after an OBJ
vious hesitation, he again hauled him
self heavily into the shrouds, and, with
dirk in his teeth, began slowly and pain
fully TO mount. 1t cost him no end
of time and groans to haul his wounded
leg behind him, and / had quietly fin
tshed my arrangements before he was
much more than a third of the way up.
Then, with a pistol in either hand, l
addressed him.
Zone more step, Mr.. Hands," said 7,
land I'll blow your brains out! Dead
men don't bite, you know" l added,
with a chuckle.
He stopped instantly. / could see by
the workings of his face that he was
crying to think, and the process was
go slow and laborious that, in my new
found security, | laughed aloud At
last, with a swallow or two, he spoke,
his face still wearing the same express
sion of extreme perplexity. In order
TO speak he had to take the dagger
from his mouth, but in all else he re-
ynaained unmoved.
"Jin," says he, 81 reckon we're
1oulcd, you and me, and Wen have to
sign articles I'd have had you but for
that there lurch; but I don't have no
luck, not /; and l reckon I'll have to
strike, which comes hard, you see, for
a master mariner to u ships younker
Etie you, jim"
fwas drinking in his words and smil
'.ng away, as conceited as a cock upon
a walk, when. all in a breath, back went
his right hand over his shoulder. Some
thing sung like an arrow through the
air, l felt blow and then sharp
pang, and there l was pinned by the
shoulder to the mast. In the horrid
pain and surprise of the moment
scarce can say it was by my own voli-
ton, and | am sure it was without a
conscious aim-both my pistols went
off, and both escaped out of my hands.
They did not fall alone; with a choled
cry the cockswain loosed his grasp upon
the shrouds and plunged head first into
the water.