Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-10-25
BY ChAUNcY G. HOTcHKlS$

Copyright, 1897, by D. Appleton Co. All
rights reserved
CHAPTER XIV. CONTINUED.
I looked sharply at the third man, ex-
pecting some word from him, but he shifted
his eye from mine, giving me something like
q sneer and struggling his bony shoulders,
but vouchsafng nothing IN the way of
words. He was = logged looking rascal,
with broad, red scar across nose and
cheek, q saber slash without doubt. Raw
boned and light of weight, he looked like a
sleeping cat as he lolled against the up
right, his lack of brute strength probably
balanced by great activity. r
'tCome, lads!" said /, ignoring the attitude
Of the silent man, ''I'll be frank with you.
Pm Donald, Thorndyke, of the American
forces. The schooner was taken by me sin.
gle-handed, and the Sprite is beyond all
bearings. Lounsbury is overheard, there
are two sick in the cabin, and the surgeon is
at my mercy. So are you If you abide not
by the terms l offer. The schooner is in
danger, and unless you turn out tits like
you'll find: the forecastle coffin. If make
no mistake, we're in for watt that will
come nigh to blowing us out of water if we
don't roll our spars out before. Get on deck
and work the schooner under my command
until we make Holmes Hole in the Vine
yard, an when you set foot ashore you are
free men. l have no rations and no water.
The scuttle butt has launched itself over
board. and am afraid of the supply in the
forehold. There's not shilling in it for any
of you, but tits fair way of escaping the
kings navy without DESERVING, for I'll put
all 10. 4
one to foul, but you'll find have an easy
helm and never miss stays if handled hon
estly. Now choose betwixt this hole and
the deck, and choose in hurry! If you are
to save neck and freedom, throw down your
knives as a sign; I've no more time to
waste"
The two who had spoken looked askant
each at the other, and the knife of the
original spokesman fell to the deck AS the
hand of the Yankee sought the sheath the
third man spoke, unfolding his arms and
scowling like thunder as he gave vent to his
words.
aye two be domned fools to be trustin'
rebel an runnin' yez head into tn moose.
Be yez couple O. babbys not to mark his
frearm is useless wi tn wet? 'Ee's in our
'ands! Wot's to Under our takin' the craft
an gettin' tn price that lies on the cad of
this ere"
He got no further I strobe up to him
and snapped my fingers in his face, then,
thrusting my eyes close to his, thundered:
"On deck with ye, We blatherskite! I'll
zee that ye sing tune with old iron in it
ere sunrise tomorrow! On deck, tell vel"
Notwithstanding the din already exist
ing in the forecastle, my voice rose far above
it, its violence and the suddenness of my
move making the man shrink back as though
frightened. But he was not cowed. Gather
ing himself, he uttered curse and sprang
past me, placing himself 'twixt me and the
ladder; then whipping out his knife, he
called aloud to his companions:
Take tn chance, lads, while yet we ave
inl Twill be tn maxim O. us, an it's
fifty pups to each! Stand by, DULLES! we'll
make meat o tn cussed spy!-Up, Larry,
an close the latch on i'm! I'll 'old the
gangway." e. o.. i
His action and outspoken hostility was
50 sudden as to take me by surprise, and,
had the others responded to his call, it
would surely have gone hard with me. But
instead Of springing to the succor of their
mate, they remained standing as though the
quick shifting of the situation had for the
the fellows purpose showed in the rapid
sulky expression it had altered to one of
wide.awake ferocity, and the listless droop
of arms and shoulders given place to tense
muscles and rounded chest, through the
hairiness Of which the perspiration stood
out in beads.
Even with this menace before me could
Int ;r1 hat c;p ~
Instead of quietly following my lead and
getting me at disadvantage, he had chosen
10 beard me against the odds of my cutlass
and the lukewarmuess of his mates. At the
same time, it was no case for argument, nor
would it do to temporize an instant. Ere
the promise of reward for my capture or the
easy chance to regain control of the schoon-
er could act upon the slowly moving minds
of the well-disposed seamen, had nipped
the mutiny (if it could be so called), and had
the ringleader begging for mercy.
Without drawing my cutlass, I advanced
upon the fellow as though to close with him.
mind me now that he was 'eft-handed, and,
as the fist holding the knife swayed aloft
and came down, seized it's wrist and with
a violent turn whipped his elbow out of
joint as one twists the leg from well-cooked
fowl. As my hand stayed his he clutched
my throat with his right, but as his joint
parted he gave howl of agony, dropped the
knife and my collar at once, and sank to his
knees roaring like bull.
Physically the man had been no match
for me, and I might have hammered the
( life from him and met with little opposition
or resistance. Holding him for a brief
space, that my power might impress his
companions as well as himself, dropped
him, and he sank to, the deck with moan
that made me almost regret my act.
y But the demands of war, self-preserva-
!, ton, pride, and the safety of others leave
little latitude for the sentiment of pity in
time Of action. Had I in anger alone dis
jointed the groaning man my conscience
(which, thank God, has never been scared
into inactivity might have upbraided me,
but now q felt no great pang Of remorse as
I sprang up the ladder, calling the two to
follow. 800 s$$z.... - ~ >,.-.s.: -
If the plucky resistance Of the disabled
seaman had impressed the Others, such i'm
preston seemed to have disappeared as they
suddenly brought into sunshine, they
blinked in the now broadened light, and,
hanging on to the halyards.of the foremost,
gazed with plain interest at the tumult
!. about them. Sailors though they were, /
would have wagered that never had they
faced such sight from SO small craft,
and this was made certain when the man
named Larry bawled at me, while for mo-
ment Hippedgthe same rope with him:
sBarrin,s IAN easeao' breatl might as
vel ha' left ID below. .Thecraft cant live
long this way here. IT'S matter o. wind or
= navv ToYoa ~ uo hod lof4 a.. mi ;etle 20.