Barbour County index., 1899-06-21
CHAPTER v.
OF A VERY STIRRING PIECE OF BUSI
NESS.

tanned, and determined to examine IL
without delay. 1 would not take ii to
the bittecie, for there the helmsman
might Sc me. and get was for max
ing use OF tile biItacle lalthOrn.
assembled the poop ladder, turning over
Il little plot n my mind. aud when
was nearly up with the bittacie box
/ stepped and uttered Il sharp excIa-
maIion
"A sniiiin-!" g1o"lei. "Cu.ses
ught Cu the villaihous Iador thai must
leave pocket as open as Chimney!
must have fling CT your ianthorn."
/ took it out of the box without wait
lug for his consent and whisked il
around to the hither side. The fellow
dare not leave his tiller, even Lad he
sufficient interest or curiosity to do
SO, and for the instant was safe. l
held the paper low that none forward
could make ne out, and OH spreading
IL open discovered that it LIre a few
lines OF most villainous, ugly writing.
Tlsy nnd the seeming, indeed, of has-
ing been traced with bit of charcoal
or Ihv point OF a charred stick.
brought all my clerl,ly powers to scar,
and, IL quicLer time than l couId have
thought possible. fnally GecipLered
the words. Luc..ily they were few in
number. Men be going To hiLtln1ze"
$50 the mtssive RAM. "FU1er days.
The mate, hee is the leeder. I am
watched"
1t seemed to me at that moment that
the fellow at the wheel must have
heard the throb my heart gave. l
looked al him as l Strengthened up
at his olgck outlines, as he bowed over
the tiIler Iackle-and hung for the mo-
menI all IL. the wind.
left MIN and walked leisurely 70 the
head of the ladder, whence, with d
careless air, l surveyed the deck. BY
the faint light of the stars / could
maze out the dim shapes of two OF the
men, and red spark by the foot of the
mainmast, where a third was at the
moment starting his pipe. None were
very near, which was the thing would
know. The foot of the poop must lie
well in shadow, so that one slipping
up to the companion and slyly opeI-
ing it would run but small risk of be-
ing seen. 1 was heavy and heartsore
under the sudden shifting of this busi
ness, and could not yet persuade my
self that it was all true, or bring my
self into the heart of it to appreci
ate it
threw one swift glance around and
saw no one apparently looking. The
two nearest men had swung about and
were facing aft, and the smoker had
nitched partially around, giving me
the square of his shoulder. Now was
my opportunity. l darted in, closing
the door after me. A glance showed
that lighted lanthorn hung against
the mast, but the berth was empty. 1
stopped for norhing further, but
strobe long and softly toward the cap
tain's cabin. This was the first-count-
| ing from the starboard side-of the
| three after rooms, the next being oc-
| cupied by the mate and the third by
| the supercargo skirted the table
and reached the door and put out my
hand to rap gently upon it. While yet
| my knuckles were presented the door
farthest on my right-that is to say,
the supercargo's : abruptly opened
and Mr.. lynn himself put out his head.
| l fell back a step, not being pre-
pared for this interruption, and ere
/ could speak or utter caution he
strobe out and hailed me sharply:
''Standi What do you seek2"
"Hist, histt" said, in sharp whis-
per. "A word with you, if you will,
but no noise"
By this time he recognized me, which
| now i saw that he had not at first, and
he fell back without q word, and mo-
toned for me to enter. / whipped in
with all speed, and Immediately that
was past him he gently closed the
door.
I Immediately advanced my lips to
his ear, and acquainted him, in the
fewest words possible, with what was
doing. Speak cautiously, SIR" con-
cluded, ''for you know the mates
berth adjoins this"
He took away his head, and looked at
me as one thunderstruck. Instead OF
answering, he plucked off his bar.
nacles and put them in the case, and
walked to the window. 1 conceived
that he might be collecting his wits
without any impairment of his cour-
age. Clapping up his hand to guide the
sound, he said in my ear:
1--WE will confound the arch villain
Stay but moment, till can prepare
and we will be about it,"
My own spirits and courage rose a;
this, and stood up very sturdily, as
nodded assent.
He thereupon softly advanced to the
wall, whence he took down his sword
and buckled it on, and from beneatt
his bunk produced box, which proved
to contain brace of pistols. with pow
der and ball
He handed these weapons to me Will
; a sign to load them. and while / wa.
obeying him he took from a covered
|. shelf against the bulkhead littl,
iron tool, which at first took to b,
a kind of awI, and this he proceeded t.
> screw into the wooden cap of his arm
having first removed the iron hook.
! was now ready to hear him declar,
his plan, but he first took from nal