Gilpin observer., 1899-06-15

mo, no. Master Rodney" said Tat
tooed Tom; this will never do! What,
do you think we will let you venture
into that murderers den while so
many able-bodied fellows hang
astern?"
But I know his language, which
none of you do"
HE speaks the Queens English now
as we'll as any of u.s." said Carlton,
''and If had only pistol or mus
ket to give me but one chance for my
life. I would have made it speak to
him long ago, in the lingo such pirates
know best"
Moreover, as did not molest him
on the night we crossed the line, he
has no particular grudge at me-" I
urged.
There is some sense and truth in
that" muttered several of the crew.
"I'll go-it is settled" said 1, anxious
to solve the mystery of the groans.
while feeling glow Of triumph at the
applause 1 should gain for the risk 1
ran, which assuredly was not a small
one.
"It is shame for us lubberly fell
lows to stand by here and see that lad
risk his life," said Probart, one of the
crew; land if so be that creole plea
room falls foul of him."
eff he does" exclaimed Tom Lam
bourne through his firmly set teeth,
while striking his clenched right hand
on the hard palm of the left, may l
never see England again If we don't
attack him at stem and stern at once!
I'll drop down the skylight, with as
many as will follow me, while you,
Ned, will dash down the companion
way with the rest. and then at him
with hatchet, handsaw and capstan-
bar. He can't kill us all, shipmates,
that's one comfort-he can't kill US
ALL"
The prospect of an early demise was
neither soothed nor encouraged by this
promise of the bloody scene that was
to follow.
The carpenter gave me small but
very sharp tomahawk. l concealed it
in my breast, and resolved to use it to
some purpose If molested in the cabin.
The idea flashed upon me that by one
determined blow l might disable him
forever, and perhaps do an act of JUS
tice by dispatching him outright.
With a vague sense that was about
to face terrible danger, and that the
sooner it was faced and past, the bet
ter, 1 walked hastily aft, and on de-
scending the companionladder. paused
when halfway down, and after knock
ing on the bulkhead called out distinct
ly and boldly
Antonio! Halo, Cubano!"
"Well, what do you want?" asked he,
sulkily.
ITO speak with you; may 1 come
down."
Enter, companero; you have not yet
harmed me, thus bear you no malice"
Putting hand in my breast to ascer-
tain that my little hatchet was secure,
l entered the cabin, where the Gu
bano, with his broad back placed
against the ruddercase, was seated on
the stern-locker at the table, which he
had covered with bottles. biscuits,
cheese and polpnies while papers,
dockets, broken desks, and boxes lay
scattered about him. He was clad, as
l have stated, in the poor skipper's best
shore-going suit of clothes. which he
wore open and loose, for the atmos-
phere of the cabin, Notwithstanding
the shattered skylight, was oppressive
ly hot, as the sun was now almost YER
tical the flies were in noisy swarms,
and the cockroaches were crawling
over the beams and bulkhead panels.
On first hearing foot on the compan-
ion-ladder, he had evidently snatched
up a revolver, and cooked it, but on
finding that his visitor was only me, he
put 1t down, threw away the fag-end
of q cigarito, and said with a ferocious
grin and ironical politeness-
"Buenos dias Ia good day), senior; to
what am / indebted for this visit?"
1t was the first time l had ever
looked in the face of man who had
coolly destroyed n fellow-being as he
had done. and my flesh seemed to creep
with an indescribable loathing; but I
had a purpose to achieve, and deter
mined to do 1t.
l was about to enter Weston's state
room. when the Cubano cooked his re-
volver and cried, in n voice of thun-
der
Come back, or I will shoot you as
dead as he is! Ha, ha! por grades"
(by degrees) II shall get rid of you
ALL"
l paused and looked at him; my
young heart beat wildly; l felt that l
was facing death, and what would l
not have given had my hatchet been n
pistol. even with one barrel. though my
opponent was master of twelve charges.
"He is dead. them" said In husky
voice.
"Who-which?" asked the Cubano,
with n fresh cigarito between his
strong white teeth.