Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-20

while the third held his peace, leaning with
folded arms and a skillful balancing If his
person against one OF the bunk uprights.
you say you are New Bedford lad q
said /, speaking 10 the man Who had made
the statement
Yes, sir; New Bedford, sir came his
ready answer. Il was pressed in Ports
mouth three years agone, sir, while on shore
leave from the Salie Null, trader sir. I've
been saiin' in these here home waters for
nigh on two year, sir, with never a chance to
run. ! say it boldly, sir. Put me in three
miles o the coast an give me leave, sir, an
III 60 over the bow, damn me, an swim
ashore But | WONT join the Yankee navy,
sir. No, sir ! don't want to hang; hut,
for Gods sake, sir, don't get taken, else
back to the Sprte I'll have to 20, an I'd
as soon 20 TO hell for a spell O sutferinl"
| looked sharply at the third man, ex-
pecting some word from him, but he shifted
his eve from nine, giving me something like
sheer and Struggling his bony shoulders,
but youchsaling nothing In the way of
words. He was logged looking rascal,
with a broad, red scar across nose and
check, a saher 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.
Come, lads said l. ignoring the attitude
Of the silent man, ''I'll be frank with you.
I'm 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 | offer The schooner is in
danger, and unless you turn out It's like
You'll find the forecaste Il coffin. Ii make
no mistake, we're in for a watt that will
come nigh to blowing us out Of water il we
dom 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 mon. ] have no rations and no water.
The scutte butt has launched itself over
board, and ! ann afraid Of the supply in the
forehold. There not a shilling in it for any
OF you, but It's fair way OF escaping the
kings navy without deserving. for FL put
you on parole ! ten You, lads, I'm a bad
one to foul, but you'll find have an easy
helm and never miss stays il handled hon
estly. Now choose betwixt this hole ard
the decs, 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
scowlng like thunder as he gave vent to his
words
"Ye two be domnet fools to he trustin'
a rebel an runnin yez head into tn moose.
BE yez a couple O babbys not to mark his
firearm is useless WI III wet? Fe's III our
ands! Wot's to Under Our takin' the craft
an 5eitin' tn price that hes on the cad Of
this ere"
lie got no further strobe up TO him
and snapped my fingers in his face, then,
thwsting my eyes close to his, | Numbered:
On deck with We, We Llatherskite! III
see that W sing tune with old non in it
ere sunrise tomorrow! On deck, ! tell yer'
Notwithstanding the din already exist.
'ag in the 'orecastle, my voice rose far above
II, It's violence and the suddenne,s Of my
move making the man shrink back as though
frightened. But he was not eowed. Gather
ing himself, he uttered a 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 change, lads. while yet we ave
i'm! Twill be tn maxim O. us, an tbs
fifty puns to each! Stand by, bullies! well
make meat o tn eussed spyi-Up, Larry,
an close the 'atch on inn iii old the
gangway.'
His action and outspoken hostility was
So 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 suecor Of their
mate, they remained standing as though the
quick shifting Of the situation had for the
moment dazed them The earnestncss of
the fellows purpose showed in tile rapid
change that came over his face. From a
sulky expression it had altered to one of
wide-awake fcrocity, and the listlcss droop
of arms and shoulders given place to tense
muscles and rounded chest through the
hairIuess Of which the perspuaton stood
out in beads.
Even with this menace before me could
but think what simple fool the man was.
Instead OF quietly following my lead and
getting me at a disadvantage, he had chosen
TO beard me against the odds Of my eutlass
and the lukewarmness 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 npped
the mutny (if it could be SO called, and had
the ringeader begging for mercy
Without drawing my cutlass, advanced
upon the fellow as though to close with him.
| mind me now that be was cft-handed. and.
as the fist holding the knife swayed aloft
and came down, | seized it's wrist and with
violent turn whipped his elbow out Of
Joint as one twists the leg from a wel-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 a bull
PHYSICALLY the man had been no match