The Hope pioneer., 1899-06-01

mined to use his saber on ME. But, fortu.
nately tor one of us, we were joined by an
other officer, whom afterward found had
come from the second boat.
Hold hard: Scammell! You are not
handling one of you- own dragons! What
is this all about? You hy the signal of
prize, sir" he continued, turning to me;
"how comes it you are alone? Who and
what are you?"
II am Captain Jack Lounsbury, bearing
instructions from Sir Henry Clinton, as that
cockatrice might have found ere this had
he used a smooth tongue. This is my prize
"a Yankee schooner laden with lead for
New London, and taken by me single-hand-
ed. There lies her skipper, and all but one
OF her crew are overheard" And with this
[ pointed to the body of my mate.
l had hardly spoken when two marines
came aft with the negro Stole betwixt them.
He was trembling like a sail in the wind,
and hung his head as though hes had lost
all strength to lift it. was looking for an
exposure on the instant, but the officer
waved them back with motion. There was
an unspoken but plainly shown respect for
me in the demeanor of the crowd as it spread
away. The two officers stood for moment
in undisguised wonder at the recital of my
prowess, giving alternate glances at the body
and myself, and then the last conner, who
was plainly the one in authority, spoke.
1ou alone did this? BY st. George,
Scammell, you came near getting into a
mess! promised to show you sea scrim-
mage, but not the kind you were Matching:
Let us have further warrant of these facts"
he continued to me. "Who was he?" point
ing toward the scupper, "and when did this
haDnan2 Left l,S Gonna ly-t ha pors -
Wonder fellow. is Donald Thorndyke, the
master till overcame him" l answered.
Il shipped as mate. Ii you will 60 below we
can come by the whole matter" l replied,
| not caring to extend my yarn with the negro
within hearing. cor, better, we can take
what we there find and 60 aboard before
| Your captain, where the whole matter may
| be boiled down at one sitting
"'Twould be saving of time, certainly"
| he answered, ''but We'll hear the yarn while
| the schooner is being searched; of course,
| you understand the Importance of the form. :"
| And he turned to sea corporal and gave
him the necessary orders. Now, sir l am
at your service he said, crossing the deck
toward the cabin companion. Hesitating
there, he seemed to hang in the wind for an
instant, and then strobe over to the body
"Did you shoot him" he asked, as he bent
over the PROSTATE form.
"Nay, struck him. I answered.
| Faith, then," he returned, sizing me up
with a side glance, I'D sooner take the
chance of a bullet than blow from that fist
if you struck in earnest! Did he wing you
at the onset?"
"Nay, nay; twas niger striving to knife
me in the back. Let's below. Mayhap We
have doctor aboard who will fix up bad
cut"
Through all this was conscious of the eye
of Scammell fixed on me- Whether or not he
was suspicious of me, or whether he was still
boiling under the dressing had given him,
there were no means of telling. l saw plain.
ly the resentment he made little effort to
conceal, and felt that I had made an enemy
who would be mighty glad to cross swords
with me on the slightest provocaton. He
was 2s or 80 in years, or about my own age
and was under me not two inches in stature
which is speaking we'll for him, as stood
three inches above six feet, unshod. BY
weight and Drawn l we'll ovcrmatched him
las did most men), especially in the latte,
quality of physique; but he made typical
dragon officer and would be formidable
antagonist in any field.
might hope for little mercy if ever fell
into the power Of this man, for mercy was 9