The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1900-05-10
CHAPTER NXIV.
A RaIALI TEAGEnN

The scultle butt had bafsly disappeared
aud ! was about to get back 10 the cabin IN
ace how had Jared ia inmates, when my
ears were assailed 10y q violent hsmmsring
forward, and | At unrc perceived that my
| prisoners had assaulted the weakened panel
| Of the forecastle door. With ms blood well
up. l got myself hand over hand along the
( bulwark, aud by a leap iron the catl-ad
I came 10 the hatch and boldly threw back the
slide. The three were iammel On the lad.
der At work together. but the suddsnness
ai nay move caused them such surprise that
they tumbled from the perch as though
struck. The lamp WAS out, ard from the
black hole came a hot and rosking smell that
wss sufocating
What's amiss there ! ruarcd. hanging
on 10 the hatch with one hand and with tho
| other showing the barrel of my pistol
They scrambled TO their feet and looked
up, li.tle bot their white iicsh showing in
the wan light entering the haliopeu hatch
The sailor with the pigiail whom had
pitched below was a tride 10 advance of the
others, and,. stepping pace forward, be
shouted back.
"Wol's smi@i Everything usmlssl Wet
Kind o. treatment is ths 20 give q mani
Snlit me! but I'd rather 20 overheard and
stiilc Ia a liity than smother by inrhss.
Wot's amiss above. man! Who he YOU
Wher's the cap'ny"
Never mind met" I answered "'Ts
enough that | am master here, inunshury
being some two leagues back. Pass up your
arms' You ARE prisoners to ihr colonies,
and the hrs, finger that lifia ~ fight h..
longs to dead man PaH up what you
have below there"
Prisoners, Is ii!'' said hc Of the pigta,l.
turning 20 his fellows. Heard Sc @ sign o.
the gang that boarded u.s. Cuss me. mates.
but they must ha' come on wings then, inr
the sea was a. smooth ne pan o. warm
grease two minutes aforc ] wss huflri uu tn
,e, an not a speck IN sight, hsrFin' the
sprtc' Prisoners, i ~ Cuss me, hst 10
that"
"Ay, prisoners Il is. and to thu cyonies.
- no more palavcT. What have you be.
low
Il care not damn for roIoulrs or king
was the reply. There b. mo- arms hprr.
Dye think three men were cent hlhcr M
beat Of a boarding party, au' the schooner
IN consorty Dye take a. for sea loafrs ma
rincs! We he sailors, we br-thatH 49,
Here's wot have, an I'Il trJdc il Tor air.
saying this, h. pulled bis knife from Hs
sheath, aud taking the steel By ITS point,
held % toward me.
VIII You swear 10 no other arms each NJ
youf' | cried
~, that Gods truth" spoke up onr NJ
tho Others "Ie sly yc ar Of thr coloul,,
we'll. 40 be !. I'm New Bedford lad, slr.
en- III thank ye 10 hold a grip on mr that
! msy not be- taken from &c."
An that's Code truth. ton. yer honor
broke IN the fret speaker There was
naught vicious Va the rumpus We was rar,u'.
4 man has right 30 air. en- twas an nc
vas crsvlE'. 80 be I'm prisoner, I'm con.
tent li u means grub an water an q chance
10 breathe
Now know little OF the nltur, cf the
black sailor save that his anger is apt i1
show IN trcachcry, but with tho regular
white salt am better acquainted. and have
found that the English seaman, Ire he Yam.
kcc or Britou, argues his point with sgugrr
hst and a flashing eye. Though there may
be wars and wars with the mother country.
It will BE- open aud without back .tablur
hy those Of the Saxon race. and believing
this, ! thought ! saw o. way oi scoring
point, and that with little danger 90 myself
The truth Of the statement that they were
unarmed appealed to nv reason. For io
fcn=c three iacn armed ur not would have
cut no figure aud, a. the Sprttr had iu.
tended to net IS consnri, the Necessity n
force on the Phantom had not hccn ,or
sidercd. Being satisfied that INV prisoners
possessed no weapons other Than the sa'iur's
universal knife, and holding that a bold hrr
will carry man further than a too open
show Of caution, | flung back the door and.
graspinR the slide, hung over the hatch
opening and dropped into the forecastlc.
Now, said !, ~ ! gathered myself and
clung TO the woodwork 'ii you mean air
by me we'll soon como to TERMS Ii foul. take
the last chance you'll have 10 scttio' Who
comes first or come you sIls'
Look a here mister" aid the spobss.
man, who scarce shifted his position res !
dropped near him, II spoke ye fair. au had
| boarded ye alongside would he iast
enough in the fight, mind Sc. an 'twauld lc
alobg O the ieitenants eyc IN me. Bu. it
bs, ! care not for blood n fight, 'tsirom
bein forced to Il. / was shanghicd into this
business, an that's the truth. an It can
get out without stakin ms Bcvk ns a dc.
Sarter, I'm willin' enough Yc .ay We hr
prisoners! Say no more. DO So drive us IN
work for rltionsg Why 50 be- W knew
nausht about hein' tookrn captive. mn only
wanted to speak ye fair ar &C.; q breath
That's why We carved the hatch. Amt that
So mhtesf'
"Ay. lhat's gospel" came from thc one
who had spoken of himself a. a Yankee,
while the third held his peace. leaning with
folded arms and a skilliul balancing oi hs
person against one Of the bunk upfights
You say you are a New Bedford lads"
sAid |, speaking to the man who had made
he statement,
YES, sir; New Bedford, sIr came hi'
ready answer. Il was pressed in Ports
mouth three years agoRe, sir, while on shore
eave from tho Sallic Null. trader, sir. I've
been sailin' in these here home waicrs for
nigh on two year, siT, with never = chance 10
run. say il boldly. SIR Put nc in three
miles o the eOas, an give me leave, sir, an
IN 60 over the bow, damn the, an wim
lshore. But I won't join the YanEec navy,
Iir. No, sir. don't want 10 hang; but.
'or Gods sake, SIR. don't get taken. else
pack to the Sprite IN have to go, an I'd
rs soea go to bell for spell o mHorin'l"
tTo BE CONTINUED
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