Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-03-01
CHAPTER XXV.-CoNTINUED.

CHAPTER XXV.-CoNTINUED.
I looked sharply at the third man, ex-
pecting some word from him, but he shifted
his eye from mine, giving me something like
g sneer and struggling his bony shoulders,
but vouchsafng nothing in the way of
words. He was a dogged looking rascal,
with q broad, red scar across nose and
check, a saber slash without doubt Raw
boned and light of weight, he looked like a
sleeping cnt 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
Slehanded, 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 forecastle coffin. If | make
no mistake, we're in for a watt that will
come nigh to blowing us out of water if we
don't 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 men. l have no rations and no water.
The scuttle butt has launched itself over
board, and | am afraid of the supply in the
forehold. There's not a shilling in it for any
of you, but tbs fair way of escaping the
kings navy without deserting, for III put
yau on parole. / tell you, lads, I'm bad
one to foul, but you'll find / have an easy
fhelm and never miss stays if handled hon
oestly. Now choose betwixt this hole and
the deck, and choose in hurry! If you are
to save neck and freedom, throw down your
knives as 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
fscowling like thunder as he gave vent to his
words.
aye two be domned fools to be trustin'
a rebel an runnin' yez head into tn moose.
BE yez couple O. babbys not to mark his
firearm is useless wi tn wet? 'Ee's in our
'ands! Wot's to Under our takin' the craft
an gettin' tn price that lies on the cad of
this ere"
He got no further. / strobe up to him
and snapped my fingers in his face, then,
thrusting my eyes close to his, thundered:
"On deck with ye, ye blatherskite! I'll
see that We sing tune with old iron in it
ere sunrise tomorrow! On deck, | tell ye!"
Notwithstanding the din already exist
ing in the forecastle, my voice rose far above
it, it's violence and the suddenness of my
move making the man shrink back as though
frightened. But he was not cowed. 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 chance, lads, while yet we ave
i'm! Twill be tn maxim O us, an it's
fifty puns to each! Stand by, bullies! we'll
make meat O tn cussed spy!-Up, Larry,
an close the 'atch on i'm! I'll 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 succor of their
mate, they remained standing as though the
quick shifting of the situation had for the
moment dazed them. The earnestness of
the fellows purpose showed in the rapid
change that came over his face. From
suilzy expression it had altered to one of
wide awake ferocity, and the lstless droop
of arms and shoulders given place to tense
muscles and rounded chest, through the
.hairiness of which the perspiraton stood
,out in beads.
Even with this menace before me could
but think what a simple fool the man was
Instead of quietly following my lead and
getting me at disadvantage, he had chosen
30 beard me against the odds of my cutlass
and the lukewarmness of his mates. At the
same time, it was 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 nipped
the mutny (if it could be so called, and had
the ringieader begging for mercy.
Without drawing my cutass, / advanced
upon the fellow as though to close with him
I mind me now that he was left t-handed, and,
al the fist holding rhe knife swayed aloft
aud came down, | seized its wrist and with
e. violent turn whipped his elbow out of
jaeht as one twists the leg from well-cooked
fowl. As my hand stayed mis- ne clutched
eny throat with his right, but as his Joint
gyarted he gave a howl of agony dropped the
H1nife and my collar at once, and sank to his
knees roaring like bull.
Physically the man had been no match
for me, and l might have hammered the