The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1900-04-28

urged.
There is some sense and truth in
that" muttered several of the crew.
"Ill go-it is settled" said l, anxious
to solve the mystery of the groans,
while feeling a glow of triumph at the
applause I should gain for the risk I
ran, which assuredly was not a small
one.
ut is a shame for us lubberly fell
lows to stand by here and see that lad
risk his life said Probart, one OF the
crew; "and if so he that creole plea
room falls foul of him"
'If he does" exclaimed Tom Lam
bourne through his firmly set teeth.
while striking his clenched right hand
on tie 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 Ratchet, 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 a small but
very sharp ~tomahawk. | 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 | might disable him
forever, and perhaps do an act Of JUS
tice by dispatching him outright.
With a vague SENSE that l was about
to face a terrible danger, and that the
sooner it was faced and past, the bet
ter, l 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!"
We'll, what do you want?" asked he,
sulkily.
"To speak with you; may l come
down."
Enter, ~companero; YOU have not yet
harmed me, thus | bear you no malice"
Putting a hand in my breast to ascer-
tain that my little Ratchet was secure,
| 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 polonies while papers,
dockets, broken desks, and boxes lay
scattered about him. He was clad, as
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
teal; the flies were in noisy swarms,
and the cockroaches were crawling
over the beams and bulkhead panels.
On first hearing a foot or 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 it down. threw away the fag-end
of a cigarito, and said, with a ferocious
grin and ironical pollteness-
"Buenos dias Ia good day., senior; to
what am l indebted for this visit?"
1t was the first time l had ever
looked in the face of a man who had
coolly destroyed a fe~llow-being as he
had done, and my flesh seemed to creep
with an indescribable loathing; but 1
had a purpose to achieve, and deter
mined to do it.
was about to enter Weston's state
room, when the Cubano cooked his re-
volver and cried, in a voice of thun-
der
Come back, or I will shoot you as
dead as he is. Ha, ha! por grades"
(by degrees) 81 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 1
not have given had my Ratchet been a
pistol, even with one barrel, though my
opponent was master of twelve charges.
He is dead, them" said | in a husky
voice.
"Who-which?" asked the Cubano,
with a fresh cigarito between his
strong white teeth.
Captain Weston"
AYE, dead as Judas!" said he, laugh
ing hoarsely.
But l understand that Hislop-"
l stammered.
Gel contra-maestre-well?"
At that moment a low moan which
went through my heart came from the
stateroom or little side cabin of Marc
Hislop.
well, hombre, what of him." growl-
ed Antonio.
He is bleeding to death, and I wish
to remove him."
do as you please; he will be food
for the fish before the sun sets!"
"You will allow me to take him on
deck?" said l, earnestly, almost i'm
ploringly.
Eyes; o have done me no harm
Che repeated this very often); woe to
those who have done SOL"
A CLEAN of suspicion flashed in the
eyes of Antonio as he said;
True; but not a man shall enter
here, and leave alive. The ship-boys
may assist you; but | will shoot the
whole crew down like dogs if they ven
ture to approach me; so l give you
five minutes to carry the contra-maes-
ire to the ~forecastle hunks, or to pitch
him overheard, whichever you please,
though the last would please me-"
VI