The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1900-03-02
CHAPTER XXV.-CoHTNUED.

CHAPTER XXV.-CoNTNUED.
I looked sharply az the third man, ex-
pecting some word from him, but he shifted
has eye from mine, giving me something like
q sneer and Struggling his bony shoulders,
but vouchsafng nothing N the way Of
words. He was a logged looking rascal,
with q broad, red scar across nose and
cheek, a saber slash without doubt. Raw
bcned and light Of weight, be looked ike a
sleeping cat as he lOlled against the up
right, his lack of brute strength probably
balanced by great activity.
Come, lads" said ], 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
ele-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 f0recastle q coffin. If i make
10 mistake, we're IN for a watt that will
come nigh 70 blowing us out OF water if we
don't roll our spCrs 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, ! have no ratiOns and no water.
The scuttle butt has launched itself over
board, and / am afraid Of the supply in the
forehO-d- There's not a shilling in It Tor any
Of you, but 'tis a fair way Of escaping the
kings navy without deserving, for III put
you on parole. ] tel You, lads, I'm a bad
one to foul, but you'll find i have an easy
helm and never miss stays If handled hon
estly. Now choose betwiXt this hole and
the deck, and choose IN a hurry Ii you are
10 save neck and freedom, throw down your
knives as a sign; I've no more slime to
waste"
The two who had spoken looked aszant
each az the other, and the knife of the
original spokesman fell 70 the deck. As the
hand Of the Yankee sought the sheath the
third man spoke, unfolding his arms and
scOwling like thunder as be gave vent 70 his
words.
~He two be domned fools TO be trustin'
a rebel an runnin' yez head into tn moose.
BE yez a couple o babbys not TO mark his
firearm is useless WI tn wet2 'Ee's in our
'andsl W0t's 10 Under our takin' the craft
an gettin' ia price that lies on the cad Of
The ere
ans snapped my fingers In his face, then,
thrusting my eyes close TO his, / Numbered:
-On deck with ye, ye blatherskitel III
see that We sing a tune with old iron in it
ere sunrise tomorrow On deck, tel yei"
Notwithstanding the din already exist
ing in the forocastle, my voice rose far above
II, its violence and the suddenness OF my
move making the man shrink back as though
4 l.
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 70 his companions:
Take tn chance, lads. while yet we ave
'imi Twill be tn maxim o. us, an tits
fifty puns 10 each! Stand by, buliiesi well
make meat o. tn cussed spyl-Up, larry,
an close the 'atch on i'm. III old the
gangway."
HIS aetion and outspoken hostility was
So sudden as to take me BY surprise, and,
had the others responded 20 his call, il
would surely have gone hard with me. But
instead of springing 10 the succor of their
mate, thcy remained standing as though the
quick shifting Of the situation had for tie
moment dazcd them. The earnestness of
the fellows purpose showed in the rapid
sulky expression II had altered 20 one Of
wide-awake ferOcity, and the listless droop
Of arms and shoulders gwen place 10 tense
muscles and rounded chest, through the
hairiness of which the perspiration stood
out IN beads.
Even with this menace before me I could
but think what q simple fool the man was.
Instead Of quietly following my lead ana
getting me al a disadvantage, he had chosen
10 beard me against the odds Of my cutlass
and the luzewarmness Of his mates. At the
same time, i was no case for argument, nor
would Il do 10 tempOrize an instant. Ere
the promise OF reward for my capture or the
easy chance TO regain control Of the schOOn-
CT could act upon the slowly moving minds
Of the well-disposed seamcn, ] had uipped
the mutiny Of it could be 50 called, and had
the rineleader begging for mercy.
Without drawing my cutlass, / advanced
upon the fellow as though 20 close with him.
] mind me now that he was icft-handed, and,
az the fist holding the knife swayed alOft
and came down, ] seized its wrist and with
q violent turn whipped his elbow out Of
5oint as one twists the leg from a well-cooked
fowl. As my hand stayed his be clutched
ny throat with his right, but as his joint
parted be gave a howl Of agony, dropped the
knife and my collar at once, and sank 10 his
knees roaring ike a bull.
Physically the man had been no match
for me, and I might have hammered the