Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1900-03-01

HSAtaht w It's ShNtu, even luouSH ttu-
ers be risked for it.
volunteered to become the envoy
OF the crew
mo, no, Master Rodney" said Tat
tooed Tom; this will never do! What,
do you think we will let you venture
into that murderer's den while SO
many able-bodied fellows hang
astern?''
but l know his language. which
none of you do
He speaks the Queens English now
as well as any of u.s." said Carlton,
'and IL | had only pistol or a mus
ket to give me but one chance for my
life, would have made 1t speak to
him long ago, in the lingo such pirates
know best"
Moreover, as | did not molest him
ON the night we crossed the line, he
has no particular grudge at me-"
urged
There is some sense and truth in
that" muttered several of the crew.
''I'll go-it is settled" said |, anxious
to solve the mystery of the groans,
while feeling a glow of triumph at the
applause / should gain for the risk
ran, which assuredly was not a small
one.
1T Is shame for us lubberly fell
lows to stand by here and see that lad
risk his life said Probart, one of the
crew; land If SO be that creole plea
room falls foul OF him"
''If he does" exclaimed Tom Lam
bourne through his firmly set teeth
while striking his elenched right hand
on the hard palm of the left, may |
attack him at stem and stern at once!
Ill 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 hatchet. 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 small but
very sharp tomahawk | concealed ii
In my breast, and resolved to use 1t TO
some purpose II 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 vague sense that | was about
to face terrible danger, and that the
sooner 1t was faced and past, the bet
| ter. | 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!"
"Well, what do you want?" asked he.
sulkily.
ITO speak with you; may l come
down."
ENTER, companero; you have not yet
harmed me, thus bear you no malice =
Putting hand In my breast to ascer-
tain that my little hatchet was secure
| | entered the cabin, where the Gu
| bano, with his broad back placed
against the ruddercase, was seated or
the stern-loeker 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
| have stated, in the poor shippers best
! shore-going suit of clothes, which he
wore open and loose, for the atmos.
phere of the cabin, Notwithstanding
the shattered skyllght, was oppressive.
" hot, as the sun was now almost yer.
tieal: the flies were in noisy swarms
and the cockroaches were crawlinf
over the beams and hulkhead panels
4 On first hearing foot on the compan
ion-ladder, he had evidently snatehet
I'D a revolver and cooked 1t; but OF
finding that his visitor was only me, h.
| put Il down, threw away the fag-ent
of a cigarito, and said, with ferociou,
grin and ironieal pollteness-
"Buenos dias Ia good day, senior; tc
what am | indebted 70. this visit?"
II was the first time had evel
looked In the face of a man who hat
coolly destroyed a being ss h,
had done, and my flesh seemed to ereeI
with an indescribable loathing; but
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
volyer and cried, in voice of thun
der
Come back, or | will shoot you a
dead as he Isl Ha. ha. por grades
tby degrees) Il shall get rid of .Al
all"
| paused and looked at him; m
young heart beat wildly; | felt that
was facing death, and what would
not have given had my hatchet been
pistol, even with one barrel, though m
opponent was master of twelve charges
He is dead, them" said | In husk
voice.
"Who-which?" asked the Cubant
with a fresh cigarito between hi
strong white teeth.
Captain Weston
AYE, dead as Judasi" said he, laugh
ing hoarsely.
"But | understand that Hislop-
| stammered.
.-El contra-maestre-we well?"
At that moment a low moan whit
went through my heart came from Il
stateroom or little side cabin of Ma
Hislop.