The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1901-03-15

btItiuniNtIuliuIlS ukbilSl Iu's Dui bOt u
hero OF them would accept n civil invi.
iation TO come down and have 1t out
man to n
II was Just like n bear pit. ] was the
bear at the bottom, who could not get
at the yapplng hounds above without
being slain, while they did not dare to
descend and bait me. And so, seeing
that one OF them had unslung his mr..
qucbus and was fixing Its crutch and
blowing his match for n shot, ] left
them to amusc one another and went
to see how Willie Trehallon had Jared
with Don Miguel.
Their struggle must have been a
short one, for when | came up to tie
chamber In the snakes head | found
the Spaniard lying on the floor with
the squat figure of the boatswain
pcrched on his stomach. The victor had
n bare brown foot on each of his enc
my's arms, while in his only hand he
held, with significant Intention, Don
Miguels own jewel hilted miserlcorde.
1t was n most refreshing sight.
"You be back soon. Master Topp."
said Willie without turning his head.
I'VE have just this very minute decid-
ed who should sit uppcrmost."
AT this the Spaniard drew back his
lips In an evil smile, showing two rows
of yellow teeth that protruded outward
like n calf's, and l thought his face the
most dcvillsh and fearsome my eyes
had ever fallen upon. Then, as IL sud
denly recollecting himself, he closed his
mouth, smiled and lay before us a pale,
perfect Apollo. The suddenness of the
change sent a cold shudder through
melt smacked so much of magic. The
boatswnin, too, was plainly not a little
disconnected, for he set to work
scratching his bare, shining poll with
the hook, n sure sign that he was puz-
zled, and presently, still without TAX
ing his eye from the prisoner, he rap
| ped out:
BEST kill him at once Master Topp,
for fear Of accidents"
A flicker of fear passed quickly over
the Spaniard's face Mt the words, but
1t was only n flicker, and In an instant
It was gone.
"You hear, Don Miguel?" said I.
l1uNe yOu uuy uIcu W ulbc "hy VIC
should not kill your"
NO." he said shortly; mo plea that
you would consider adequate"
knew of one which he might have
urged with success, but as he evident
ly did not at present recognize me 1t
was not the time to remind him of
Whitby and Vigo.
"Then, senior. you do not shrink from
DEATH"
"Quien sabew
"would you promise us immunity
from hurt If we set you free"
mo, 1 will not, for you would mock
me IL I did. And" he added iercely,
my word shall not be held up to the
scorn Of any one"
This reading Of my thoughts and in
tentions took me back somewhat, but
after a moments pause I asked II Ire
would give his word not to attempt to
attack us or to escape, supposing that
I ordered the boatswain to release him
from his present uncomfortable dur
ance.
Eyes, senior. I pledge my honor so
far" he answered carelessly. so I babe
Willie rise. He did SO after some de-
muir and very unwillingly.
The Spanlard gazed at me sullenly
and persistently, and as began to feel
eerie and uncomfortable under his
stare-for l feared the evil eye, and
those black orbs were baneful-1 told
Willie that l had something for his pri-
vate ear. With n bow to the prisoner
ltl ~ao,;ln,tnr tI,ot Y roc 1npn I'm.
Used to movements Of courtesy, was
passable enough l led the way down
stairs, and Willie followed, carrying
Don Miguels sword and dagger tucked
underneath his right armpit. Some &c
steps below he halted. but l bade him
go farther still, for l wished to be sure
that we were out Of earshot Of our cap
tive.
NOW, Willie,' I said when we had
nearly reached the bottom. ''why this
gloom? Our fortune could not have
been better"
mo- replied the boatswain slowly
"but we might have made a better use
o. it."
prove that"
II Rad my steel at yon rascal's throat
an you made me stay it," was the re
ply.
!, Understand me-" l said sternly; i"
! won't have Don Miguel injured whil'
he is In my hands, If for no other rea
> son because he can be made to sery'
u.s."
. aye" answered Willie scornfully
! "that he can. We've left him up Their
: alone, an he can send a hail to Dol
!, Sancho to tell him how matters are
! Who's to hinder him, since we don
! seem to want to? Pho, Master Topp
! D'you think our bird won't chirp to hi
: mates when he's got the chance?"
II hope So"
: "You hope SO! Why. Master TopI
you must be bewitched. That band
U legged little don will have anothe
u score O. men up from the cave befor
you can wink"
u "Let him. We can hold our snail
u house against them"
But not against starvation. Th
u bananas is about done already, an L
liefer tackle a leather scabbard tina