Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-12-28

their origin and errand; but the other
navy came on without banner or
antient, as though they were some low
creatures feeling shame for their
birth.
Clear it seemed also that they would
not let US pass without a fight, and
IN this there was nothing uncommon;
for no law carries out over the seas,
and brother in one ship feels quite
free to harry his brother in another
vessel if he meets him out of earshot
of the beach-more especially if that
other brother be coming home laden
from foray or trading tour. So lob,
with system and method, got our YES
sci into fighting trim, and the other
four captains did the like with theirs,
and drew close in to us to form a
compact squadron. They had no wish
to smell slavery, now that the voyage
had come so near to it's end.
Our Lord the Sun shone brilliantly,
giving full speed to the machines, as
though he was fully willing for the
affair to proceed, and the two navies
approached one another with quick.
ness, the three galleys holding back
to stay in line with their consorts.
But when some bare hundred ship
lengths separated us, the other navy
halted, and one of the gaIleys, draw
ing ahead, flew green branches from
her masts, seeking for parley.
The course was unusual, but we in
our sea-battered state were no navy
| to invite fight unnecessarily. So in
| hoarse seabawls word was passed,
and we too halted, and lob hoisted
withered stick (which had to do duty
for greenery), to show that we were
ready for talk, and would respect the
! person OF an ambassador.
Inc galley drew on, swung round
and backed till its stern rasped on our
| shield rail, and one of her people
clambered up and jumped down upon
our decks. He was dandily rugged
out fellow, young and lusty, and all
healthy from the land and land victual,
and he looked round him with a sheer
at our sea-tattereGness, and with
fine self-confdence Then seeing lob,
he nodded as one who meets an ac
quaintance. sold pot-mate," he said,
your woman waits for you up by
the quay-side in Atlantis yonder,
with four youngsters at her heels. 1
saw her not half month ago"
you didn't come out here to tell
me home news" said lob; chat I'll
be sworn. I've drunk enough pots
with you, Dason, to know your pleas
antries thoroughly"
Il wanted to point out to you that
your home is still there, with your
wife and children ready to welcome
you
81 am not man that ever forgets
it," said Tob, grimly; "and because
I've got them always at the back of
mind, I've sailed this ship over the
| top of more than one pirate, when,
| if I'd been single man, might have
been cen content to take the hap of
slavery
sob, | know you're a desperate
enough fellow" said Dason, "and I'm
free to confess that if it does come
to blows we are likely to lose a few
men before we get You and your
cripples here and your crazy ships
comfortably sunk. Our navy has it's
orders to carry out, and the cause of
| my embassage is this: We wish to
see if you will act the sensible part
and give us what we want, and so be
permitted to go on your way home,
with a skin that is unslit and dry
'Ycu have come to the wrong bird
here for plucking," said lob, with
heavy laugh. eve took no treasure
or merchandise on board in Yucatan.
| We stayed in harbor long enough to
cure our sea victual and fill with wood
and water, and no longer. We sail
| back as we sailed out, barren ships
| You will not believe me, of course; 1
would not have believed you had our
| places been changed; but you may
go into the holds and search if YOU
choose. You will find there nothing
but a few poor sailormen half in pieces
with the scurvy. No, you can steal
nothing here but blows, Dason, and
we will give you those with but little
asking
81 am glad to see that you state your
cargo at such slender value,' said the
envoy, "for it is the cargo I must take
back with me on the galley, if you are
to earn your safe conduct to home''
lob knit his brows. you had bet
ter speak more plain" he said. 81
am a common sailor and do not under
stand fancy talk" .
at is clear to see," said Dason, chat
you have been set to bring Deucalion
back to Atlantis as a prop for
Phorenice. Well, we others find
Phorenice hard enough to fight
against without further reinforce
ments, and so we want Deucalion in
our own custody to deal with after
our own fashion,
'And if 1 do the miser and deny you
this piece of my freight?"
The spruce envoy looked round at
the splintered ship and the battered
navy beside her. "Why, then. lob, we
shall send you all to the fishes in very
short time, and instead of Deucalion
standing before the gods alone, he will
go down with a fine ragged company
limping at his heels"
81 doubt it, said lob, 'but we shall
see. As for letting you have my Lord
Deucalion, that is out of the question.
For see here, Pot-Mate Dason, in the
first place, if l went to Atlantis with
out Deucalion, my other lord, Tatho,
would come back one of these DAYS.
and in his hands I should die by the
slowest of slow inches; in the second.
l have seen my Lord Deucalion kill
great sea-lizard, and he showed him
self such a proper man that day that
I would not give him up against his
will even to Tatho himself; and in
the third place, you owe me for your
share in our last wine-bout ashore,
and I'll see you with the neither gods
before I give you aught till you've
settled that score
"Well, lob, I hope you'll drown easy. |
AS for that wife of yours, I've always
had . fancy for her myself, and / shall