The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1902-09-11

expense, and when we land we'll deal
with them"
There was a grunt of approval and
the captain shifted his, ground.
! You'll SbeSpacked in like rdines.
There's NOT an over-abundance &of
food. What I want to know is, where
am to take you?"-
ITO Astoria," was fhe reply, and
the quicker the better"
g s:Well suppose a couple come over
and talk to the company 'S
The self-constituted spokesman
,pluclked a neighbor by the sleeve, re-
ceiving his commission from the min
.ers, and they departed ff3t44
Late in the afternoon the impa-
tient, crowd on the Mascot welcomed
the deputies back. With them came
the president and the secretary
treasurer. The president did not rel
ish the position, apparently but he
spoke loudly. "see here, men, we're
sorry this has happened. Can't be
helped now, you see. The Kafir
Chief will start back for Astoria in
a couple Of hours with this in tow.
You're safe enough here, and three
days will see you safe ashore"
He ceased and 20 men came to-
wards him. "Stand back!" said their
spokesman. "I'm representing this
crowd, and I've something, to say"
The Company" supported them
selves uneasily against the fitting
side of the cabin, and the speaker
went on. "My pardner and I have
listened to lot of this kind of talk.
We haven't said anything yet, and
now we're going to-"
His audience kept quiet, and there
were approving mods. "That' Ship"
he continued, els full of merchandise.
These men have $4,000 passage and
freight money to account to us for.
That belongs to us. It means only
couple of hundreds apiece, and
we'll be out the cost of the trip
west, our stake and our time. But
it's better than nothing"
"Look here" the president broke
in, 'you're off there. You can look
at your contract. The law protects
us, and you're not entitled to a cent.
If you were fools enough to put your
eggs in our basket, that's your look
out, not ours. We've offered to do
the 'square thing, and more we'll not
do" -.
' There was no answer. The set
ting sun shot it's brilliant rays
sathwart the. disheveled cabin, and the
men blinked at the glare silently.
Presently an oldish. man, with the
long, gnarled hands of "a farmer,
said (half to himself), "My wife is
a-starin' into that sun and waitin'.
fer me. I won't see them green
prairies any more. And she won't
have q roof to her head, There was
no note of appeal in his voice; it was
q simple statement. Still the men
waited.
Suddenly the spokesman lifted his
hand. "How many men," he cried,
s'have stalked their last cent on,
this?" Every man shuffled forward
and the tide of action was loosed. It
was no longer an irresolute or ire
sponsible crowd, and he who aspired
to lead them was satisfied. #
'"The first thing to d." he said,
els to take all our stuff and put it
on the Kaffir Chief. We've got to
abandon this. Go ahead and pile it
into the boats. Captain Mears has
sent 'em over for that" IS
Within an hour the boats of the
collier had transferred all that could
be saved, and the men paused. Their
leader, coatless, hatless and flushed
with exertion, mounted bench.
''There's not much room on the Kaffir
Chief, boys" he said, land / move
that we leave the Ignace Mining COM;
pany right here until they agree to-
our terms. They offered to tow u.s..
Well be polite and tow them. Now,
you two thieves, when you feel like.
signing over your bills Of exchange:
and lading, and you're willing to give
us the cargo Of the Kahir Chief, we'll
see If we can find room for you on
a nicer boat" i.
Harsh laughter greeted this, and
the two. men covered. ''Look here,
gentlemen" said the secretary-treas-
:urer, "you won't talk this matter over
fairly. We're simply standing on
our rights according to law. Well
"a strong, though very calm voice
breathed out of the crowd. There
amt any law out here. We aren't
talking to you any more. You set
around here couple of days. Then,
we'll do business with you.''
Within an hour the two were quite
alone, supperless and blanketless on!
the >wallowing wreck of the Mascot.
A quarter of a mile away they saw
the cleaning lights of the KafRr
Chief, and the chill evening breeze
bore down to them the careless
laughter and hoarse song of their
dupes.
When they turned their thoughts
to their own position it was even
worse. Every roll slammed ghost
IN doors ~. r;o1do1 +1o ,,o~o %o,.,,s