Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-12-30

kept clear Of Ireland also. making q
course for herself through the deeper
wildernesses Of the north Atlantic,
avoiding the north and south traffic Of
the bay and. in fact. sighting scarcely
single vessel till the red haired man
Mt last starboarded his helm and put
her east for the straits.
The voyage was not one Of monoto-
ny. Captain Kettle lay for the first
twenty-four hours in state Of snoring
unconsciousness. and when he did come
to his wits again he found himself in
cabin alone He got up and stretched.
His limbs were heavy and languid. but
he was not conscious Of having re-
ceived any hurt He clapped hand to
the region Of his loins and nodded his
grim head significantly. His pistol
was missing. He looked in the glass
and saw that his face above the red
torpedo beard was drawn and white
and that his eyes were framed in
black. dissipated looking rings. There
was an evil taste in his mouth, too,
which even bottleful Of water did not
allay. However, all of these were
minor details. They might be repaired
afterward. His first requirement was
revenge on the man who had lured
him aboard.
His natural instincts Of tldiness made
him go through the ceremony Of toilet.
and then he put on his cap and. spruce
ard pale, went out through the luXuri-
Gus cabin and passageways Of the
yacht and found his way on deck.
The time was night. the cold air was
full Of moonshine. and fortune favored
him insomuch that the red haired man
whom he sought was himself standing
watch. He walked up to him with
out any coneSalment and then. swift as
light, slung out his right fist, sending
every ounce of his weight after it. and
caught the red haired man squarely on
the peak Of the Jaw.
The fellow went down as If he had
been poleaxsd and Kettle promptly on
top Of him. The three other hands Of
the watch on deck were coming fast to
their big captains assistance and Ket
tie made the most Of his time. He had
been brought up In a school where he
was taught to hit hard and hit first
and keep on hitting. and. moreover he
was anatomically skilled enough to
know where to hit with most effect
He had no time then for punctilious
fighting. He intended to mark his man
in return for value received. and he
did 1t. Then the three lusty deck hands
Of the watch came up and wrenched
him off and held him for their officer
in turn to take vengeance ON.
Kettle stood in their grip. painting
and pale and exultant.
you great, ugly. red polled beggar!
he said. I've made your face match
your head. but you needn't thaHk me
for 1t. You'd dare to shanghai me,
would you? By james. III make your
ship perfect hell till I'm of it,
You hit q man when he's not look.
ing"
LIAR! said Kettle. You saw me
plain enough. II you were half sailor.
you'd never have been hit"
You're half my size. | couldn't fight
YOU
"Tell your hands to set me adrift and
try"
The big man was tempted. but he
swallowed down his inclination. He
ordered the men who were holding
Captain Kettle to set him free and 20
away forward again. and then he
thrust his own fists resoutely in his
pockets. Now" he said when they
were alone, "rll own up to having
earned what you've given me. and |
hope that II suit you. for. by Jove. If
It doesn't. III shoot you like rat with
your own gun. You've handled me In
way no other man has done before.
and so you can tickle your pride with
that and simmer down. II you want
to know, was a man like yourself.
hard up. and was paid to kidnap you.
and I'd have kidnapped the devil for
money just then"
fro pp coSTISJ'ED1