Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-12-11


I'd better report 1t to you. Shall | kick
them, and let them goT'
"No," said the captain, shortly, for he
was ready now to snatch at straws.
What does the man sayW
"There are two Of them, sir; and they
say the pirate vessel is to be found a
days journey to the south, and that they
have seen it lying at anchor"
do they seem honestW
Honest as Indians, sir. l think it's all
made up"
The captain rose and went on deck
where he found couple of soft, brown.
plump-looking Indians, with large
dreamy eyes, and languid manner, seated
upon their heels near the gangway, where
they could give glance from time to time
at their canoe swinging by frail-looking
bark rope.
Now" he said, sharply, where is this
pirate shipp
The men looked ut him vacantly.
Commodore JunkF said Humphrey.
"Show-El Commodore Yunk." cried
one of the Indians. "Money--powder."
You shall have plenty" said Hum
phrey; "but make him understand that
If he plays us false he shall be hung at
the yard-arm."
The officer of the watch seemed to enjoy
his task; for, catching up the signal hal
yards, he rapidly made a moose, threw
it over the Indians head, and drew it
tight Then, pointing upward, he said
slowly:
"If you cheatw
Hang us?" said the Indian sharply.
"Light-sunp' he cried. eagerly, pointing
| IN ha or bn IA IL,
rope which had been twisted around his
neck, he ran to the gangway, slid down
into his boat, made the cord fast. and
came scrambling up again to secure the
signal line.
This done, he said few words to his
companion, and, going to the side, threw
himself down under the bulwarks, and
seemed to go to sleep at once.
Yes; that's plain enough" said Hum
phrey. "He means to wait till daylight
Keep a strict watch. We may have
found the right man at last"
He need have been under no anxiety
as to the two informers for they lay mo-
tionless till daybreak, and then rose sud-
denly, looked sharply around, and, going
forward, pointed to the rope which moor
ed them in mdstream.
Llull an uOuF ldleT the SlOOp WIS gnu
ing slowly out of the mouth of the river;
the lowered sails caught the cool, moist
morning breeze; and, in obedience to the
Indians directions, which were embrace
ed in the pointing of a brown hand south
ward, the kings ship sailed steadily along
the coast few miles from the shore.
1t was within two hours of shutdown,
as the men were at their drowsiest mo-
nnf uhn,, thAu
rocky point feathered with glorious palms.
beyond which the country ran up toward
the mountains in glorious chaos of
pled-up rock, deep ravine and fire-scath-
ed chine. the principal Indian suddenly
seized the captains arm and pointed
straight before him to where, a couple of
miles away. and looking as if she had
just glided out of some hidden channel
running into the land, there was n long,
low, black-hulled schooner, spreading an
enormous amount of canvas for so small
a vessel; and as he saw the rake of the
masts and the disproportioned size of her
spars, Humphrey Armstrong felt a thrill
of exultation run through him even as his
whole crew was now galvanized into life,
and he mentally repeated the words of
the Indian:
"El Commodore Yunk."
Yes: there could be no doubt of it. The
shape and size of the vessel answered the
description exactly, and no trader or
pleasure vessel, foreign or BRUSH, woulu
sail with so dangerously an overweight
ing rig as that.
"At last. thenv' cried Humphrey, ex-
citedy. Bring the poor fellows here.
They shall have their reward and 60"
| . oha Of
Humphrey asked himself this question
as a shout came from the steersman
who. like the rest, had been gazing at the
schooner, but who was the first to see a
canoe being padded rapidly for the
shore.
No one had been attending to the two
Indians, who had waited until the atten
ton of all was bent upon the buccaneer
, and then silently slipped over the side
glided down the side, glided down the
, rope, and cast off, to paddle shoreward
, There was good discipline on bodrC
, ship even then, and at the call to quar-
tiers every man fell into place. The Ions
gun was run in, loaded, run out. and di
, rectly after there was a puff of smoke,
loud report which went echoing anon.
the mountains and through the densel!
wooded ravines, as round shot skipped
! over the water right in front of TIN
schooner.
{ "Hurrahw shouted the men, as the.
r saw the long vessel alter her course
s little.
n "She surrenders," said Humphrey t.
: himself; and in the brief moments tina
G followed he saw himself returning to En
/. gland in triumph, his task done, and beau
/, tiful. fashionable Lady Jenny Wilderse.
s welcoming him with open arms.
IA 1t was a puff of fancy, dissipated lik
j the puff of smoke which came from tn
schooner's bows; while, in company wit
h the report that rumbled heavily away
e came round shot skipping over tn
n calm surface of the sea, not forward lik
n the summons to heave to of the king
y ship. but straight at her hull, and so we
: aimed that it tore through the starboar
bulwark amdships.
e 1.-The insolentw exclaimed Humphrey