The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-10-16
s. s. IS s s. s. s. It s - IS s. IS 81
:: Candle Menzies, -
IS - Chief Mate ::
Copyrght
Il t. + = + = = + = = &$ s. $$ -
By OHUEN HALL =

fancy tnat l saw the Qlm outlines OF
long, dropping leaves. like the ghosts
of palm trees in the darkness. In
another minute we had reached the
entrance of new passage, out of
which there came a confused noise of
voices, oaths and snatches of hoarse
singing. few steps more, and, turn
ing corner in the broad passage, the
scene burst upon us. 1t was like a
cave, yet hardly a cave of Natures
making. On each side the walls were
formed of the same gigantic stones
had noticed already in the glance
got of the cave in which l had recov-
cred consciousness. What the roof con-
sisted of l couldn't tell, but it was
blackened with smoke which rose from
fire in the center of the place.
There might have been nearly hun
dred human beings visible, of whom
perhaps sixty were men. Most of the
others were women, while here and
there child lay coiled up in a corner
on the soft sand. 1t was evident that
many races were represented among
the men. Spanish desperadoes, ori-
entail negroes with black, ape-like
faces, and yellow faced outcasts of
China and Japan with fierce animal
eyes and bloated features could all be
distinguished at glance.
We were dragged between little
groups of men and women. who seemed
to be drinking, till we reached the
farther end. where little knot of
men were drinking at a table, at one
end of which we were placed facing
large, dark man. with a bloated face
and bloodshot eyes, who sat drinking
at the other. He was dressed in n
blue uniform coat, with epaulets, and
broad sash of crimson silk around
though tilted very much to one side,
cooked hat. with large white plume
of feathers. 1t was evident he was
intoxicated, for the look he threw at
me was at least as stupid as fierce,
while he asked some question in Ian
gua9e which l took to be Spanish or
Portuguese. Menzies, who was now
beside me, shook his head and I fol-
lowed his example. The captain looked
stupidity from one to the other Of Us,
and then he exclaimed with what
sounded like an oath:
"Where come from, dogsI'
Before l could make up my mind
what to reply Menzies answered in his
usual cool, cynical voice: "Weel, moo
that ye speak in something like a
Christian language, All dinna mind
tellin' ye-we're last frae Hongkong."
"Ha! Engleese," the captain said
savagely.
''Weel, Am thinlzin ye're no vera far
oot, Ye might hae guessed it by what
happened, Am thinkin'," Menzies re-
Piled looking him in the face.
For several moments the captain re-
turned MenZies' stare, but then the
full meaning of his allusion seemed to
dawn upon him. The fierce, drunken
glare grew more intelligent in his
bloodshot eyes as he half rose, holding
on by the table.
"Ha, dog! You dareY' he gasped at
last, as if half choked
''Daur" echoed Menzies, with an in
ternal chuckle as near laugh as I had
ever heard from him. ''Weel, mon, All
wudna wonder. Am thinkin' it's no
sac great an eXhibeetion O. daurin' tae
tell the truth tae wheen meeserable
pirates that wad be hantle the better
O a hangin'.'
1 confess 1 stood aghast myself at
my companions tactics, but their effect
on the pirate leader was startling. His
h1nofad foo 70
while at the same time it turned to
mottled purple color which was truly
hideous. He had sunk back in his
seat, and as he stared and choked /
thought he was going to have fit.
His companions watched him with
looks that wandered from him to Men
Zies, as if to discover what had passed
to produce such an effect. Presently
by an effort he recovered enough to
speak, and then in a few fierce SEN
tences he seemed to tell the others. AS
he spoke his rage appeared to commu-
nicate itself to the rest. More than
one sprang from their seats and grasp
ed the daggers at their belts. In an
other moment l thought the end would
have come when an angry roar from
the captain recalled our would be as
sassins. The few stern, fierce words
he spoke in tones which showed that
his excitement had sobered him for a
time seemed to meet the sullen ap-
prOval of the others. for they slowly
took their hands from their knives and
resumed their seats with looks of saw
age satisfaction.
A moments silence followed and
then the captain exclaimed hoarsely:
"Ah! Tomorrow it shall be that we
shall see If re Engleese shall make re
good carbonado." The tone was bitter
and cruel, but it was as nothing COM
pared with the repressed rage that
shone out of his bloodshot eyes as he
spoke.
Menzies laughed a short, sudden
laugh. "Ye puir meeserable deevilw
he exclaimed. Div We think We can
frichten me wi yere bloody threets?
Ma, ma. Am thinkin' it's no the Lords
wull We should max a carbonado or
anything else o. Sandie Mingiss the
moo"
The puzzled look on the captains
face showed me that he could make
nothing Of this declaration, and after