Gilpin observer., 1903-11-19


! He did not like 30 to represent hiza-
self as to make her consider that II
she went home she would never see
him more, because he was now going
through life with a halter round his
neck, and not even a love affair could
court him into exposing himself in
places where any hand might seize
the trailing end of the rope and de-
liver It to John Ketch. He broke OF
| with a slight flush that heightened his
manly beauty, and said, bending low
to her:
Grant me time, my dearest girl.
love you with all the strength Of my
heart" he went on, in low. soft
voice. full Of sweetness. "and II you
do not love me with the same ardor.
it is because you have not yet had
time to perceive under the husk
of a pirate, the nature and the char
acter of a seaman and gentleman"
Pope walked aft to Grindal, and the
girl, hurriedly opened a newspaper.
held 1t wide to conceal her burning
cheeks.
"Grindal," says Pope, "go and tell
Bobbin to lay aft and keep a lookout.
and come you into my cabin, for
want to have q few words with you"
He then went below, and sat at the
table in his cabin, and sank his head
upon his hand and unused. Around
him lay the spoils of the cruise SO far
as 1t had gone. Plenty of money
was represented by the booty, but It
was plenty for one or two only; when
1t came to dividing 1t into fveand-
twenty or thirty portions, the worth
of the plunder, per man, sank into In
significance.
Grindal knocked upon his door with
a fist like a calking mallet Pope
bade him enter, and the boatswain
stepped in.
"sit you down." says Pope, you
are an old hand, and an honest man.
and want to have some talk with
you"
The boatswain seated himself upon
q locker, and rested his elbow upon
a case Of guineas. Pope threw q
| cigar across to him.
J Il am going to take you into my
confidence. Grindal." said the captain.
Il am q little afraid that Mr.. Crystal
is no longer to be depended upon. He
is troubled by his cousin. by the lady.
being in this ship. I don't say his de-
sire is to breed q mutiny. yet l allow
his wish is to end this cruise soon.
and go ashore in safety with his cou-
SIM"
I've heard nothing Of this" an
swered the boatswain. hoarsely.
"All the plunder we've got SO far" !"
said Pope, ''is here. Cast your eyes
over 1t. and you'll find it don't work
out In value per head as 1t should"
The boatswain ran blood-shot eye
over several parcels.
Now" continued Pope, speaking
softly. 'if Mr.. Crystals not satisfied.
he's not of US, nor with US in spirit,
and the sooner he goes the better"
That's right enough!" said the
boatswain.
There's some Of the crew." Pope
went on, "as we could manage to do
without. Not just yet-not until we
fall In with that Indiaman we're on
the lookout for. Did you ever go q
slaving?"
"Tve served in two slavers." an.
swered Grindal. There's more money
to be made out of shaving than out of
pirating."
That's it," exclaimed Pope. lean
ing forward, and with great animation
striking the table with his fst. listen
now to me! My idea is to seize the
Alnwick Castle. II we can meet with
her; send her people adrift. and put
Mr.. Crystal aboard along with ~
many more as you and I may agree
upon"
There's them men Of the Thetis. I"
said Grindal. We'll call 'em five. Mr..
Crystal is six. Now another seven or
eight will reduce us to the number we
want"
Yes, I knew you would grasp my
idea. With this twleve of crew we
go away for a port round the Horn.
where we'll dispose of the booty. and
where mean to get married. and
where mean to settle my wife in .
little home. till I've completed the for
tune I must possess in order to live
like q gentleman without anxiety.
After a spell Of rest we will lay in q
cargo for the niger market. and I
tell you what, Grindal. n-but I've
no doubt Of it-if fnd ye thorough
ly sound, honest, Trustworthy man.
then II my FIRST shaving voyage pays
me, I'll return to my wife and surren-
der the charge OF this brig to you for
another shaving jaunt, and half tho
money you earn shall be yours. and
I'll make you a present Of the brig
when I have got what need out of
her. How dye like IT."
"Oh." answers GTindal. whose
smile was deep and increasing while
Pope talked. ut amt often such an
opportunity falls in the way Of the