Charlevoix county herald., 1904-12-31


soone, or later, make merry hell for
you, and perhaps for all of u.s."
Garonne, whose look of scowling
anger had changed to one of sneering
scorn, uttered burst of vile profan-
ity, and striking the taffrail with a
broad fist, brown as mahogany, ex-
claimed roughly, Let me hear no
more such talk from you, Lopez; old
messmates as we are, you are going
bit too far. You prate like some old
housewife in her dotage."
Lopez, with an angry snarl, straight
ened himself, and turning away, saw
LATTE coming toward him. Garonnc
also saw the latter, and, advancing
said, mo sign yet, captain, of a visit
ing boat from over there" indicating
with his thumb the man-of-war.
LATTE nodded a careless recogni-
ton of the mates remark and passed
on to Lopez.
81 had thought that when the cool
came the Englishman might have
tried to board us for an interview"
the young man remarked in the kind
ly tone his men knew as well as they
did the coldly imperious one that new
er failed to hold in check the most
lawless amongst them.
Much better they keep away" said
Lopez slowly, in the English tongue
one he spoke but imperfectly. much
better, sir; but to me it the surer
shows that we are watched"
WELL" said LATTE, still looking at
the vessel, "let them watch their fill,
while the daylight gives them tho
chance. At midnight the wind will be
of sort the Black Petrol needs, and
we will give them a cleared patch
of the sea to watch when the light
comes again."
Then he asked, what were you and
Garonne quarrelling over as l came
up?"
Lopez glanced about and saw that
Garonne and the Indian had disap-
peared. Then, turning his eyes to La
fitte, he answered in a lowered voice,
do not think | am becoming soft
hearted, my captain, that l have to
say | fear Garonne make harm for
all, by bastinadoing Muycas like
white man sailor. This l was telling
him"
The "Black Petrol" had-as LATTE
knew already from Laro-some three
weeks before encountered a richly
laden Spanish brig, bound for a West
Indian port. A fierce fight had ended
in victory for the brigantine, after
which the prize was burned, and the
survivors of it's crew set adrift in
open boats.
There were twenty slaves aboard,
together with rich cargo, and in the
latter were found number Of uncut
gems, from which the Indian had been
suspected of stealing large ruby,
awarded to Garonne as part of his
share of the plumber. Ehewah, upon
being accused, refused to admit or
deny the theft, and Laro, contrary to
his usual custom, had left the Indian
to be dealt with as his accuser saw
fit.
Garonne, whose natural brutality
had been increased by generous i'm
billings of spirits taken from the des-
poiled vessel, was not content with in.
flicting ordinary punishment for such
an offense, but had for several days
in succession, caused the Indian to be
stripped, tied to the mast and logged
numerically, after which he was
treated with unsparing severity by
the mate.
"Ehewah's back bears scars that
only revenge will heal" declared Lo-
PEI in conclusion, and now speaking
in his own tongue. HE has been
changed ever since. No man ever
had a kinder care or softer touch for
a mate who was sick or hurt, as I
have to remember from the time, two
years ago, when I was laid up with
a cracked head, at Tobagga. But now
he glares like a wild cat when one
of us crosses his way, and he has not
spoken ten words since he was bas-
tinadoed."
Lafitte's only comment was to bid
Lopez keep silence upon the subject,
and to have watchful eye upon Ehe-
wah.
ITO ha continued