Rocky Ford enterprise., 1905-02-10

urOhnu our h'ckS.
Have II care. Lopez" said his com
panion sternly. that you get not the
taste Of another rope first, upon your
bare back for showing disrespect TO
your captain"
You have been over free with that
sort Of rope already; and this Hes at
| the bottom OF what ! thought II my
| duty 10 warn you against was Inc
| surly rctort An Indian never for
gets the hurt he never forgivcs; and
forgiving is something an Indian
would sCOrn Ms We would scorn COW
| ardice."
Garonnc. with an oath. asked what
he meant.
Il will stake all the silver and gold
that fell to my share from the hght
| three weeks ago with the Spanish brig.
that Ehcwah will never forget the
splicing To the main mast you gave
him for stealing your ruby. Every
blow OF tn" ropes end awokc dozen
devils In his heart: and these will.
sooner ar later. make u merry hell for
you. and perhaps for nil Of us."
GaTonnc. who's. look OF scowlInS
anger had changed to ono Of snccrins
scorn uttered burst OF vile proian'
| Iiy. Rnd striking the tafIrail with
broad fist. brown as mahogany. cS'
claimed roughly. Let me hear no
more such talk from you. Lopez; old
mcssmatCs ns We are. you are going
n bit too far. You pirate Ike some old
housewife In her do'n.c."
LOPEZ with an angry snarl. straight
cncd himself. and turning away. saw
l.ailttc coming toward him, Garonnc
also saw tho latter. and. advancing
said. Nm sign yet. captain. Of visit
Ing boat from over there" indicating
with his thumb the man-oi'war.
Latte nodded careless rccugni'
ton of the mates remark and passed
on to Lopez,
II had though, that when the cool
came the EngliShman might have
tried TO board us for an Interview"
the young man remarked In the kind
IS tone his men knew as well MS they
did the Coidly impcrious one that n.,'
cr faiicd to hold In check the most
law.cAs amongst them.
Much better they keep away" said
Lopez slowly. in the English tongue
one he spoke but impcrfccily. Much
better. sir: but to me IL the SurcF
shows that We are watched"
Well" said t.nfittc. rtill looking at
the vessel. "ici thcm watch their oil.
while the daylight gives them the
chance. Al midnight the wind will be
OF a sort the Black Petrol needs. and
We will give them n cleared patch
OF the sea 10 watch when the light
comes again
Then he asked. What were you and
Garunnc auarrcllius over as ! came
up?"
Lopez glanced about and saw tina,
Garnnnc and the Indian had diSap'
pcarcd. Then. turning his eyes to La
nttc. he answered In n lowered voice.
DO not think ! am becoming soft
hearted. my captain. that ! have To
say fear Garornc make harm for
all by bps,inadoinE u Muycas like
whit" man sailor. This ! was telling
him
The Black Petrol" had-as f.afittc
knew already from Laro-somc three
weeks before encountered richly
laden Spanish brig. bound for a wes,
Indian port. a fierce fight had ended
in victory for the brigantinc. after
which the prize was burned. and the
survivors of its crew set adrift In
open boats.
There were twenty slaves aboard.
together with a rich cargo. and In the
latter were found number OF uncut
gems. from which the Indian had been
suspected OF stealing n large ruby,
awarded to Garonnc as part OF his
share Of the plunder. Ehcwah. upon
being accused. refused to admit or
dcny the theft. and Laro. contrary To
his usual custom. had left the Indian
to be dealt with rs his accuser saw
ht.
| C1rnnnc. whose natural brutality
had been increased by generous i'm.
billings Cf spirits taken from the deg.
| poilui vcsgnl. was not content with ir.
rictiuy ordinary puni hment for such
an ufTnnsc. but had for several days
In sucrcssicr. caused the Indian to be
stripped. tied to the mast and noggcd
! numerically. after which he was
treated with unspnrinG severity by
the mate.
''EECwRh'y beck bears scars that
| only revenge will heal" declared IO.
| NCE IN CoHc!uSloH. anu npN Sp'dhlnE
I'm hi own tongue. He has been
changed ever since. No man ever
had kinder care or softer touch for
mate who was sick or hurt. as |
have to remember from the time. two
years ago. when was laid mp with
n cracked head. at Tobagga. But now
| he glarCs like a wild cat when one
Of Ms crosses his way. and he has not
srukcn ten words since he was bas.
tinaducd.
I.afttc's onlv comment was TO bid
orez keep silerce uror the subject.
and to have a watchful eye upon Ehc.
| wah.
ITO be continued)