Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-05-31


that, and stand by"
He turned the leaves studied q
page and said, Run up C--G-M"
"C-G-M SIR" answered Breen,
fumbling the flags as excitedly M
Captain Bilker fumbled the leaves OF
the book Did you say, C-G-M,
sir. or C--G+N?'
"What'd tell you" yelled the
captain. reopening the book. Keep
yer ears open. C--G-N. That asks
If there's any chance O war. Now
up wi it, now that We know all bout
It."
Breen with sparkling eyes changed
the signal. and Dick overhead min
gled wonder as TO the fate OF his old
ship and shipmates with apprecia-
tion of'Breens ability to take care OF
himself
But the signal did not leave the
deck. The excited skipper. to hurry
matters, had bent the end OF the
halyards to the lop Of the upper flag
while Breen changed the lower He
made slippery hitch, and az Breen
hauled on the other part the flag
dropped and the end went aloft.
"Kotch IT." shouted the captain to
Dick. "Ketch that end fore It un-
reeves"
IT was out OF Dicks reach, but he
danced up the rigging after 1t. To
no avail, however: the higher It
went the lighter II got. and the hal
yards whigzed through the sheave on
the gaff and settled in a tangie on
the house and deck. Captain Bill
ker's rage was akin to insanity,
Get up there" he screamed TO
Breen Take that end aott an
reeve It off. you Internal monkey.
Don't wait TO say yer prayers. Up
wi YOU"
Breen answered quietly, took the
! end and mounted the weather rig
ging, meeting Dick, who had come
down 70 his work
Don't get on that gaff TIL you
seize of the lift" said Dick. softly
TITS chafed through. and he knows
! It. And he's suspicious OF you. Just
| learned It. Here's a piece OF mar
! line"
you say he knows IT,"
Reported It myself this morn
ing"
"All right"
Breen took the length OF MARINE
and went aloft. while Captain Bilker
! improved the delay by walking back
and forth and glaring unspeakable
/ things at Dick. He could not but
have understood the meaning OF the
short talk and the transfer OF mar
line, yet when Breen, having reached
the monkey gaT at the topmost
crosstree. instead OF climbing ont on
the smooth pole. made fast the end
/ of halyards and climbed to the lift
above at the cap, he broke forth into
TRADE of profanity.
Get out an reeve of them hal
yards" he roared between oaths.
Dye hear. up there, you white-liv-
cred whelp? What's the matter wi
ye?"
To which Breen. busy at the SELF
ing, made no response He finished
descende; to the gait, climbed out
and rove the halyards. and over
hauled the end to the deck. Captain
Bilker caught 1t, and. hitching it to
the flags, hoisted the signal, while
Breen descended. His face was very
pale az he passed Dick in the rigging,
and he said
THAT lift wouldn't have held the
weight of poodle dog He was will
ing | should fall"
AS Green reached the deck the
captain was jottlng down a reading
Of new signal. obviously too en-
crossed to punish Breen up wi
the answerin' pennant," he said, and
watched the signal through the
glasses. Then he seized the book
and turned the leaves.
America" he mustered. War ex-
pected betweei America and---what
next?"
Again he peered through the
glasses.
up wi that pennant again" he
said, over his shoulder and Breen,
who had distracted an iron Delay
ing-pin from the fife rail, tucked 1t
into his belt and obeyed. The cap
tain consulted the Book.
"D-F-W." he muttered What
is 1t? Spanish! War expected be-
tween America and Spain" he de-
clared solemnly as he looked up.
Mr. Thorpe" he called to the mate
now on the forecastle deck
GOMEZ"
Yes. you numbering devil" inter
rupted Breen, with the Delaying pin
over his shoulder. His face was still
white. but his words came forth with
business-like distinctness quite a,
variance with the gentle speech OF
the gentleman man. And in the
name OF the United States govern
ment take charge Of this ship. Dc
you surrender, quietly, and instant
ly, or shall I Kill you where you
stand?"
"Wha-what' What you say"
stammered the captain, backing
away.
II am government officer" sale
Breen, following, his iron club high
over his head. do YOU give me
charge of this ship"
mo. by heaven, I'll see you ant
the gov"
The heavy iron Delaying pin came
down, and the capain fell like a sacl
of maal