Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-12-22
CHAPTER xx.-(Continued.)


.cending the ladder. At the edge Of the
bols | could see the faces Of several
members Of the crew and caught the
gleam of drawn kaiveG Evidently they
did not trust us.
When it was ever, we followed Blake
M the ladder and waited quietly while
he laid out Graden's revolver and our
few belongings on the flap Of a central
table behind which the captain was
standing. A short speech by the worthy,
and the Irishman began again:
The skipper wud have ye know" he
said, addressing Graden with a growing
dignity that would have been comic
enough at a less unfortunate moment,
that ye stand accused " carrying of the
oud gnt yonder and committin' burg
larry on his person. Fwhat do ye say
to that, sorrT'
ut is absolutely untrue"
EVAN for him, thin. But Dim to ask
ye how ye account fer tn possession
lv that pOcket-book the skipper is holding
SO loving in his hand. He says that
there's close ON FIVE hundred pounds in
ut. Is ut yours?'
"The mischief 1t does Then how did ye
come by ut2"
| feel certain that IL my cousin
could have told his story directly to the
captain, the honesty of his manner and
the simplicity of his narration would
have had effect. But this pleading at
secondhand was sorry business. From
his long pauses and facial contortions
| soon gathered that Blake was not the
linguist that he claimed to be. Indeed,
the version which the captain received
from him must have been something
astounding. The tale was scarcely con
cluded when the captain raised his hand,
and the flounderings of the interpreter
ceased abruptly.
Thus was his decision translated. He
would touch at Southampton, where the
case could be fought out in the English
courts. In the meanwhile, as the evil
dence was Overwhelmingly against us,
we should be placed in irons and con
fined in the cabin where we then were.
he was just man. Angry though |
was at the time, | have come to think
he did the right thing. The harmless
appearance of Marnac, his ability to
plead his cause, our obvious endeavor to
Keep him from communicating with the
crew, our possession of so valuable n
poeketbook belonging to hm-no, we
cannot blame the captai in If he decided in
his favor.
10 attempt resistance would have been
ABSURD. The men about us carried
KNIVES, and the butt of heavy revolver
showed warningly from the captains
pocket For the first time In either of
our lives the handouts snapped at our
wrists. They moved out one by one; the
door was closed and barred upon us. In
another three minutes we were both
asleep. Our ill-fortune the doings Of
our worst enemy, the irons at our wrists
we forgot them all in the dead, still
sleep that Nature grants to the very
weary.
1t was Blake who woke us with our
midday meal. He was in his most talk
alive mood. Guilty or innocent, it made
small difference to him, after he had de-
clded upon the fact of our gentility.
He was agog with the manner of Mar
macs escape from US. The lad who WAS
W thU ShpNuih uou DcCh uoN IL
In the lazarette, and from pure curiosity
had poked up the trap In the cabin floor
With promises of money, Marnac had
persuaded the yOungster to guide him to
the captain. In their haste they had for
gotten to close the trap and grating be-
hind them, though they had secured those
at the head Of the second ladder. Mar
nae had waited In the captains room
while the lad went forward to find his
master. 1t was doubtless their interview
that Graden had observed from the
bridge. When the supposed victim of
our plot had told his story, they had
armed themselves and come to arrest us
calling the 1rishman and two more of the
crew In case of resistance. They had
found us below--a source of delight tc
the Portuguese sailors, who had healthy
terror Of Englishmen; and the rest we
knew
Come, my man." said my cousin after
ne had concluded, "for yourself, now
DO you believe US guiltyT'
Faith, sorr, it's Quare business en-
tolrely,' he answered, scratching his RED
pole indecisiyely. "For whether tits yor
or the ould gintleman that they'll lay
oy the heels in Southampton Water, its
not fer me to be after saying. Sure its
wan of the twO-which is all Oh knows
Now, listen to me, Tim Blake" sale
my cousin. my name is, as told you
or Henry Graden, and l am a rich man
am not asking you to neglect your duty
which Is to keep us in; but If you viii
nave an eye to the door so as to keel
mat old gentleman out, there'll be five
ana twenty pounds in your pocket"
:, Whatever the Irishman may have
thought Of our characters, there was NJ
uOuot as to his belief in the genuine ma
.u.e OF the offer. He beamed upon Us
WIN childlike jubilation that was quite
e0iaic In Its enthusiasm.
cried.
a. nave you the keyT
l have, soYr. Wud your honor like
ksps hf You can turn the lock whir
Aoek flower times"
RAT will hardly do" said my cousin
s,asains 1--WE might have the captain
sisar rs, which would mean a chang,
!, .lsrs. Now, a. TO the trap dosr--
I'M. mat also securedT
me lad We spoke of--he has the kay
an, May the mischief seizs him r.
We enn't laav. a. III. IA O.. 4.