Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1906-12-14

with evident surprise
do none of you speak EnglshT' he
asked.
They seemed to understand the ques-
ton, for some talk, eked out by much
gesticulation, ended in one of their num-
Der trotting up the ladder to the bridge
where he disappeared into the wheel
house. An instant later a long, red-head-
ed man emerged and came running to-
wards us.
"And shure wud OF not have greeted
yer honors before now" he exclaimed
in the most strenuous of brogues; but
twas me trick at the wheel, and niver
wan of these spalpeens wud relieve me.
An what can Oh do fer ye now at ALP
What boat is this?"
"'The Portuguese ship, San Joseph,
firm Buenos Ayres to Hamburg, wild
mixed cargo, and a very mixed crew,
sorr. If it hadn't been fer a back an
swer whin the wine was in me, faith!
it's not in this greasy fat-ir-ron that Tim
Blake wud be after serving
"Do you speak the language, my
manW
''Indade an OF do, soor; an good raj
son, seeing that tits Tower years come
yacht iv wan iv tha' Portuguese no.
bility."
That's good news. And now where
is the captain?"
"Faith but twas a jool iv time we
were after havin' in the Bay last night,
sorr an the old mans turned in. The
second mate has gone aft, gatherin' his
courage in both hands fer to wake him.
Indade, sorr, tits a r-resolution that wud
put the fear iv the Lord into a better
man than him."
Rather Tartar, ehY"
"a strong man, sorr, an n good sea-
man fer a greaser, though his temper is
most pro-digious. But see, here he comes.
like dock out iv a theater."
He was indeed a fine figure of man.
fully six feet in height and proportion
atey broad. His skin was very dark
and his eyes of the deep blackness that
/ have since observed in Indian races, but
very soft and glowing. His hair, which
he wore at a greater length than is GUS
tomary amongst sailors, showed under
his cap in glossy curls; and his mus
tache was twisted back almost to his
ears.
He bowed to us with a deliberate cOur-
tesy, muttering a greeting in his own
tongue. He spoke no English, and it was
through the medium of Tim Blake that
he offered us hospitality. 1t was no
time for explanations, so, guarding Mar
nae between us, we hurried down to a
large cabin where warm garments and
SCANNING cups of hot coffee and
sugar were brought by the worthy Irish
h.. tku
man, to whose care we had been as
signed. AS far as could be judged.
had not contracted so much as a cold
in the head, despite my long exposure.
When we had completed our change of
clothes, my cousin beckoned me outside
the cabin, closing the door on our pris-
oner.
II have asked Blake to take me to the
captain, for it Is right that he should
know the true position of AFFAIRS" he
whispered. "While l am gone, you must
sit with Marnac. Remember, do not let
him out of your sight for a moment"
Every WELL" | said, and he strobe off
down the dark alley of the passageway.
When l re-entered the cabin l found
Marnac muffled to the chin, under the
blankets of a bunk. He gave me one of
his quick, evil glances, that was un-
pleasantly reminiscent of an aged rat
surprised in an iron gin. l had so great
a horror and detestation of the man that
his mere presence was a source of phys
ical discomfort to me; and when, sitting
up amongst his wraps, he commenced to
poster me with questions. | could endure
it no longer. | retired outside the cabin,
seating myself with my back to the door.
was as well there, | argued, as in the
interior. and in Il position infinitely more
satisfactory to myself.
The garments they had lent me were
thick and warm; the dose of brandy had
been considerable. l was weary from
the toll of 81 sieepless night. Those are
my excuses for the fact that in the
course of the next five minutes l fell
soundly asleep.
1t was Graden who woke me, very
angry and exasperated Graden who
shook my senses into with with unnec-
essary violence. l started up, protest
ing against his treatment.
81 thought better of you than this"
he said, with his hand still fixed in my
collar
"My back was against the door, He
could not pass without waking me. What
does it matterT l grumbled, with every
sign of irritation.
II told you to watch him, to stay in
side the cabin, and l find you snoring
here. No more excuses, please. You
know the ability of the man. Let us
hope he has not taken advantage of any
chances you gave him."
He opened the door cautiously, peeped
in, and then flung it wide with a great
oath. The cabin was empty!
Yet there was no doubt as to his man
ner of escape. In the middle of the
flooring there gaped a little hole, with
a heavy square of wood lying beside it..
On examination we found that this en-
trance had also been barred by graf
ing, which now swung downwards on its
hinges, disclosing a wooden ladder the
foot of which was indistinguishable in
the gloom below.
"He is in the holdr' l cried HE is
hiding somewhere amongst the cargo!
We shall never find him without the help
of the crew"
Amongst the excellent points in my
cousins character was that of perfect
seif-control. There was no anger in
his voice to remind me of my blunder
,vhan he smoke again.