Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-10-04
CHAPTER IL Continued.

the possession Of the Empress Josephine
that is gold chain-he was eighteen
rarat--oHce the property of Don Carlos
tere j. the pen with which Francis Drake
Wrote his last letter to the Queen Eliza
beth beautiful goods as ever was, and
cost moosh money"
70 the dead with your much money
said the Captain with an angry gesture,
as he slatched the trinkets from him, and
eyed them to my vast surprise with the
ar OF practiced connoisseur; lets han
die the stuff and don't gibber. How much
for thisE He held up the miniature, and
admiration betrayed itself in his eyes.
lie was painted by Sir William Ross,
and | sell him for TWO hundred pounds,
my Captain. Not a peny less, or I'm a
ruined man :"
The Jew ruined man. Hark at
him! Four Eyes''-this to great lanky
fellow who lay asleep in the corner-'the
little jew can't sell EN- under two hun
dred, ! reckon; oh, certainly not; why,
OF course. Here you, Splinters, pay him
FOR a thick-skinned thieving shark, and
give INN hundred for the others"
he boy Splinters, who was a black lad,
seemingly about II years old, came up
at the word, and took great canvas bag
from hook on the wall. He counted
three hundred gold pieces on the floor
pieces Of all coinages in Europe and
America, as they appeared to be by their
faces, and Hall picked them up.
Mister Captain" he said, Il shall have
waiting for me at Plymouth tomorrow a
relic OF the great John Hawkins, which,
as I'm alive, you shouldn't miss. l have
heard them say that it is the very sword
with which he cut the Spaniards' boards
Since you have told me that you sail to-
morrow, | have thought, if you put me on
your ship across to Plymouth, | could
show you the goods and you shall have
them cheap-beautiful goods, if | lose by
them
Now, instead of answering this appeal
as he had done the others. with his great
gutfaw and banter, Captain Black turned
upon Hall, and his face lit up with pas
sion. | saw that his eyes gave one fiery
look, while he cenched his fist as though
TO strike the man as he sat, but then he
restrained himself
You want TO come aboard my boat. do
you?" drawled the Captain, as he soft
ened his voice to a fine tone of sarcasm.
The dealer wants a cheap passage; So
no, what do you say, Four-Eyes shall we
take the man aboard?"
Four Eyes sat up deliberately, and
struck himself on the chest several times
as though to knock the sleep out d" him.
He seemed to he brawny thick-set Irish
man, gigantic in limb, with a more hon
est countenarre than his fellows. I
thought him nan of some elaboration,
EO- -, Al.
before he ans Nnred the question put to
him. When Il, did give reply, it was in
a rich, rolling voice, which would have
given ornameL, to the veriest common
place.
ord take him aboard he shouted
leaning back as though he had spoken wis
dom, and then he nodded to the Captain.
and the Captain nodded to him.
I'VE sail at midnight, tide serving"
said the Captain, as he picked up the
miniature and the other things you can
come aboard when you like--here, boy
lock these in the chest"
The boy put out his hand to take the
things, but in his fear or his clumsiness
he dropped the miniature, and it cracked
upon the floor As the lad stood culver
ing and terror-struck. Black turned upon
him. almost foaming at the lips.
you clumsy young cub, what dye
mean by that?" he asked and then. as
the boy fell on his knees to beg for mercy.
casting one pitiful look towards me-hc
kicked him with his foot, crying:
Here, give him a dozen with your
strap. one of you"
He had but to say the words. when
colossal brute seized the boy in his grin
and held his head downward to the fable
board. while another stripped his SHIRT off
and struck him blow after blow with the
great buckle, so that the flesh was torn
while rhe blood trickled upon the floor.
When the lad tainted they gave him
few kicks with their heavy boots. and he
lag like log on the floor. until the ruff
fan named Roaring John" picked him
up and threw him into the nexs room. The
incident was forgotten at once. and Can
tain Black became quite merry.
Food was put upon the table. 1t was
rich food, stews. with a profuse display
of oysters. chickens. boiled. roast fine
French tritles pastieS ices | wished to
he away from 4 place whose atmosphere
poisoned me. | whispered this thought 70
IIaT and he said. Yes" and rose 10 Ga
but the Captain pulled him back. CRYING
what, little Jew, you wouldn't ear
at other peoples cost Down with II
man. down with it; fill your pockets. stuff
EN- TO the top. Let's see YOU laugb old
wizen-face a great sixty per cent croak
coming from your very bootS-here. Won
John. give the man who hasn't got any
money some food
The men were becoming furiously Of
fensive One of them held Hail while r.
others forced food down his throat. and
the man Roaring John" attempted r.
nav me a similar compliment. but strucl,
his hand and he drew a knife. turning on
me- The action was foolish. for in q mo-
ment a tumult eusued. l heard fierce
cries, the smash of overturned boards
and lights. and remembered no more than
some terrific blows delivered with my left.
a sharp pain in my right shoulder as a
knife went home, the. voice of Hall cry
ing Make for the door--the door" and
the great yell of Captain Black above the
others. His word, no doubt. saved us
from greater harm: fon when | had
thought that my foolhardinesS had I'M
done us, and that we should never leave
the place alive. I found myself in the
street with fall at my side. he torn and
bleeding as l was, but from slight
wound only.
That was near ending badly" he said,
looking al the skin-deep cut on my shout
der.
Hall, what does it mean:" l asked.
Who these men, and what business
carries you amongst them?"
That you'll learn when you open the
with him from Dieppe tomorrow"
Il did, and | believe you're fool enough
TO go"
Il must risk that and more. as l have
risked it many a time. Once aboard his
yacht shall have the key which will
unlock six feet of rope for that man.
1t was light with the roseate. warm
light Of a late summers dawn as we reach
ed the hotel. Paris slept was hungry
for sleep, and too tired TO tniHs more of
the strange dream-Ike scene I had sit