Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-10-12

"And who may you be, matey, that you
don't go for to shake hands with Roaring
John? Dip me in brine, if you was my
son I'd dress you down with two-foot
bar. Why don't you teach the little He
brew manners, old Josfos; but there" and
this he said as he opened the door wider,
so long as our skipper will have to do
with sinners to sell and land barnacles,
what can you look for walk right along
here
The man who called himself Roaring
John" entered the apartment before Us,
bawling at the top of his voice, "Josfos,
the Jew, and his pardner come aboard y
and then l found myself in the strangest
company and the strangest place l have
ever set eyes on. So soon as 1 could
see things clearly through the hanging at
mosphere of tobacco smoke and heavy
vapor, l made out the forms of six or
eight men, not sitting as men usually dc
in a place where they eat, but squatting
on their launches by a series of low mar
row tables, laid round the four sides OF
the apartment. Each man lolled back
on his own pile of dirty pillows and
dirtier blankets; each had before him
great metal drinking cup, coarse knife,
long rolls of plug tobacco, and small
red bundle, which I doubt not was his
portable property. Each, too, was dress
ed exactly as his fellow, in a coarse red
shirt, seaman's trousers of ample blue
serge, belt, and each had some bauble OF
bracelet on his arm, and some strange
rings upon his fingers. They were men
marked by time as with long service on
the sea men Scared burnt, some with
traces of great cuts and slashes received
on the open face; men ferce-looking as
painted demons, with teeth, with none,
with four fingers to the hand, with three ;
men whose laugh was a horrid growl
whose threats chilled the heart to hear,
whose very words seemed to poison the
air, who made the great room like a cage
of beasts, ravenous and ill-seeking.
Martin Hall put himself at his ease the
moment we entered. He made his way
to the top of the room and stood before
one who forced from me individual no.
tice, so strengthening was he, and SO
deep did the respect which all paid him
appear to be. He sat at the head Of the
rude table, but not as the others sat, for
there was a pile of rich-looking skins
and he alone of all the company wore
black clothes and a white shirt He was
a short man, black-bearded and smooth
skinned, with a big nose, almost an in
tellectual forehead small, WITHHOLDING
hands, all ablaze with diamonds, about
whose fine quality there could not be two
opinions; and, what was even more re-
markable, there hung as pendant to his
watch chain a great uncut ruby which
must have been worth five thousand
pounds. One trademark Of the sea alone
did he possess, in the dark, curly ringlets
which fell to his shoulders, matted there
as long uncombed, but typical In all Of
the man. This then was the fellow upon
whose every word that company of ruff
fans appeared to hang, who obeyed him,
as | observed presently, when he did SO
much as lift his hand-the man of whom
Martin Hall had painted such a fantastic
picture, who was, as l had been told, soon
to be wanted by every government in Eu-
rope.
Hall was the first to speak, and il was
evident to me that he cloaked his own
voice, putting on the nasal twang and the
manner of an East-end Jew dealer.
II have come, Mr.. Black" he said, "as
you was good enough to wish, with few
little things-beautiful things-which cost
me moosh money"
"Ho, ho" sang out Captain Black
"here is Jew who paid much money
for few little things! Look at him,
boys the Jew with much money Turn
out his pockets. boys the Jew with
much money! Ho, ho!
His merriment set all the company
roaring to his mood. For moment their
play was far from innocent, for one light
ed a great sheet of paper and burnt it
under the nose of my friend. I remem-
bered Halls words, and held still, giving
banter for banter. In what sort Of
company was l, where mere seamen wore
diamond rings. Hall gathered up his trim
kets and proceeded to lay them out with
the well-simulated cunning Of the trader.