Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1906-12-15

"These men are Portuguese, Sir Hen
~" said Marnac, stepping quickly for
ward. Il know their tongue. Allow
me to explain the situation"
But he got no further. Ny cousins
long arm shot out, gripping his collar
firmly from behind. With a gentle heave,
he swung the professor from his feet
and dropped him behind U.S.
please to keep silence, Professor
Marnac. Your explanations might be
somewhat biased" said he, with a grim
smile. And then turning to the sailors,
who had been watching the little scene
with evident surprise
do none of yod speak English?' 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 long, red-head-
ed man emerged and came running to-
wards us.
"And shure wud Oh 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 We 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,
SORT. If it hadn't been fer a back an
swer whin the wine was in me, faithl
it's not in this greasy fat-ir-ron that Tim
Blake wud be after serving"
"Do you speak the language, my
MANI"
'Indade an Oh do, soor; an good raj
son. seeing that tits Tower years come
Christmas that Olive been steward on tn
yacht iv wan iv tha' Portuguese no
blity."
THAT'S good news. And now where
is the captain?'
Faith. but twas 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, SOFT, tits a r-resolution that wud
put the fear iv the Lord into a better
man than him.
Rather a Tartar, eh?''
"A strong man, sorr, an good sea-
man fer a greaser, though his temper is
most pro-digious. But see, here he comes,
ike dock out iv q theater."
He was indeed fine figure of a man,
fully six feet in height and proportion
,tely broad. His skin was very dark,
md his eyes of the deep blackness that
have since observed in Indian races, but
very soft and glowing. His hair, which
he wore at 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 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
s,eaming cups Of hot coffee and
sugar were brought by the worthy Irish
water were brought by the worthy lriAn.
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 1t is right that he should
know the true position of affairs" he
whispered. while 1 am gone, you must
sit with Marnac. Remember, do not lei
him out of your sight for moment"
VERY WE'LL" l said, and he strobe of
down the dark alley of the passageway
When l re-entered the cabin l fount
Marnac muff1ed 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 ra
surprised in an iron gin. l had so grea
a horror and detestation of the man tina
his mere presence was source of phys
ical discomfort to me- and when, sitting
up amongst his wraps, he commenced t.
poster me with questions. l could endur
it no longer. | retired outside the cabin
seating myself with my back to the door
l was as we'll there, l argued, as in tn
interior, and in position infinitely NOR
satisfactory to myself.
The garments they had lent me wer
thick and warm; the dose of brandy ha'
been considerable. l was weary iron
the toll of sleepless night. Those ar
my excuses for the fact that in tn
course of the next five minutes l fel
soundly asleep.
1t was Graden who woke me, a yer
angry and, exasperated Graden VIII
shook my senses into with with unnec
ossarv v;olanca I sra rted mn nrotes,
ing against his treatment.
81 thought better of you than this,
he said, with his hand still fixed in m
collar.
my back was against the door. Il