The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1907-03-02
THE IRON PIRATE
A Plain Tale Of Strange
Happenings on the Sea
By MAX PEMBERTON
coo
CHAPTER X.-(Continued.)

CHAPTER X.-(Continued.)
ave must act now" said Roderick, ''be.
fore they miss their man. They've stopped
the engines, and we shall drop behind
the others. There's only one chance, and
that is to surprise them. Let's rush it.
and take the Odds"
IF l went" said Mary, what could
they do to me? Pm going now; while
I'm talking to them they won't be looking
for you"
She ran up the companion-way, stand
Ing at the top; while we cooked our pis
tolls and crept after her. Then we lay fiat
to the deck, as she ran noiselessly amid
ships, and into the very center of the five
men. To our establishment, they gave a
great howl Of terror at the sight of her
for she seemed but thing of shadow how
ering upon the ship-and bolted headlong
forward; while we rushed in a body to
the hurricane deck and faced Paolo. He
turned very white. Dan served him,as the
other, and hit him with his pistol, so that
he rolled senseless off the narrow bridge,
and we heard the thud of his head against
the iron Of the engine room hatch. He
had scarce fallen when Mary, with the
laugh still upon her lips, reeled at the
sight of him, and fell fainting in my
arms.
The skipper got the whole situation at
the first look. He came 20 us with a cou-
pie of rifles. We were now all crouching
together by the wheel amidships, for
Mary had recovered. By the full moon we
saw dark shadows across the hatch. The
10 oLinnar
hailed them.
"You, Karl. Williams-are you coming
out now, for me to fog you, or will you
swing at New York? You've got a couple
of planks between you and eternity. I'm
going to fire through that galley"
He raised his rifle at the word, and let
go straight at the corner of the light wood
erection. A dull groan followed, and by
the shadow on the deck l saw one man
fall forward; his blood ran in thick
stream out to the top OF the hatchway
and then ran back as tne ship heaved tc
the seas.
"There's one down amongst you," sai6
the skipper; 'but that's the beginning Of
It.; I'm going to blow that shanty tt
pieces, and you with it."
He raised his rifle, but as he did so one
of them answered for the first time will
his revolver, and the bullet sang above ou1
heads. The shippers shot was quick il
reply; and the wood Of the shanty few il
splinters as the bullet shivered it. A see
ond man sprang to his feet with shout
and then fell across the deck, lying full +
be seen in the moonlight. +.
That's two of you," continued tn,
skipper, as calm as ever he was in Ports
mouth harbor; "we'll. make 1t three TO
luck" But at the suggestion they al
made run forward, and lay fat right gu
by the cable. Tlere we could hear then
blubbering like children.
They fred three shots as we rushed OF
them; but the butt ends of the two mus
kets did the rest. Three of them wen
others fell upon their knees and imploret
mercy; and they got it, but not until thu
skipper, who now seemed reused to all tn,
fury of great anger, set to kicking then
Justify, and with no discrimination.
We had the other hands up by thi
They got them below at the first breal
of dawn, and the dead they covered
while Paolo, who lay groaning, we carrie,
to cabin In the saloon, and did for hi
broken head that which our elementar.
knowledge of surgery permitted US.
AS the day brought light upon the ris
ing sea, looked to the far horizon, bu
the rolling crests of an empty waste me
my gaze. Again we were alone. TIL
nights work had lost us the welcom
, company.