Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-24

The look OF stupid indciencs on the
mans face disappeared. The veins 10 the
bun neck stuck out In purpIsh lines An
snErT EEht flashed from under the heavy
eyclids and the straight lips shut very
tight lie Jumped o. his feet and 'n the
act overturned the decsuter and the Tin
cup half flied win uhisky. A cloud 90
thoughts fgIed MS hslf awakened mind.
bit cnly two words came from Ills mouth.
The devil"
lie staggered unstssdny VI the stairway.
The chief mate hooked louEinEly ~ the
spilled nquor. ana Their respectfully fol-
lowed his master cato the main deck.
Barnes whose eye had wen fastened 10
the knot hole ell this time withdrew g.
and JUMPING uut Of the bunk fastened
70 the deck. followed by Clancy. Cross
Eas standing In the stern OF the boat
with a telescope 10 his eye. He closed
the spyglsss with a click and hurried
down 10 the engine room
Put ali the speed onf'' be shouted 70 the
engineer
we re going as fast as we can replied
the Er1rny-fsced Individual
I know better shrieked the master.
You can 20 faster-you must 70 faster.
A fireman was placidly smoking 3 pipe.
Cross went up 10 him and shook his
shoulder roughly.
Here. you. pile on more coal there. and
keep pilinE II on-d'ys hear"
The fireman obeyed- He shoveled the
coal on in wholesale quantities. The fire.
already at white heat. cracked furiously.
The engineer put on more steam. and IN
the course Of ten or fifteen minutes the
Golden Rod was doubling its speed.
The master stood In the pilot house and
, ~
family Barnes had ever heard A half
hour and an hour passed. and the chief
inspector Of customs noted with delight
that the revenue cutter was gaining on
the tramp steamer. Her handsome white
bow was in sight and Captain Farewell
could be seen on the bridge IN conversation
with his lieutenant Cross realized that
the Golden Rod wBs losing ground and
he sturmed about the deck Ike a crazy
man
You blundering fools" he shouted to
the crew. 'Brt ye going 20 stand there
and let this he'll hound Of a government
boat run re down. why don't ye do some
thing. What are ye Sinking about
What good are ye. anyhow
The first mate in a last erfort 10 keep
I'D the dignity Of his position, tipped his
forehnEer to his cap.
The masters face flushed The brutality
seemed to oozs from the pores Of his
skin
You, too he shrieked. you dirty DOG.
20 60 back on me! I have d notion 20
throw you overheard
The frenzied man made a menacinE mo
ton toward the mate. Polk. regarding dis
erection as the better part Of vaJor. exc
cuted a mastery retreat This policy Of
nonresistHnce upset the captains plans and
be decided to go into the cabin In the
meantime the A1bstross steamed ahead
with Unerring certainty. Every revolution
OF the wheels brought q nearer 70 the
Golden Rod. Both boats were coming out
Of the bay and emerging into the broad
ocean Cross came out Of the cabin. wiping
his mouth with the back Of his hand. He
could see the AIbstross now without the
aid Of his telescope. Just as he looked the
captain OF the revenue cutter signalled a
request for surrender.
Blast his impudencet' shouted Cross
Wen show him how wen surrender"
Once more he retreated into the cabin
During the next ten minutes he went down
stairs three OF -four times On each trfr
he turned the spigot OF an see cooler and
took drink out Of the rusty tin cup. on
his last return to the deck he walked aft
60 give some directions 70 the men. Barnes
taking advantage Of his absence, slipped
down the stairway and peeped into the
ice cooler. His worst fears were confirmed
The cooler contained jamaica rum.
The AIbatross stin moved on with the
grace and rapidity Of the bird after which
II vas so aptly named The officers, IL
their bright uniforms could be seen Pc
trolling both the port and starbosrd sides
-.
on the navigating bridge in front Of ths
pilot house. lifted a megaphoDe TO his lips
and shouted.
7 call on you 10 surrender or accept th'
consequences p
Cross, half maudlin from his repeated
visits 10 the ice cooler. lifted his thumblssl
hand high in the air. and, doubling up hi
fingers, shouted drunkenly:
Come on, curse ye; come on, at youi
pern!"
Barnes thought this mere bsbbling. bu
was soon undeceiyed. The master CAV,
some orders 10 the chief mate. He in turi
communicated with the crew. A half doEel
men rushed 10 either end Of the boat an,
began pulling a pile Of canvass from tw
bulky looking objects. In a minute a PAL
OF old fashioned cannon stood revealed
Crude derr1cks were quickly erected. IN
guns were raised with elevating gear an
revolved or a swivel
q Now, you dough-heads shouted IN
ID master, up with the powder and waddin
d get your ramrods ard load for action"
q AL this was done 50 quickly that Barne
= and Clancy stood still a. If stunned
cask ot powder was brought on deck, nv
r sets Of men got 70 work and the caunO
were quickly loaded. AT this point Barne
,s came 70 ms senses he ran 10 the mastel
b. who vas sweating IKE bull and swearin
IKE a trooper. he touched him on IN