The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-28

boy when the Harpy touched at Malta, and he was foolish enough to go ashore. With Gdscoigne as second, to fight duel.
 The duel was rather novel one. Jack had been challenged both by the steward and by the boatswain and MT Tallboys, the gunner, who was master of ceremo- nies placed his men on d triangle and bade Jack fire at the boatswain, the boatswain at the steward, and the stew ard at Jack. Jack put a hole through the boatswain's cheek, knocking out a. few teeth; the boatswain shot the steward fairly, but not in dangerous place, and the steward missed Jack entirely.
 Jack" said Gascoigne suddenly as they were walking back to town after the triangular duel, lets go on little cruise of our own.'
 Why, that might look rather ugly like desertion, you know" replied Jack.
 Not at all" reioined Gascolgne You see, we are so scared at the results of the duel that, believing the steward killed' we take a boat and go off to Sicily, leav- ing letter for the captain and begging forgiveness and permission to return.
 "Hurrah Come on! cried Jack. Lets be off.
 When Jack made his joke about the green petticoat being the banner of Equality and the Rights of Man Captain Wilson thought that the peculiar doc trines with which the boy had been so early imbued had been forever eschewed by him. But he was wrong, for tares sown in youth are not easily eradicated. and it was his old ideas as much as his love of adventure that caused Jack to embrace Gascoignes proposition.
 It was an adventurous voyage the young men had of it. They hired a speronare- a small one-masted vessel-and set sail. The crew. seeing that they had plenty of gold about them-which the lads 1mpru- dently displayed-tried to murder them m the night but were killed Tn the attempt and their bodies thrown overheard. Then a storm came up, their speronare was wrecked on the Scian coast and the boys wandered inland in search of sue cor-two forlorn castaways.
 It was soon after daylight when they came to large house, evidently belong ing to q person of consequence. As they approached it a cry of terror was heard coming from the mansion.
 Whats thatY' cried Jack. "A woman screaming? Come along, Ned.
 Rushing into the house they found an elderly gentleman defending himself from the assaults of two young men, who were held back by an elderly lady and young one As they entered the door the old gantleman fell. and the two young men were about to dispatch him with their rapiers. Jack seized one of the men by the collar and placed the muzzle of his nistol to his head, while Gascoigne did the same for the other.
 "Teu these chaps to drop their swords or we fire" said Jack.
 Gascoicne gave the order in Italian and the young men suddenly obeyed, whiie the women rushing to the elderly man raised him up in their arms.
 For a moment a silence, caused by sur prlse at the opportune appearance or the castaways. ensued. The old man then sternlv addressing his recent assailanls, said. Ut would appear, signors, that nroyidential interference has prevented ,-on from committine foul murder. Ycu arc free to depart. You, Don Silvio, have indeed d'sappointed me. And as for you, Don scinio you have been misled; but you have both disgraced yourselves. Taks your swords and go.
 The young men departed without a word Gascoigne, who was master Of Italian, translated to Jack the thanks which the don and the women now rained upon the two middies and explained to their hosts that they were British off cers who had been wrecked upon the coast.
 You have saved my life said the old man. "Tell me in what l can be or service" "You might give us breakfast. suggested Jack. and Gaseoigne translated the request in a slightly modified form On learning that Jack could speak Span ish-for in that language MT. Midship- man Easy had been perfecting himself ever since the day he captured the Neus-