The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1907-01-17
CHAPTER x. (continued.)

USluS pulleO lTOIu MS seat Will SUCH
violence, and SO Unexpectedly, he had
only a dim idea of what was happening
and of where he was. Realizing, how
ever, that he was in the grip of a
stronger man, he suddenly flung him
self fiercely upon the captain, driving
that gentleman backward toward the
boat. The captain, for his part, in an
~endeavor to protect himself, made a
rough-and-tumble of X, and twisted the
little man clean off his legs. More
over, he twisted him too far, and, being
very unsteady on his legs, fairly rolled
with him of the causeway into the
boat.
The mar in charge of the boat, being
probably very glad to get rid of them,
and feeling, perhaps, that they had bet
ter be left to settle whatever differ
ences they might have in their own
fashion, Immediately showed the boat
off; so that by the time the captain
got his head out Of the bottom of the
boat and sat up to look at his passen-
ger they were out into the stream.
This m of keepin' bad COM
pany," murmured the captain, ruefully
rubbing the back of his head. How
ever, / asked you to come for a blow,
and you've come accordin'; but you
needn't ave bin In SIGH a 'urry, an
come with such a rush"
With these words the captain took
the oars, and dextrously pulled into
the stream, out Of the way of a lumber.
ing barge. The little man, who had
been so unceremoniously taken for an
airing, appeared to take the matter in
good part; picked up his dilapidated
silk hat from the bottom of the boat,
put it on, and sat, grimly silent, watch
ing the captain.
TITS a nice AFTERNOON fer a row."
said the captain. pleasantly, as he
| pulled sturdily. "Ain't yer glad you
come alonger me, messmate?"
The little man murmured something
uncomplimentary, and then was silent
After a long pause the little man
nodded his head three or four times
and spoke.
Il thought I'd seen you before" he
| said, in his thin, piping voice. Now
| I'm sure of it. 1t was on Tuesday
and you were with that internal Cha.
| ter"
The captain almost dropped lis oars
in his establishment. "Why-so it
was!" he exclaimed. you was asst
tin at the table; I'd seed yer just
afore the light went out"
The little man, for some unknown
reason, began to tremble; looked all
| about him, indeed, as though contem-
| plating making a sudden exit from tht
boat. What do you want with me-"
he asked in a whining voice.
81 don't want nothing with yer" re-
plied the captain, staring at him.
Thought you might like a turn on
| the river in a friendly w~ay--thats
all"
Don't tell lies!" calculated the 9TH
er. Il can tell you this: you won't get
| any good out of me. I'm only a poo
old man, who's been unfortunate ana
has fallen to evil days.
The captain looked at him In amaze
ment: the little mans terror appeared
SO strong. "W'y-wot do you take me
for?" he asked.
"Oh-I know what you are" cried
| the little man, wagging his head.
You're a split-a detective-a ponce
man. / know what you r
The captain stood up in the boat,
| and put himself In a fighting attitude.
"Say that ag'in-and I'll knock you ont
| OF the boat" he shouted. I'D ave
yer know that I'm a decent sailorman
AN a captain at that. 20 are you
a-callin' a policeman"
.The Shady I'm said so" replied the
little man, TREMENDOUSLY.
THAT shady gent said a good many
things as til ave to answer for" said
the captain, sitting down again. wy
n I'd wanted to run yer in, reckon
could ave picked yer up under my arm
| and done 1t easy, without 'irin' a boat
| for it--Ullo-wot's that?"
The boat, travelling slowly, had
| struck something-struck 1t softly. but
sufficiently to send a slight culver
| through It's timbers. The captain,
backing water at once, peered over
the side, dipped an oar deep, and
swung the boats head round with a
| sturdy pull, leaned over, and caught at
something bebbing near the surface OF
the water. His carelessness had gone
In a moment; he was the quick, mas
terful man, used to a boat, and used
to matters of life and death.
"Sit tight there" he commander.
" Ere-ketch this oar: that's it--keep
her steady. There's a body 'ere!"
The mention Of that seemed to sur
something In the little man; he be-
came all attention in a moment. ana
watched the others movements with
alert eyes.
Cant get I'M into the boat" said
the captain In a low voice. "'E's dead
bin dead days. I should think.
throw me that line there"
The little man obeying promptly. the
captain, leaning over the edge OF the
boat, made the line fast to that grim
thing bobbing alongside; and tnen
turned the boats head for the shore
and pulled hard. The little mai n
49, -. ~ tntarAatnA In that