Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-24

shoul5er.
Take my advice. Cross. and cut. yuu're
being chased now Tor violating the neu-
trality laws Fire one 10 those cannon on
a Tuited states vessel ans y1u become a
pirate
Cross turned o. hirn iu amusement The
lpuk on his face was u lrd,rcls Tte veirs
On THE bun neck sweued loaths1ue,.. Rage
halted his spec-h. but his answer was not
tn words lie svurC bis fcrluH-lIke arm
wildly and the trumtiess hand struck
Barnes square DOB me face with terrific
force The CHIEF lost his balance ans Zen
On the deck with thud The act made
an tire blood in Cloucy's body boil He
rushed over. and doubling ur his est
struck the master fun Ir tine bllriag neck
But his rs; bounded back a. - le had lit
d bale Of wool simultaneously the chief
mate put MS foot or and dcNterously
uripped The young mar and be fell IN
heap by the side q his chief
''Mutiny.- bavIed the master 'Tie their
hands and feet and throw en- In the
hold.
The struggle was brief When u ended
Barnes and Clancy were tied and lay help
less in the bow Of the boat one 81 the
crew was for tossing them in me h9ld.
The Others thought the game not worth
the candle. and the two prisoners lay pant
Ing with their backs on the boards and
their eyes gazing Up into the Implying sky.
Nov boys shouted the master
hosrsely. go al EN- with both guns; give
'su q br1adside
The orders were quickly executed Two
loud reports sounded across the broad ex-
pause Of water. one shot fen wide Of the
mark. and the iron bali Zen into the faith
oruless depths o. the ocean. The other
Erazea the edge Of The wooden mermaid
which served as fEurehead beneath the
bow Of the AIbatross. The officers on the
revenue cutter conferred on the quarter
deck As they parted 81 became evident
that the challenge from the Golden Rod
was accented The three guns on the star
board side were trained in the direction
or the fleeing steamer. Three vivid puhs
OF white smoke and then something struck
the tramp boat that made Il CULVER from
stem TO stern.
When the trembling ceased the Golden
Rod looked as II q had been struck by
- cyclone one shot had taken away half
Of the suokestack; another tore open
side Of the pilot house and scattered
boards. glass and splnters an over the
deck. the third cut away the upper Sec
ton Of the stern the hHpless Barnes
and his assistant were covered with the
debris The face Of Polk. the chief mate.
became white as chalk and he was inca
pable Of speech. The crew clustered to-
rether and covered behind the uninjured
section Of the pilot house Ike wet hens
in thunder storm The master was the
only one who had any nerve left and he
was hvsterical from the shock
Load en- up again" he shrieked and
be quick about H."
PoIk pulled himself together and urged
the men 70 speed Another cask Of pow
der was brought Up and opened. The can
non was filed and the order given 70 IRE
There was 10 response. The man IN
charge pulled the stout cords. the caps
snapped. but the big guns were silent.
once again the cords on the old fashioned
ordnance were pulled and once again All
was dead silence Some unaccountable i'm
pulse sent the master over 70 the nan
eruptied powder barrel
He put his hand in st. and something
about the gritty substance made him 20
male He ordered up two more casks
The tops were quickly knocked out OF
them. and Cross put his hands into both
simultaneously. When he looked up ms
ewes were dancing as II they were pos
sessed OF devils. the color left the bull
neck the firm mouth dropped and he Ten
back as limp as wet rag.
what's the matter? Speak, man.
shouted the mate.
Cross tried 70 articulate. and failed. He
tried again. and was just able to gasp:
'rBetraye5-sold out We've got cargo
uf-of sand
sand"
Yes. plain sand. Jack Fenwick's evened
up scores.
He raised himself feebly 70 his fun
| height. shook convulsivsly and fen for
fvrfr
shock that shivered the tmbers Of the
crippled steamer.
Barnes realized the significance OF ths
scene He shouted 70 the mate:
, quick. unite me, I may save VOC BE-
fore the AIhatruss fires again"
Polk's look was distressing, but there
was no time for hesitancy. Besides. he
P noted a commanding ring In Barnes voice
He released the prisoner. As soon al
. the cords were loosened the chief jumped
10 his feet and. grabbing white sftr'
, that lay nesr by. fastened IL 10 stiel
, and waved il furiously. The captain o.
4 the AIbatrOss signaTed back "An right
0 and the pirate crew prepared for the for
2 NAL surrender.
In less than an hour mate. crew and
: recruits were prisoners and the wreck o
the Golden Rod was being toWed back u
port by The revenue cutter Barnes ana
e Clancy were guests Of honor On the gov
z eminent boat although they nodestly-
and with some truth-iuslsted they hei
q done nothing 10 entttle them 20 specia
A honors The last thing they saw as the,
o stepped ashore was the stark remains o
n Captain Levi Cross. with The bull neck
. the wrinklsd- weather beaten face and IN
r thumblesE, gorfila-lfNs hand, stretched on
z imposilgly on the f0rscasle deck q tn
e wrecked Golden Rod