The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1907-01-03
CHAPTER xx.-econtinued.,

peared. unlocking the grating and de
scending the ladder. At the edge Of III.
hole l could see the faces of severa
members Of the crew and caught the
CLEAN Of drawn knives. Evidently they
did not trust us.
When it was over, we followed Blake
up the ladder and waited quietly while
he laid out Graden's revolver and our
few belongings on the TIA, cf a central
table behind which the captain WAS
standing. A short speech ~ the worthy.
and the lrishman began aEtin;
The skipper wud have ye KNOW he
said, addressing Graden with a growing
dignity that would have been comic
enough at a less unfortunate moment.
that ye stand accused iv carrying of the
ouid gint yonder and eommittin' burg
larry on his person. Fwhat do ye say
to that. sorrz-
1T Is absolutely untrue"
WAN for him. thin But Ofm to ask
ye how We account fer III possession
" that pocket-bock the skipper IS holding
50 loving in his hand He says that
there's close On hve hundred pounds in
ut Is ut yoursy'
Not belongs to the old gentleman"
The mischief it does Then how did ye
come by ut?n
l feel certain that If my cousin
could have told his story directly to the
captain, the honesty of his manner aud
the simplicity of his narration would
have had effect. But this pleading at
secondhand was a sorry business. From
his long pauses and facial contorti0ns
| soon gathered that Blake was not the
hnguist that he claimed TO be. Indeed
the version which the captain received
from him must have been something
astounding The tale was scarcely con
Guided when tie captain raised his hand,
and the aounderings Of the interpreter
ceased abruptly.
Thus was his decision translated. He
would touch at Southampton. where the
case could be fought out in the English
courts In the meanwhile, as the evil
dence was overwhelmingly against US.
We should be placed in irons and con-
fined in the cabin where we then were.
de was a just man. Angry though
was at the time, | ave come 10 think
ne did the right thing The harmless
appearance Of Marnac, his ability to
plead his cause. our obvious endeavor TO
keep him from communicating with the
crew. Cur Possession Of 50 valuable a
pocketbook belonging TO him-no. we
cannot blame the captain II he decided In
his favor.
To attempt resistance would have been |
absurd The men about Us carried
knives, and the butt Of a heavy revolver
showed warningly from the captains
pocket For the first time In either Of
our lives the handouts snapped at our
wrists They moved out one By one: the I
door was closed and barred upon us. In I
another three minutes we were both 7
asleep Our il-fOrtune, the doings Of q
our worst enemy. the irons at our wrists {
we forgot them all in the dead. still
sleep that Nature grants 10 the very ;
weary. E
II was Blake who woke Us with our q
midday meal He was in his most talk q
alive mood. Guilty or innocent. il made n
difference to him. after he had de- d
upon the fact of our gentility. !"
He was agog with the manner Of Mar Il
macs escape from us The lad who was o.
servant 10 the captain had been down
In the azarette. and from pure curiosity a
had poked up the trap in the cabin floor. 81
With promises Of money, Marnac had v
persuaded the youngster TO guide him 10 Cd
he captain. In their haste they had for "
yotten to close the trap and grating be- la
lind them. though they had secured those ca
Il the head Of the second ladder. Mar
lac had waited in the captains room 50
While the lad went forward to find his or
1t was doubtless their interview II
hat Graden had observed from the ca
When the supposed victim of In
ur plot had told his story. they had an
rmed themselves and come to arrest NJ pr
alling the Irisiman and two more of the Ia;
rev in case Of resistance. They had an
ound US below source Of delight 10 &C
he Portuguese sailors. who had a healthy lu
error Of Englishmen; and the rest we ba
new. IA
Come. my man." said my cousin after ms
e had concluded, ~for yourself, now he
o you believe US guiltyYv tn
Faith, sorr, It's a quare business on tn
he answered, scratching his red do
ole indecisively. For whether It's Won
r the ould ~gintleman that they'll Law in
y the heels in Southampton Water. ft's
OF fer me to be after saying. Sure It's sta
an Of the two-whichi is all Oh knows.r eye
Now, listen to me, Tim Blake said Of
y cousin. my name is, as | told vou. sav
ir Henry Graden, and / am a rich man. tog
not asking you 10 neglect your duty. IS
hich is TO keep as in; but If you will gri
I've an eye to the door so as to keen .
Iat old gentleman out, thereTI be five IF
I'd twenty pounds in your pocket" the
Whatever the Irishman may have Ian
ought of our characters. there was no IL
'ubt as to his belief in the genuine ns- #
re Of the offer. He beamed upon rs I
It'll a chiIdlike jubilation that was quite he
mic in its enthusiasm. and
"Indade. sorr, indade, and / wilIg' he .
led sal,
you the keyT' ,
Il have. sorr. Wud your honor like bea
kape it2 You can turn the lock vvhIn ord
knock Tower times" "
THAT will hardly DO" said my cousin. wot
1--WE might have the captain upo
iting US, which would mean a change bar
~jailers. Now, as to the trap door ny
that also securedT' scie
lad we spoke of-he has the kay. abo
r. May the mischief seize him p q.
We can't leave It like that. See IL ".
/ can FIX 1t up TO better Advantage boot
Blake raised the outer block Of wood q,
ich fitted level with the flooring, and ITO