The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-03-26
CHAPTER XVI

| CHAPTER XVI
1--WE settled that bit of bust
ness" he said. "You can come
down now. Well, Murrell. rather
surprised to see me, eh?"
This l heard as | descended to
the deck.
"Oh, no." said the mate ut was
our intention to let you out after
we had punished you a little more. -
"Murrell, you're liar!"
"Oh, very WELL" answered Muir
rell, in an aggrieved voice; call
ME what you like. but it won't alter
facts a bit"
NO. said Hayling; "and we
have an account to settle"
The mate mumbled something,
and then turned away, while Hay
ling sprang beneath the bridge and
joined me. At the same momen,
the steam whistle began to blow,
and was kept going in way that
we rightly guessed was meant for
an alarm.
The girl was waiting for us. In
deed, the sudden sound of the fog
horn had filled her with nervous
apprehension an apprehension
which increased tenfold as she be-
held us rushing towards her; but it
affected her energies in no way, for
as We approached the door swung
open, and we darted within.
But in the meantime the foghOrn
was still believing in a way that
shook the ship from stem to stern,
and presently we caught glimpses
Of figures forward darting hither
and thither. Then the blowing sud-
denly ceased, and we guessed that
the alarm had been responded to.
In fact, after wait of a minute or
so, during which l had no doubt
the mate was giving a graphic de-
scription of our raid, we beheld
Murrell, Gupp and about a dozen of
the crew cautiously making their
way towards us.
Murrell, Gupr and half a dozen
until Hayling cried out sharply,
Halt" This brought them to in
an instant, and then the big fellow
continued in his blandest tones,
please stand were you are"
why should WEI" cried the
mate.
Because have no wish for
closer acquaintance"
Rubbish. What right have you
in there? Come out"
This is my right" said Hayling,
tapping the barrel of the Winches-
ter; "and I'll come out when it
suits me-"
"Pooh!" cried the mate; what
rot! You surely don't suppose that
you can hold out against the whole
ships company"
I'm going to try said the big
fellow. AT any rate | have no
wish further to cultivate the ac-
quantanceship of you or that in
fernal rogue by your side.
This allusion to Mr.. Gupp sent
that gentleman pale with anger.
WELL" said the mate, well dis
cuss that later on. In the mean
time you'd better think this out
while | go below and have a zap
with the old man-that is, if you
haven't murdered him."
ooh, no." said Hayling, meaning
ly that's not in my line. You'll
find him below in his room safe
enough, If perhaps little incon-
venienced. 1t was an absolute ne
cessity, which | am sure he will
know how to appreciate
In about 10 minutes there was a
stir in the companionway and al
most Immediately the captain ap-
peared, with Murrell and Gupp on
either side. His step was some
what uncertain, and his face look
ed more pinched and cadaverous
than ever, but his eyes seemed to
burn with the venom of a dozen
men.
He, like the others, continued
boldly to advance, until Hayling
cried, Halt"
who tells me to haiti" he
shouted, something of the lost dig
nifty coming back to him.
Il do" said Frank; and again
he rested the barrel of the rifle
on the window sill.
The captain came to a sudden
standstill and then fell back a pace
or two. He saw that if by accident
the weapon went off his body was
right in the way of the bullet.
put that thing down." he cried
testify, land listen to reason"
Il have listened to too much rea-