Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-04-07

ated.
"And you've taken charge Of my ri
fe," pointed out.
"Oh, not bit sir" he cried. "Thrac-
kles, he just took it to clean it. You
can have it whenever you want it.
sir"
II have no cartridges, as you have
observed" saidI.
There's plenty aboard" he suggest
ed
"And they're in very good hands
there" said 1.
He Illuminated moment, polishing
the steel of his hook against the other
arm of his shirt. Suddenly he looked
up at me with humorous twinkle.
You're afraid Of us!" he accused.
was silent, not knowing just how
to meet so direct all attack.
NO need to be-" he continued.
said nothing.
He looked at me shrewdlv, then
stood off on another tack.
wen, SlF, ulul mean just tnat.
didn't mean you was really scared
of US. But we're gettin' to know each
other, livin' here ON this old island.
brothers-like. There amt no officers
and men ashore-is there, now, sir?
When we gets back to the old Laugh
ing Lass, then we drops back into our
dooty again all right and proper. You
can kiss the book on that. Old Scrubs,
he knows that. He don't want no
shore in his. He knows enough to
stay aboard, where we'd all rather
be-"
He stopped abruptly, spat and look
ed Mt me. wondered whittier this
devious diplomacy led us.
Still, in one way, an officers an
officer, and a seaman's a seaman,
thinks you, and discipline must be
held up among mates ashore or afioat.
thinks you. Quite proper, sir. And
can see you think that the arms is
for the afterguard except in case of
trouble. Quite proper. You can do
the shooting, and you can keep the
cartridges always by you. Just for
discipline, SIR
The mans boldness in so fully arm
ing me was astonishing, and his care
lessness in allowing me aboard with
Captain Selover astonished me still
more. Nevertheless I promised to go
for the desired cartridges, fully re-
solved to make an appeal.
A further consideration of the ele-
ments of the game convinced me, how
ever, Of the fellows shrewdness. 1t
was no more dangerous to allow me a
rifie-under direct surveillance-for the
purposes Of hunting than to leave me
my sawed nff revolver, which still
retained. The arguments he had used
against my shooting Perdosa were
! quite as cogent now. AS to the sec
ond point, |, finding the sun unex-
pectedly strong, returned from the
cove for my hat and so overheard the
following between Thrackles and his
leader:
"What's to keep him from staying
aboard?" cried Thrackles, protesting.
well, he might" acknowledged
Handy Solomon, "and then are we the
worse off? You amt going to make
boat attack against Old Scrubs, are
your"
Thrackles hesitated.
You can kiss the book on it you
amt" went on Handy Solomon easily.
"Nor me nor Pull nor the greaser nor
| the niger nor none of us all together.
We've had our dose of that Well, if
he goes aboard and stays where are
we the worse off? / asks you that.
But he won't. This is watts goin' to
happen. Says he to Old Scrubs, Sir,
the men needs you to bash In their
heads Bash 'em in YOURSELF says
be; that's wat you're for And if he
should come ashore wat could he do?
asks you that. We amt disobeyed
no orders dooly delivered. We're ready
to pull halliards at the word. No, let
him go aboard. and If lie peaches to
the old man. why. all the better, for
1t just gets the old man down on him.
How about Old Scrubs
Don't you believe none in luck ~
asked Handy Solomon.
AYE"
well, so do I, with wat that law
| crimp used to call joodicious assist
ance."
Il rowed out to the Laughing Lass
| very thoughtful and little shaken by
the plausible argument. Captain Sell
| over was lying dead drunk across the
cabin table. did my best to waken
him, but failed. took score of car.
tridges-no more-and departed sadly.
Nothing could be gained by staying
aboard. Every chance might be lost
| Besides. an opening to escape in the
| direction of the laboratory might Of
fer. as well as they believed In luck
| judiciously assisted.
In the ensuing days learned much
Of the habits of seals. We sneaked
along the cliff tops until over the rock
cries; then lay fiat on our stomachs
and peered cautiously down on our
quarry. The seals had become very
wary. A slight jar, the fall of peb
| BILE. sometimes even sounds unnoticed
by ourselves, We're enough to send
them into the water. There they lined
up just outside the surf, their sleek
heads glossy with the wet, their calm
soft eyes fixed upblinkingly on rs.
1t was useless to shoot them in the
| water They sank at once.
When, however. we succeeded in
gaining an advantageous position II
was necessary to shoot with extreme
accuracy. A bullet directly through
| the back of the head would kill clean