Jefferson jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 1907-1926, 1908-03-13

around SolomOn's head made a pretty
spot of color against the blue of the
sky and the ddarker blue Of the sea
Silhouetted over the fawless white white OF
the deckhouse was the sullen, polished
profile of the Niger. Beneath me the
ship swerved and leaped, yielded and
recovered. I breathed deep and saw
cutlasses in harmless shadows. It was
two yearsago. I was young-then.
At the mess hour I stood in doubt
E1wever, was informed by the cap.
Tins falsetto that I was to eat in the
cabin. AS the only other officer, I ate
alone, after the others had finished
helping myself from the dishes left on
the table. It was a handsome cabin
well kept, with white woodwork spot
lessly clean, leather cushions - much
better than one would expect. after
ward found that the neatness of this
cabin and Of the three staterooms was
maintained by the nigger-at the peril
Of his neck. A rack held a dozen rifles,
five revolvers and, at last, my cutlass.
es. I examined the lot with interest.
They were modern weapons-the new
high power 30-40 box magazine rifle,
shooting government ammunition-and
had been used. The revolvers were of
course the old 45s. This was an ex-
traordinary armament for a peaceable
schooner Of $50 tons burden.
The rest Of the cabins fittings were
not remarkable. By the confguration
of the ship guessed that two of the
staterooms must be rather large. !
could make out voices within.
On deck I talked with Captain Sci.
over.
'She's a snug craft" ] approached
him.
He nodded.
"You have armed her we'll"
He muttered something of pirates
and the China seas.
laughed.
"You have arms enough to give your
crew about two magazine rifles apiece,
unless you filled all your berths for.
ward"
Captain Selover looked me direct in
the eye.
'Talk straight, Mr.. Eagen," said he.
''What is this ship and where is she
bound?" I asked, with equal simple.
tty.
He considered.
Gas for the ship" he replied at
Ionoth HT dop,t mind oovinr vo,,,,5
my first officer, and on you I depend i
It comes towel. the small arms be.
low. If the ships a little under t'.a
shade, why, so are you. She's by w,.y
of being called a manner of hasl
names by some people. do not see Il
myself. 1t Is matter of conscience
If you would ask some interested
they would call her a smuggler, q
thief, wrecker and all the other evil
titles in the catalogue. She has taken
in Chfnks by way Of Santa Cruz is.
land, if that is smuggling. The coun.
try is free, and Chink is q man. Be
sides, it paid $40 head for the land
ing. She has carried in a cargo or Sc
Of junk. 1t was lying on the bench
where fool master had piled it, and
took what I found. I couldn't keep
track Of the underwriters Intentions
"But the room forward"-I broke in
"Well, you see, last season we were
pearl fishing"
"But you needed only your dive,
and your crew." I objected.
"There was the matter Of a Japanese
gunboat or So" he explained.
"Poachingw cried.
$50 some call it. The shells are
there. The islands are not inhabited
do not see how men claim property
beyond the tidewater. I have heard Il
argued
"Hold onr' 1 cried. "There was 9
trouble last year in the Ishigaki Jims
islands, where poacher beat off the
Oyama. 1t was desperate fight"
Captain Selover's eye lit up.
give commanded black brigantine
name of the Petrel," he admitted sim
ply. "She was brigantine aloft, bu
allow she had much the same lines as
the Laughing Lass" He whirled OF
his heel to roll to one of the covere;
! yachts cannon. "Looks like harm
less little toy to burn black powder
don't she?" he remarked. He stripped
off the tarpaulin and the false bras:
muzzle to display as pretty a little
Maxim as you would care to see
"Now you know all about it." he said.
"Look here, Captain Selover," I de
manded, don't you know that 1 coulf
blow your whole shooting match higL
er than Gilderoy's kite? How do YOU
know I won't do it when get back
How do you know I won't inform thu
doctor at once what kind Of an outfi
he has tied TOT"
He planted far apart his thick legs IL
their soiled blue trousers, pushed bacl
his greasy linen boating hat and staret
at me with some amusement.
GLOW do you know won't blow OF
Lieutenant or Ensign Ralph Slade, Q
S. N, when get back?" he demanded
I blessed that illusion anyway. "Be
sides, 1 know my man. You won't q
anything of the sort" He walked |,
the rail and spat carefully over tn
side.
GAS for the DOCTOR" he went on, 'h
knows all about it. He told me a.
about myself and everything I ha
ever done from the time I'd licke
Buck Jones until last seasons littl
diversion. Then he told me that wa
why he wanted me to ship for thi
cruise" The captain eyed me qui7
zically.
I threw out my hand in a comic ges
ture of surrender.