The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-03-30
CHAPTER XVIII
(COntinued)

Huence or drink He Shuffied anC
frolled awkwardly in his gait, ant
every second or so wet his dry lips
with his tongue. Waving the hand
kerchief above his head he con
tinued to advance until Frank call
ed upon him to stop. and as he did
not seem inclined to obey the or
der, he suddenly found himself
covered by the Australians rifle.
think, too, that he saw the grim
face behind 1t, for he pulled UP
short and reiterated couple OF
PAGES, waving the gun away with
his big hand.
! mice way to treat a flag oil
truce!' he protested.
Didn't you hear me tell you to
stop"
"And suppose l did," he growlej
eff you did" said the Australian
you were a fool not to obey"
81 amt the only fool" retorted
the mate, though I'm not the one
to turn a gun on flag of truce u
Hayling's heavy brows went to.
gether as he said sharply:
What do you want?"
81 have something to propose.
This mutiny of yours is playing the
devil with the discipline aboard.
The ship can't be worked satisfac-
torily with you fellows cooped up
here, potting every man that pokes
his nose round the corner. So If
you're willing We'll try and come to
terms"
ooh, thank you," said Frank;
we're very comfortable here"
well, you know, Hayling you
can't expect to hold out if we set
to in earnest"
| 1--WE can try"
ooh, but it's rot, you know" re-
piled the man irritably; beside,
it's much more reasonable to come
to terms
"And what are the terms?"
"Well, having duly considered
the provocation. we have taken a
lenient view of this outbreak; and
we are quite willing to overlook
your INSTRUMENTATION and pardon
the passenger and the girl"
81 accept the terms" said Hay
ling. 81 am deeply grateful"
"Oh but you must come out of
the wheelhouse," protested the
mate.
Why"
well, If for nothing else, to
show your confidence in us"
But l have no confidence in
you"
We'll, of all the ungrateful
swine began the mate.
But the Australian cut him short
Look here, Murrell, there's no
need for us to handy compliments,
We have no intention of leaving
our present quarters"
Then, by God, We'll drive you
out"
ooh, well, you must do that il
you can. Here we are, and here we
intend to remain. Now right about!
Quick march,"
The anger and amazement of the
mate would have been highly ludi.
crOus under other circumstances.
First he stood staring blankly at
us, then he shufflel his feet this
way and then that, anger and ire
solution battling for supremacy
Two or three times he opened his
mouth as If to let go at us, though
nothing but frothy bubbling left
his lips. Then with a sudden furi
GUS gesture he flung his flag OF
truce, brass rod and all, savagely
into the starboard scuppers, swung
round and marched off, his dirty
scallywags at bis heels.
Hayling watched them with a
lcurious scowl until they disap
lpeared forward. Then he turned
to me, the anger still in his face
"Cool!"
Rather" said I.
What do you make of it,"
at looks to me as though they
were getting sick of the job"
Il think you're right. What says
our little sister'
Ethel, who bod been peerine
through the wheels, here advanced
ooh, Mr.. Hayilng-I mean Franz
IL hardly know what to think The
whole thing is too terrible fol
words"
81 am so sorry for you; but yor
do believe that Tom and l are do
ing what we think is best?"
81 know know. But when is
it likely to end?"
He smiled gravely, perhaps lit
tie reprovingly. The light was not
good. but | thought she flushed.
Il have another round for my
Winchester" he said. Tom will
be able to tell you how much re
volver ammunition we have left
He did not say any more, and
his voice was gentle enough, as il
always was when he spoke to her
yet the reproach stung like the lash
of a whip. For a little space she
swayed irresolute, and then before
either of us knew what was going
to happen she was on her knees
before him, sobbing bitterly ant
crying out for him to forgive her
Selling her by both hands, he
raised her gently and as with
streaming eyes she looked implor
ingly up into his face, he pattet
her head as a father would and told
her there was nothing to forgive
But she insisted upon hearing hin
pronounce her pardon, and she blu
ried her face on his breast and hel
form shook with sobbing. Ant