Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-02-11

/, was just STOPPING to throw the stops
of the staysail when felt myself
seized from behind and forced rapidly
toward the side Of the ship.
OF course | struggled. The Japa-
nese have little trick to fool man
who catches you around the waist
from behind. 1t is part of the Jiu jitsu
taught the Samurai, quite different
proposition from the ordinary police
man jiu jitsu" / picked it up from
friend In the nobility. 1t came In very
handy now, and by good luck roll OF
the ship helped me. In moment /
stood free, and Perdosa was picking
himself out Of the scuppers.
The expression Of establishment was
fairly well done-I will say that for
him-but was prepared for histrion-
! les.
"senorw he gasped. 'Eet is you!
Sacrosanta Maria! / thought you was
dat Solomon! Pardon me, senior! Par
don! Have hurt your
He approached me almost wheedling.
could have laughed at the villain.
1t was all SO transparent. He no more
mistook me for Handy Solomon then
he felt any real enmity for that person.
But, being angry and perhaps little
scared, beat him to his quarters with
a Delaying pin.
On thinking the matter over, how
ever. | failed to see all the ms and
outs Of It, could understand desire
to get rid of me. There would be one
less of the afteSguard, and then, too, l
knew too much Of the mems senti-
ments II not Of their plans. But why
all this elaborate farce of the mock
quarrel and the alleged mistaken
Could it be to guard against possible
failure? 1 could hardly think it worth
while. Ny only theory was that they
had wished to test my strength and
determination. The whole affair, even
on that supposition, was childish
enough, but referred the exaggerated
cunning to Handy Solomon and con-
sidered 1t quite adequately explained.
\ 1t is minor point, but subsequently
I learned that this surmise was cor
rect. / was to be saved because none
of the conspirators understood naviga-
ton.
The next morning l approached Cap
tain Selover.
Captain" said /, IL think it my
duty to report that there Is trouble
brewing among the crew."
There always u.s." he replied, UNI
Moved.
"But this is serious DR.. Schermer-
horn came aboard with q chest which
the men think hold treasure. The
other evening Robinson overheard him
tell his assistant that he could easily
ill the box with diamonds. OF course
he was merely illustrating the value
of some scientific experiment, but Rob-
inson thinks and has made the others
think that the chest contains some
thing to make diamonds with. / am
sure they intend to get hold of II.
The affair is coming to head"
Captain Selover listened almost in
differently.
81 came back from the islands last
year." he piped, with 100000 worth
of pearls. There was sixteen in the
crew, and every man of them was
blood hungry for them pearls. They
had three or four shindies and killed
one man over the proper way to divide
the loot after they had got 1t. They
didn't get II. WhyY He drew his
powerful figure to its height and
spread his thick arms out In the lux
ury Of stretching "Why?" he repeat
ed, exhaling abruptly. Because their
captain was Ezra Selover. Well, Mr..
Eagen," he went on crisply, Captain
Ezra Seloyer is their captain, and they
know 1t. They'll talk and palaver
and git into dark corners and sharpen
their knives and perhaps fight 1t out
as to which ones going to work the
monkey doodle business in the doc
tors chest and which ones going to
tie up the sacks of them diamonds,
but they won't git any farther as-long
as Captain Ezra is on deck"
"Yes," l objected, but they mean
business. Last night in the squat
one Of them tried to throw me over
board"
Captain Selover grinned.
"what did you dor he asked.
"Hazed him to his quarters with a
Delaying pin"
"welI, that's all settled then. isn't
It? What more do you wantT'
stood undecided.
Il can take care Of myself" he went
on. "You ought to take care Of your
self. Then there's nothing more to
do"
He unused moment
you have n gun, Of courseT he In
CURED. II forgot to ask"
''No." said I.
4 He whistled
"weIl. no wonder you feel sort Of
lost and hopeless Here. take this:
it'll make q man Of you
He gave me a Colts As. the barrel
Of which had been fled down to about
two inches Of length. II was a most
extraordinary weapon. but effective at
short range.
Here's a few loose cartridges" said
be. Now, 20 easy. This Is no war
ship. and We amt got men to expert
mcnt on Lick 'em with your fists or
a pin II you can. and II yon do shoot
Just wing 'em a little. They're awful
I good lads. but little restless"
1