The Springdale news., 1909-03-23

hundred feet or so their fiery eyes them at bay
 The next day rowed out to the Laughing Lass and got d rife. found the captain asleep in his bunk and did not disturb him. Perdosa and I. with infinite pains, tracked and staIked the sheep, of which 1 killed one We found the mutton excellent. The hunting was difficult and the quarry as time went on more and more suspicious, but henceforward We did not lack for fresh meat Further more. we soon discovered that fine trolling was to be had outside the reef We rigged a sail for the extra dory and spent much of our time at the sport. l do not know the names Of the fish, They were very gamy, Indeed and ran from five to an inde- terminate number of pounds in weight. Above fifty pounds our light tackle parted, so we had no means of know ing how large they may have been.
 Thus we spent very pleasantly the greater part of two weeks. At the end of that time l made up my mind that it would he just as well to get back to business. Accordingly I called Per dosa and directed him to sort and clear of rust the salvaged chain cable. He refused fatly. 1 took q step toward l. l. ;z Ia a,1s al away.
 "Perdosa." said firmly, put up that knife"
 No" said he.
 pulled the saw barreled Colts IL and raised 1t slowly to level with his breast.
 eferdosa, repeated, drop that knife.
 The crisis had come, but my resolu ton was fully prepared for it should not have cared greatly If l had had to shoot the man, as l certainly should have done had he disobeyed There would then have been one less to deal with in the final accounting. which strangely enough l now for q moment never doubted would come. had not before aimed at mans life, so you can see to what tensitS the baffing mystery had strung me.
 Perdosa hesitated d fraction of an instant. l really think he might have chanced It, but Handy Solomon. Who had been watching me closely, gfo~f ed at him
 "Drop it. you fool!' he said.
 Perdosa let fall the knife
 Now. get at that cable,' l command ed still at white heat l stood ovel him until he was well at work, ther turned back to set tasks for the other men. Handy Solomon met me half way.
 Begging your pardon, Mr. Eagen said he, Il want a word with you.
 "I have nothing to say to yoH." snapped. still excited.
 "It ain't reasonable not to hear { mans say" he advised in his most eoneiiatory manner. I'm talking fol all of Ills"
 He paused a moment, took my si leuce for consent and went ahead.
 "Begging your pardon. Mir Eagen. said he. we aint going to do any more useless work There ain't IL laziness about us, but We ain't goin4 10 be busy at nothing All the eamI work and the haulin' and euttiH' aHt eleanin' and the rest of it we'll d' gladly. But we ain't goin' to poune any more cable, and you can kiss tht book on that"
 You mean to mutinyf" l asked
 He made a deprecatory gesture.
 Put us aboard ship, sir and let ui hear the old man give his orders. ant you'll find no mutiny in us. But her' ashore it's different, Did the old mat give orders to pound the cabeT'
 'I represent the captain" stammer ed.
 He caught the evasion T though so. Well, if You got any kick on lis please. sir, go get the old man. If h' gays to our face pound cable, wh! pound cable it is. Amt that right boys?"
 They murmured something Perdo sa deliberately dropped his hamme and joined the group. My hand stray ed again toward the sawed off Colt 45.
 T wouldn't do that said Haud, Solomon, almost kindly. You eouldn' kill us all. And wat good would il do