The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1910-01-21
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studying the pair.
leone directly from Don Castillo"
I said, quietly, facing the Yankee, and
determined to get down to business,
land desire to speak with you alone"
His glinting eyes narrowed per.
ceptibly, and his jaws crunched down
upon the tobacco in his cheek.
""Tis safe enough with him." he &C.
knowledged rather ungraciously, his
voice becoming nasal as he pointed his
c%hin-beard toward the other. de
Nova Is second officer"
l drew back the chair and sat down,
realizing that l o possessed the at.
tention of both.
Capt. Castelar's duties" l announced
quietly. do either of you care to ex.
anime my papers?"
futile spat silently into the saw.
dust, while De Nova exhibited his
white teeth in a grin. The eyes of the
two men met.
Il rather guess your papers won't
cut much ice in this ERE affair."" re.
turned the former with deliberate in.
science, being as how we don't either
Of us give a tinker's dam fer Peru, II
If you'll pardon my sayin' so plainly"
His mask had disappeared as by
magic, and I realized instantly the
real nature of the man.
you mean no enlistment has been
made, either by you, or the men under
you?"
That's just about the size of it,
mister" his tone full of unconcealed
contempt, his leg flung once again
owe the arm of the chair. 1--WE agreed
to do this n particular job fer a Ger,
tain consideration, but we're none of
us Peruvian sailor-men, and conse.
quently don't give a. hang for your
papers. Amt that about 1t, De Nova?"
The creole nodded, still smiling
pleasantly, the blue smoke curling
lazily up from the end of his cigarette.
Evidently the two were actively en-
gagged in taking my measure, and this
was to be a case of man against man..
rather than the exercise of any dele.
gated authority. l might as well throw
my commission into the fire for any
real value it possessed here. All
right; l had met and attended to their
kind before.
Il am delighted to understand the
situation SO clearly and quickly" 1
said, sharply, throwing a note of au.
thority into my voice and manner. ut
simplifes my task. /. Now listen to
me, Mr.. Tuttle," giving him his formal
title, "and you likewise, De Nova. !
probably care as little for those pa.
pers as either of you, but, neverthe-
less, / am in command. Do you both
clearly comprehend. that?-I am in
command! 1t will be just as well for
you not to attempt any horse-play. i
am no dago sea.oficer, but a North
American sailor, and 1 didn't come
crawling into my first ship through a
cabin window. I've tanned mutinous
crews before now, and when I'm up
against sea-scum / can hit as hard as
the next fellow. If either of you de-
sire to test my qualities as. a bucko-
mate, I'm here to accommodate you"
Neither answered, but l read their
conclusion in their eyes.
That's all l need to say now" /
went on. Its up to you to fish or cut
bait. You fellows have nothing to
/ gain by opposing me, and I hope you
possess sense enough to know it. De
Nova, where have l ever met you be-
fore?"
The creole's face instantly bright
ened again, his white teeth cleaning
under the black mustache.
$50 monsieur remember" he lisped
gently, leaning forward on the table.
Il thought maybe you forget altogeth-
er bout Eat time. But / know you at
nee wen you come in. 1t make me
laugh to see zis Yankee try bait you
like you was a dago steamboater. Bah,
| know you all right for sailor-man;
know you do business"
But l am unable to place YOU"
mo, not yet; maybe you will wen
l say more" He spoke rapidly, ges-
%ticulating with excitement. 1T was a
little ship off Hatteras; re storm five
days, an all wreck. 1t was a steamer,
wife, wiss red stacks, Eat took off re
crew, an 1t was hell of a job. Eat was
re story, monsieur; 1 was mate of re
Cymbeline."
I knew him then instantly, my mem
ory %picturing anew the cold, gray
dawn, the green, angry seas. the help
less, sodden hulk heaving sickeningly
to its death, and those water-drenched
forms we hauled owe the sinking rail
into our tossing boat. I held forth
my hand, and his brown fingers, hard
as iron, closed over it in a grip to be
felt.
Sure, it's come back. mate" l said.
Il rather guess / can count on you"
His dark ayes met mine in frank
honesty.
Cumming arms for the Cuban revo
l~utionists then. weren't YOU" I asked.
i~ndifferently. "What SINGER"
He shrugged his shoulders. CHANGING