Imperial Valley press., 1910-12-03


 ing hard, "to insult woman like Mis- tress Hubbell, there, you low, frog-eat- ing French curl"
 The mates language was not choice, but his meaning was unequivocal He shook the Frenchman until the latter was almost black in the face. In fact, his sheath knife, which he had man. aged to draw, was shaken from his hand and clattered to the deck. MT. Conant kicked it out of the way, and then, at his request, Susan passing him bit of line he dashed the mans hands and held him perfectly helpless.
 Can you attend to him, MT. Con- ant?' asked the captain, still holding the excited crew at bay.
 Certainly, sir" said the mate.
 He dragged the helpless boatswain aft dashed his hands to one of the stanchions supporting the rail of the poop-deck, went below, and came out with cat-o nine tails, weapon with which ships crews were only too fa- miliar in those stern days.
 All ready now, sir, he said to the the captain.
 Captain Hiram looked over the crew. His eye fell upon Greek who, he had reason to believe, was one of the most disaffected.
 You George" he cried pointing his fiuger, step up here"
 The man came forward, cringing. The crew by this time were com pletely cowed
 Take the cat and give him four dozen"
 Francois, who was writhing and twisting against his flashing like fish on the end of line, swore horribly at the Greek.
 If you do-if you lay the weight of your hand on me--I'll cut your heart out when I'm free!"
 "I daren't do it. sir cried the Greek. Hell do for me. You hear him."
 'I hear him., said Mir. Conant and you can choose at once between be- tween being done for now by me or obeying your orders"
 He thrust the cat into the trembling hand of the Greek.
 q cant help it, Francois muttered the Greek, raising the cat.
 Hold on, there" said the mate; he's not ready yet
 He stepped over toward the boat swain took his shirt between his two hands and tore it down from top to bottom, exposing his back.
 Now you can begin"
 Susan walked aft, turning her back on the scene. She had seen men llogged before, always with horror, but never quite under circumstances like these.
 The Greek raised the cat and struck the. boatswain lightly over the bare shoulders.
 "One!" said the mate; and let me tell you my friend, don't generally demean myself by using the cat my self, but unless you put more force into it than that you'll get it on your own back
 There was something so threaten ing in the appearance of the big Am erican that the Greek struck this time with a hearty good will.
 "Two." said the mate marking the red welts on the white flesh. That's better he nodded You'll get the swing of it pretty soon."
 It was indeed so. The man did not love the boatswain, and something of the awful blood lust that lies sub merged in most hearts rose to the surface in the Greek and he found himself laying on the lash with de- termined vigor
 The boatswain took his punishment badly. He raved and swore and frothed and loaned like a mad man, cursing every one on the ship. The woman, looking aft, tried to stop her ears from the hideous sounds. The mate counted imperturbably By his side the Greek wielded the whip. The crew, cowed by the captain, remained forward.
 Presently the punishment was over, The boatswain was unbound, hand cuffs were slipped upon his wrists, and he was passed below into one of