Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-03-13

With the Qulckness Of light enc
q the mans fellows drew carved
dagger from the brass sheath that
hung by its red cord from his neck,
and Gew like wildcat for the little
sailors throat And with nineteen
men out of twenty the sudden blow
would have got home.
Captain Kettle was the exception.
His apprenticeship to the seats had
been thorough, and he was always
noted for his quickness. He caught
the mans wrist as u descended,
ducked beneath It, and hove down.
The fellows elbow cracked noisily,
the knife fell into the water, and the
victim shrieked
you might want that knife some
day." said Captain Kettle, and sent
him after It, broken arm and ALL
But the other six Moors in the
boat, as though 1t was signal
pulled weapons and rushed in for
vengeance, and one of them beat
down the cook with his dagger hilt
in passing
Kettle took the attack lightly
enough, He ran up the ladder hall
dozen steps backward, lugged a
revolver from his pocket, and point
I'd 1t with steady aim at the first
mans stomach. He rushed-and was
dropped, shot neatly through the
shoulder. Two more followed, and
were shot down, and the other three
retired hurriedly to their boat and
picked up the oars.
NO you don't" said Kettle, and
threatened them with his weapon
Into the water you get and swim
If you can, or drown If you choose,
or be eaten by sharks If they'll have
you. And IL you've killed my cook,
who at least can make a curry, I'll
plug the three OF you"
He forced them suriously over the
gunwale of the boat at the muzzle
Of his smoking revolver, and then
stopped and made swift examination
Of his man.
"Ah, luckily for you, cookies not
dead, and l think he'll be round
again directly. On deck there, Mr.
Forster. Send down a couple of
hands and get these sheep run up
on deck. They are confscated as
lawful fine and costs for attempted
assault and battery"
Captain Kettle ran nimbly up the
ladder and in the gangway came on
his owner wiping perspiration from
a high forehead with a tremulous
handkerchief.
"The treacherous devils" said Sir
George. But l never saw a neater
fight"
THANK you, sir" said Captain
Kettle, touching his cap. But in
view of what's happened 1 want to
press upon you my idea that it
would be as well If we get across
to the old Towers, and took POSSES
zion Of her without further palaver.
l daresay Mr.. Bergash may mean
we'll; as you say SO, l won't dispute
It; but If we are in for a fight over
at the other side of the lagoon there,
I'd like to get 1t over with before
they have time to get ready any
more surprise packets for u.s."
"Ye-es," Sir George agreed. Just
/ let's go int the chart house a min
ute"
When they were there out of ear
shot of the crew and the door shut:
you know" said the older man,
what we carry as cargo?"
81 suppose you mean those Win,
chester repeaters and cases of am
munition?"
Yes. Well, I've sold the lot. The
rifles ran me to four-pound ten a
piece, and I'm getting ten ounces of
gold for every one, which is some
where in the neighborhood of thirty
ridges are to be paid for at the
rate of two ounces a hundred, and
they cast me fifteen shillings."
Captain Kettle took pad and
made rapid calculation. That's q
bit over fifteen thousand pounds.
give you my best congratulations,
sir. That brings you out with a
big profit on the venture already.
And now l want. If you please, as
captain, to give you a mouthful of
advice. When we get that money ON
board, / want you to let me steam
back to Grand Canary and bank 1t.
At the same time ! can leave you
and the ladies ashore and come back
here and finish the job"
"You still think you'd be able to
get the lorman Towers out even
If the people ashore who objected
we're reinforced by two hundred up
to-date Winchester rifes?"
"Ohs don't deny that 1t will
make Jnings bit tougher. sir. But
I've said / can do 1t, and that seems
to me the end of the matter. A,
the same time, don't mind owning
to you that with the ladies' off the
ship. and safe elsewhere, I shall
lose my present nervousness"
sir George chuckled. you've only
heard half the deal, and when tell
you the rest believs that even YOU
will be convinced that Bergash In