The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1914-05-21

NNAA >'t NOH' AAN
merciless beasts
1T is the work Of that fellow they
call Snipes, | am sure" said Jane Por-
ter. King was a scoundrel. but he
had a little sense of humanity. If they
had not killed him | know that he
would have seer that we were proper
ly provided for before they left us TO
our fate
II regret that they did not visit us
before sailing" said Professor Porter.
Il had purposed requesting them to
leave the treasure with us. as | shall
be a ruined man if that is lost"
Jane looked at her father sadly.
Never mind, dear" she said. ut
wouldn't have done any good. because
1t IS solely for the treasure that they
killed their officers and landed us upon
this awful shore"
TarZan had seen the CONSERVATION
depicted Upon the faces of the little
group as they witnessed the departure
Of the Arrow. so as the ship was a
wonderful novelty to him in addition
he determined to hasten out to the
point Of land at the north Of the har-
boris mouth and obtain n nearer view
of the great boat. as well as to learn
IL possible the direction Of its fight.
A very light land breeze was blow
ing. and the ship had been worked
through the harbor's mouth under fly
ing jib. fore and main royals and
mizZen spanker. but now that they
had cleared the point every available
shred Of canvas was being spread that
she might stand out to sea as handily
as possible.
Tarzan watched the graceful move
ments Of the ship in rapt admiration
and longed to be aboard her. Present
ly his keen eyes caught the faintest
suspicion Of smoke on the far northern
horizon. and he wondered what the
cause Of it might be.
At about the same time the lookout
on the Arrow must have discerned it.
for in a few minutes Tarzan saw the
sails being shifted. The ship came
about. and presently he knew that she
was coming back toward land.
At last the ship came up directly into
the wind. The anchor was lowered:
down came the sails. There was great
scurrying about on deck.
A boat was lowered. and into the
boat a great chest was placed. Then a
dozen sailors bent to the oars and pull
ed rapidly toward the point where Tar
zan crouched in the branches of a
great tree.
In the stern of the boat, as it drew
nearer, Tarzan saw the rat faced man.
1t was but a few minutes later that
the boat touched the beach. The men
jumped out and lifted the great chest
to the sand. They were on the north
side Of the point. so that their presence
was concealed from those at the cabin.
The men argued angrily for a mo-
ment. Then the rat faced one. with
several companions. assembled the low
bluff on which stood the tree that con-
cealed Tarzan. They looked about for
several minutes.
Here is a good place." said the rat
faced sailor. indicating a spot beneath
TarZan's tree.
1T is as good as any," replied m
Of his companions. IF they catch us
with the treasure aboard it will be con
fiscated anyway. We might as well
bury it here on the chance that some
of us will escape the gallows to enjoy
1t later"
The rat faced one now called to the
men who had remained at the boat,
and they came slowly up the bank
carrying picks and shovels.
"Hurry-you." cried Snipes.
"Stow it," retorted one Of the men
In a surly tone. You're no admiral.
you shrimp"
I'm cap'n here, though. III have
you to understand. you swab!" shrek
ed Snipes with a volley Of oaths.
STEADY. boys" cautioned one Of the
men who had not spoken before. ut
amt goin' to get us nothin' by fghtin'
among ourselves"
Fright enough" replied the sailor
who had resented Snipes' autocratic
tones. But by the same token H. amt
a-goin' to get nobody nothin' to put on
airs in this bloomin' company neither"
"You fellows dig here" said Snipes.
indicating a spot beneath the tree.
"And while you're diggin' Peter kin
be a-makin' of a map Of the location
SOS we kin find it again. You. Tom
and Bill. take a couple more down and
fetch up the chest"
"Wot are you a-goin' to do?' asked
he of the previous alteration. Just
bossT'
"Git busy there" growled Snipes.
"You didn't think your cap'n vas
a-coin' to dig with a shovel. did you|"
The men all looked up angrily. None
Of them liked Snipes. and his disagree
able show of authority since he had
murdered King. the real head and ring
leader of the mutineers. had only add
ed fuel to the flames Of their hatred.
"Do you mean to say that you don't
intend to take a shovel and lend a hand
with this work?" asked Tarrant. the
sailor who had before spoken.
NO" replied Snipes simply. finger
ing the butt Of his revolver.
Then" shouted Tarrant. IF you
won't tax a shovel you'll take a pick
AK"
With the words he raised his pick
above his head and with a mighty
blow buried the point in Snipes' brain.
For a moment the men stood silently
LOOKING ar tho rocrlt nf fhoir ~follov'S