The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1916-03-24


that was more like a growl. fell to
the floor, feeling very faint while he
sat down, lighted cigar. and watched
me as a cat watches a mouse. AS
writhed about could see In his eyes
that curiosity had so often noted,
that wonder and perplexity, that ques-
tioning, that everlasting query Of his
as to what 1t was all about.
finally crawled to my feet and
assembled the companion stairs. Fair
weather was over, and there was moth
ing left but to return to the galley.
My left arm was numb, as though par.
alyzed. and days passed before could
use 1t, while weeks went by before
the last stiffness and pain went out
of It. And he had done nothing but
put his hand upon my arm and
squeeze. What he might have done
did not fully realize till next day.
whsn he put HIS head into the galley.
and, as a sign of renewed friendliness,
asked me how my arm was getting on.
1T might have been worse" he
smiled.
| was peeling potatoes. He picked
one up from the pan. 1t was fair sized,
firm and unpeeled. He closed his
hand upon 1t, squeezed. and the potato
squirted out between his fingers In
mushy streams. The pulpy remnant
he dropped back into the pan and
turned away, and had a sharp vision
of how it might have Jared with me
had the monster put his real strength
upon me.
But the three days rest brought the
trouble / had foreseen. It was plainly
Thomas Mugridge's intention to make
me pay for those three days. He
treated me vilely, cursed me continu.
ally. and heaped his own work upon
me. He even ventured to raise his
fist to me, but / was becoming animal
like myself. and l snarled In his face
so terribly that 1t must have fright
ened him back.
A pair of beasts Is what we were,
penned together and showing our
teeth. He was a coward, afraid to
strike me because | had not Quailed
sufficiently in advance; so he chose
new way to intimidate me. There
was only one galley knife that, as a
knife, amounted to anything. He whet-
ted it up and down all day long Ev-
cry odd moment he could find he had
the knife and stone out and was whet.
ting away till l could have laughed
aloud, it was so very ludicrous
1t was also serious, for I learned
that he was capable Of using ii, that
under all his cowardice there was a
courage of cowardice, like mine, that
would impel him to do the very thing
his whole nature protested against do
ing and was afraid of doing. "Cooky's
sharpening his knife for Hump" was
being whispered about among the sail.
ors, and some Of them twitted him
about It. This he took in good part.
and was really pleased, nodding his
head with direful foreknowledge and
mystery, until George Leach. the
erstwhile cabin-boy, ventured some
rough pleasantly on the subject.
Now 1t happened that Leach was
one of the sailors told of to douse
Mugridge after his game of cards with
the captain. Leach had evidently done
his task with thoroughness that Mug
ridge had not forgiven. for words fol-
lowed and evil names involving
smirched ancestries. Mugridge men,
aced with the knife he was sharpening
for me. Leach laughed and hurled
more Of his Telegraph hill billings
gate, and before either he or | knew
what had happened, his right arm had
been ripped open from elbow to wrist
by a quick slash of the knife. The
cook backed away, fiendish expires.
sion on his face, the knife held before
him In a position of defense. But
Leach took 1t quite calmly. though
blood was spouting upon the deck as
generously as water from fountain
I'm goin' to get you. Cooky." he
said, "and I'll get you hard. And |
won't be in no hurry about 1t. You'll
be without that knife when come
for you"
So saying. he turned and walked
quietly forward. Mugridge's face was
livid with fear at what he had done
and at what he might expect sooner
or later from the man he had stabbed,
But his demeanor toward me was more
ferocious than ever.
Several days went by, the Ghost still
foaming down the trades, and could
swear saw madness growing In
Thomas Mugridge's eyes. And ! con
fess that became afraid. very much
afraid. whet. whet. 1t went all day
long. The look in his eyes as he felt
the keen edge and glared at me was
positively carnivorous. | was afraid
to turn my shoulder to him. and when
, | left the galley went out backward
,, to the amusement of the sailors and
hunters, who made a point Of gather
ing in groups to witness my exit
Several times Wolf Larsen tried to
inveigle me into discussion. but gave
him short answers and eluded him
Finally. he commanded me to resume
my seat at the cabin table for a time
, and LET the cook do my work. Then