The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1916-08-10

that was more like q growi. I fell to
the floor. feeling very faint. while he
sat down. lighted a cigar. and watched
me rs a cat watches q mouse. A.
writhcd about I could see In his eyes
that curiosity I had 80 often noted.
that wonder and p~erplexity. that ques.
tioning, that everlasting query Of his
as to what II 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 II. while weeks went by before
the last stiffness and pain went out
OF II. And he had done nothing but
put his hand upon my arm and
squeeze. What he might have done
! did aot fully realize TIL next day,
when he put his head into the galley.
and, as n sign Of renewed friendliness
asked mi how my arm was getting on.
II might have been worse" be
smiled.
was peeling potatoes lie picked
one up from the pan. II was fair sized.
firm and unpccled. lie closed his
hand upon Il. squeezed. and the potato
squlrted out between his fingers In
mushy streams, The pulpy remnant
he dropped back into the pan and
turned away. and I had a sharp vision
OF how II might have Jared with mo
had the monster put his real strength
upon ma.
But the three days rest brought the
trouble ! had foreseen II was plainly
Thomas Mugridge's intention to make
me pay for those three days. He
treated mo vilcly. cursed mo continu.
ally. and hoaped his own work upon
mo. He V ycnturcd to raise his
fist TO me, but n becoming animal
like myself, aud | snarled In his face
&C terribly that II must have fright.
ened him back.
A pair OF beasts Ia What we were,
penned together and showing our
teeth. He was a coward. afraid 70
strike me because ! had not quailed
sufficiently in advance; 80 he chose
a new way TO intimidate me There
was only n galley knife that. as q
knife, amounted TO anything. lie wtet.
ted II 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 I'LL | could have laughed
aloud, It was so very ludicrous.
II was also serious. for | learned
that he was capable OF using Il. that
under all his cowurdice 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 II. This he took In good part.
and was really pleased, nodding his
head with direful foreknowledge and
mystery. until George Leach. tho
erstvhile cabin.boy. ventured some
rough pleasantly on the subject.
Now II happened that Leach was
one OF the sailors told on TO douse
Mugridge after his game OF cards with
the captain, Leach had evidently done
his task with n thoroughncss that Mug.
ridge had not forgiven. for words fol.
lowed and evil names involving
smirched ancestries. gridge 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 a. the knife. The
cook backed away a hendish express.
sion on his face. the knife held before
him In q position OF defense. But
Leach took II quite calmly. though
blood was spouting upon the deck as
generously as water from a fountain
I'm goin' TO get you. Cooky." he
said, and I'll get you hard. And
won't be In 40 hurry about II. You'll
be without that knife when | come
for you"
90 Saying, ne tuIHfu dHu Whlheu
quietly forward. Mugridge's face was
livid with fear at what he had done
and at what he might expect sooneT
or later from the nan he had stabbed
But his dCmeanor toward me was more
]fcrocious than ever
Several days went by, the Ghos. still
foaming down the trades. and could
swear saw madness growing Ia
Thomas M%ugridgc'B eyes. And con
fcss that became afraid very much
afraid. Whet, whct, II went all day
long. The look In his eyes as he felt
the keen edge and gIared at me wa'
positively caruivOrous. VAS afraid
, to turn my shoulder to him. and whet
| left the galley | went out backward
TO the amusement OF the sailors anC
hunters. who made a point Of gather
ing In groups to witness my exit
Several times Wolf Larsen tried tt
Inveigle me into discussion, hut 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