The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-03-17

good joke. linen ne prOceSQeu to tell me all about it.
 LeVere broke in with a savage snarI- What's all that? Do you mean, Haines, that this is the same d-d scamp who tried to stick me?'
 ''NO doubt of it. But he never knew, what he was doin'-he wus crazy as a loon. There's nuthin' fer yer ter fuss over now. Tell us about 1t, Gates the bath must have sobered yer up." I watched LeVere, but he remained mOtiOnless, a mere shadow.
 q suppose it must have been that. sir" 1 confessed respectfully, If things happened as you say they did. I haven't any mefaj.r Q tryin' ter slash nobody. LeastT&ss l seemed ter know whut l wus about when I cum up. 1 don't remember how I got ther; furst I knew I wus slushin' round in the water, tryin' ter keep afoat. It wus so blame dark Cudn't see nuthin', but sumhow I got grip on a hawser, an hung on till I got back 'nough strength ter cline on board. I knew this want my ship, so I just lay quiet awhile, f1gurin' out whar I wus."
 Yer English?"
 Born in Bristol, sir, but I wus worzin' on the CaroIine-she's a Col Ony schooner, in the fish trade. At sea since I wus twelve. Whats this yere bark-Dutch, ain't she?"
 "Once upon time; just now we are flying whatever flag comes handy. We ain't got no prejudice in flags"
 'Is thet a gun forrard, covered with taupalin?
 'Yes, an yer might find another aft, . if yer looked fer it. Morn thet, we know how ter use 'eIn. Now see here. Gates; thar's no reason why we should beat about the bush-fact Is we're sea rovers."
 Sea rovers-pirates, sirT'
 Bah! what's a name! We take what we want; it's our trade, that's all. No worse than many another. The question is, are yer goin' ter take chance long with us? It's the only life, lad-plenty of fun, the best of liquor and pretty girls, with share in all the swag."
 What is the name of this bark?"
 ''The Namur-out O Rotterdam till we took her.'
 ''Who's the captain?" "Silva Sanchez"
 "Gawd! Sanchez-not-not Black SanchezT
 That's him; so yer've heerd of | Black SanChez?' We'll, we're saflin' ! Tong with him, all right, mate, an yer ought ter know whut thet means fer a good man."
 hesitated, yet only long enough to 1 leave the impression I sought to make on them both.
 Likely thar ain't no sailor but what has heerd O him." I said slowly. 'Tt i don't look like thar wus much choice does it?'
 i LeVere appeared amused in his way which was not a pleasant one.
 "Oh, yes, friend, there is choice enough, Bill, here, had exactly the same choice when he first came-hey Bill? Remember how you signed on after we took you off the Albatross This is how 1t stands, Gates-eithel go forrard quietly yerself, CT the bott of us will kick you there That will be enough talk. Go on, now." It was a curt dismissal, coupled witt q plain threat, easy to understand. ] obeyed the order gladly enough, slink ing away into the black shadows for ward, realizing my good fortune, ant seeking some spot where I could be alone.
 The crew had disappeared, IyinG down no doubt in corners out of the wind. And this wind was certainly rising. I wondered that LeVere hung on so long in his periIous position, al though, in spite of the increased strain the anchor still clung firmly. It seemed to me that no hawser ever made could long withstand the terrific strain o- our tugging, as the struggling barl rose and fell in the grip of the sea. Tc him must have come the same con viction, for suddenly his high-pitche voice sang out from the poop:
 stand by, forrard, to lower the sta1 board anchor; move lively, men. Every thing ready, Haines?"
 "All clear. sir. Come on the 1unl bullies !"
 ''Then let go smartly, Watch ths , you don't get the line fouIed. AIot there! Anything in sight, Cavere?''
 From high up on the fore-top yart the answer, blown by the wind, cam down in broken English:
 Non, m'sieur; I see nottings."
 l joined the watch forward. I'll number of men on deck was evidenc Of large crew, there being man more than were necessary for u work to be done. Most of them al peared to be able seamen, and Haint drove them mercilessly, cursing the for lubbers, and twice kicking vicfou ly at stopping form. Then the gre; rope began to slip swiftly through u hawse hole, and We heard the sha1 splash as the iron fukes struck tf 7 water, and sank. Almost at that san instant the voice of Cavere rang ol