The Lamar register., 1919-04-16


hawser. an hung on till got back
'nough strength ter cline on board. !
knew this want my ship, SO 1 Just
lay quiet awhile. fgurin' out whar !
wus."
Yer Englishf"
Born In Bristol, sir, but I wus
workin' on the Caroline-she's a Col
ony schooner. in the fish trade. At sea
since l wus twelve. What's this yere
bark-Dutch, amt 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
taupalinT
'Yes, an yer might and another aft,
II yer looked fer 1t. Morn tibet, we
know how ter use 'em. Now see here,
Gates; thar's no reason why we should
beat about the bush-fact is we're sea
rovers."
Sea rovers-pirates, sir?"
BAIL what's namei We take
what we want; It's our trade, that's
all. No worse than many another
The question is. are yer goln' ter take
chance long with us2 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"
"Whos the captalni"
SILVA Sanchez"
Sanchezf'
That's him; so yer've heerd of
Black Sanchezf Well. we're sailin'
long with him. all right, mate, an
yer ought ter know whut thet means
fer a good man."
/ hesitated. yet only long enough to
leave the impression / sought to make
on them both.
Likely thar amt no sailor but what
has heerd O. him." 1 said slowly. ut
don't look like thar wus much choice,
does ltT'
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 OF the Albatross?
This is how It stands. Gates-either
go forrard quietly yerself, er the both
OF us will kick You there. That will be
enough talk. Go on, now."
II was curt dismissal. coupled with
u plain threat. easy to understand. I
obeyed the order gladly enough. stink
ing away into the black shadows for
ward. realizing my good fortune, and
seeking some spot where I could be
alone.
The crew had disappeared. lying
down no doubt in corners out of the
wind. And this wind was certainly
rising. ! wondered that Levere hung
on so long In his perilous position, nl-
though. In spite OF the increased strain,
the anchor still clung firmly. II seemed
to me that no hawser ever made could
long Withstand the terrific strain of
our tugging. as the struggling bark
rose and fell In the grip of the sea. To
him must have come the same con-
viction. for suddenly his high-pitched
voice sang out from the poop.
Stand by, forrard. to lower the star
board anchor; move lively. men. Every
thing ready. Halnesf"
"All clear, sir. Come on the Jump
bulliesr'
Then let go smartly. Watch that
you don't get the line fouled. Aioft
there Anything In sight. CavereY'
From high up on the fore-top yard,
the answer. blown by the wind. came
down In broken English:
mon. m'sieur: I see nottlngs."
/ Joined the watch forward. The
number OF men on deck was evidence
OF large crew, there being many
more than were necessary for the
work to be done. Most of them ap-
peared to be able seamen. and Haines
drove them mercilessly. cursing them
for lubbers, and twice kicking vicious
ly at Il STOPPING form. Then the great
rope began to slip swiftly through the
hawse hole. and We heard the sharp
splash as the iron fiukes struck the
water. and sank. Almost at that same
instant the voice of Cavere rang out
from the masthead.
"A sail. m'sieur-a sail |"
"Where away?"
"On re port quarter. I make eet to
be ze leetle boat-she just round ze
point"