The daily Alaskan., 1919-05-10

"Tom Watkins, you said. May I ask If you were out on the bow-sprit along with Haines last night?"
 Just afore the longboat come in? Yes, we were there"
 "Well, was down below, hanging to the cable, and overheard you two talking together. Somehow, Watkins, you do not seem to me to fit in exactly with this gang of pirates; you don't look to be that sort. How long have you been with them"
 He glanced about warlly. lowering his voice until 1t became a hoarse whisper.
 "Three years, mate, and most of that time has been hell. I haven't even been ashore, but once, and that was on an island. These fellows don't put any trust in my kind, nor give them any chance to cut and run. Once in awhile a lad does get away, but most of them are caught; and those that are sure get their punishment. They never try it again. I've seen them staked out on the sand and left to die; that ain't no nice thing to remem- ber."
 But how did you come into it?"
 Like most of the rest. was sec ond mate of the Ranger, Glasgow brig. These fellows oVerhauled us at daybreak about a hundred miles off the east end of Cuba. Our skipper was Scotch, and he put up some fight, but 1t wasn't any use. There was only three of us left alive when the pirates came aboard. One of these died two days later, and another was washed overheard and drowned down in the Gulf. I am all that is left of the Ranger"
 You saved your life by taking on?"
 Sanchez had the two of us, who were able to stand, back In his cabin. He put it to us straight. He said it was up to us whether we signed up or walked the plank; and he didn't ap- pear to care damn which we chose"
 And you say others of this crew have been obtained in the same man. ner?" I questioned, deeply interested and perceiving in this ray of hope.
 Not exactly-no, wouldn't pre- cisely say that. It's true, perhaps that most of the Britishers were forced to join in about the same way l was, and there may be Scandinavian or two, with few Dutch, to be counted in that list; but the most are pirates from choice. It's their trade, and they like it. Sanchez only aims to keep hold of a few good men, because he has got to have sailors; but most Of his crew are nothing but plain cut throats. Indians and half-breeds, nig- gers, creoles, Portuguese, Spanish, and every mongrel you ever heard of. San chez himself is half French. The hell hound who kicked you is a Portu- guese, and LeVere is more nigger than anything else. I'll bet there is a hun dred rats on board this Namur right now who'd cut your throat for soV- ereign, and never so much as think of 1t again"
 "A hundred? Is there that many aboardT
 "A hundred an thirty all told. Most O 'em bunk amIdshlps. They're not sailormen, but just cut-throats, an sea wolves. Yer ought ter see 'em swarm out on deck, like hungry rats, when thar's fight comin'. It's all they're good fer"
 Watkins" I said soberly, after q pause during which he spat on the dirty deck to thus better express his feelings, do you mean to say that in three years you've had no chance to escape? No opportunity to get aWayT'
 Not a chance, mate; no more Will you. know what yer thinkin' bout. l had them notions too when l fust come aboard-gettin' all the decent sort tergether, and takin' the vessel. 'Twon't work; thar ain't 'nough who wud risk it, and If thar wus, yer couldn't get 'em tergether. Sanchez Is too damn smart fer thet. Every damn rat is a spy. I ain't he'd no such talk
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