Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-05-18
XVII.
OF Which Cookie is the Hero.


Next morning | came out OF the hut
In time to see Mr.. Shaw and his COM
Panion IN rfuress ted forth-frofn tire
sleeping quarters which they had
shared with their captors. They were
moored as before to a palm tree. by
"a rope having a play of two or three
feet, and their hands unbound while
they made a hasty breakfast under
the eye of a watchful sentinel. Then
their wrists were tied again, not pain
fully, but with a firmness which made
any slipping of their bonds impossible.
While the pirates were breakfasting
a spirited dispute took place among
them as TO who should 20 10 the treas
ure ave and who stay in camp TO
guard the prisoners. Sllnker and
Horny urged with justice that, as they
had missed all the excitement Of the
preceding day, 1t was their Turn 10
visit the cave The right 10 see the
Bones they ~passionately claimed. Tony
supported them. and 1t ended with
Chris and Captain Magnus being told
of as our guards for the morning.
In leaving the cabin | had slipped into
my blouse a small penknife which
had found In Aunt james bag. IL was
quite new. and | satisfied myself that
the blades We're keen. My W large
~sheath-knlfe and my revolver / had
been deprived Of at the suggestion OF
the thoughtful Magnus. / had surren-
dered them uBprotestingly, fearful OF
alLthings~t that M POSSESSIONS might
be ransacked and Peters diary, though
hidden with much art at the bottom of
the bag. be brought TO light. For |
might yet sell the secret of the Island
Queen at a price which should re-
deem us all.
AS the heat increased a voice OF
lamentatlon broke from Chris. He was
demned ocean. No, he didn't want
spring water. which Cookie obsequious-
ly rendered him he wanted a drink
wouldn't anybody but a fool niger
know that7 There was plenty OF the
real stuff aboard the schooner. or the
other side OF Observation-Disclosures.
Why had they, with incredible lack of
forethought. brought along nothing
but their pocket TASKS? Why hadn't
they sent the adjective niger back
for more? Where was the bottle or
two that had been rooted out last
night from the medical stores? Emptyf
Every last drop gone down somebody's
greedy gul1et7 The adjectfves came
thick and fast AS Chris hurled the
bottle into the bay, where Ii swan
bobbingly upon the ripples. Captain
Magnus agreed with the glst of
Chris remarks. but deprecated, in 3
truly philosophical spirit, their un-
profitable heat. There wasn't any
liquor. SO what was the good OF max
ing an adjective rowf Hadn't he en-
dured the equivalent of Chris pres
ent sufferlngs for weeksl He was bid
ing his time, he was. Plenty of drink
by and by, plenty OF all that makes
life soft and easy. He bet there
wouldn't many hit any higher spots
than him. He bet there was n lit
tie girl that would be looked on as
lucky, In case she was a good little
girl and encouraged him TO show his
natural Kindness. And l was favored
with a blood-curdling leer from across
the camp, of which l had put as
much as possible between myself and
the object of my dread.
But now, like a huge black Gany-
mede, appeared Cookie, bearing cups
and a large stone creek.
ut suhtinly am q fact. MIstah Chris
sah," said Cookie, dat dey is a mighty
unspirituous fiuidity bout dis we're
spring watah. Down war I Is come
from no pussons or de -Four Hund'ed
aIn't even Cushioned to parfake OF
such. But the sassiety / has been In
lately round dis we're camp amt of de
convivulous ordah ole Cookie had to
keep It dark dat he got his lille drop {,
comfort on de side. Dis yere's only
homemade stuff. sab. faint what |
could .offah TO q geunelmun IL so be |
Is got the makin's OF q genuwine old
style juiep what is de beverage OF de
fust families But bein' as 1t IL. II am
mighty ~cooaln'. sab. and II got a lille