The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-02-24
hose guns are sighted up to 1000

"Kill 'em ALL raved McGuffey, skill
all the blasted niggers."
When Mr.. Gibney fell under the i'm.
pact of the earthenware pot he was
only partially stunned AS he tried to
struggle to his feet half dozen hands
were laid on him and In trice he was
lifted and carried back of the wari to
clear space where a dozen heavy
teakwood pots stood in a row about
four feet apart. Mr.. Gibney was quick
ly stripped of his clothing and bound
hand and foot to one of these posts.
Three minutes later another delega-
ton of cannibals arrived, bearing the
limp, naked body of Captain Scraggs,
whom they bound in similar fashion to
the post beside Mr.. Gibney. Scraggs
was very white and bloody, but con-
scious, and his pale-blue eyes were
pickering like a snakes.
"What's-what's-t meanin' of
this, Gib?' he gasped.
1T MEANS" replied the commodore,
'that it's all off but the shouting with
me and you, Scraggsy. This fellow
Tabu-Tabu is a id traitor, and his
people are still cannibals. He's the
decoy to get white nell ashore. They
schemed TO treat us nice and be friend
ly until they could get the whole crew
ashore. or enough of them to leave the
ship helpless, and then-O Gawd,
Scraggsy, old man, can you ever for
give me for gettin' you into this?'
Captain Scraggs hung his head and
duivered like hooked fish.
"Will they-eat-us? he quavered,
finally.
Mr.. Gibney did not answer, only
Captain Scraggs looked into his hor-
riied eyes and read the verdict.
''Die game, Scraggsy," was all Mr..
Gibney could say. Don't show the
white feather"
Dye think McGuffey could hear US
from here if we was to yell for help?"
inquired Captain Scraggs hopefully.
Don't yelp, for Gawd's sake" i'm
plOred Mr. Gibney. "We got ourselves
into this, so let's pay the fiddler our
selves. If we let out one zip and Nc
Guffey hears it, he'll come ashore with
his crew and tackle this outfit, even if
he knows he'll get killed. And that's
just what will happen to him If he
comes. Let poor Mac stay aboard.
When we don't come back, he'll know
it's all off, and If he has time to think
over it he'll realize it would be foolish
20 fr,, tn do pr1f r.iCyIf
Macs mad as wet hen, and if we
holler for help-Scraggsy, please don't
holler. Die game"
Captain Scraggs turned his terrified
glance on Mr.. Gibney's tortured face.
Scraggs was certainly a coward at
heart, but there was something in Mr..
Gibney's unselfshness that touched a
spot in his hard nature-a something
he never knew he possessed. He
bowed his head and two big tears stole
down his weatherbeaten face.
"God bless you, Glib, my dear boy
he said brokenly. you're man."
At this juncture the king came up
and thoughtfully felt of Captain
Scraggs in the short ribs, while Tabu-
Tabu calculated the precise amount
of luscious tissue on Mr.. Gibney's WELL
upholstered frame.
"Bimeby we eat white man." said
Tabu-Tabu cheerfully.
'If you eat me, you bloody-handed
beggar," snapped Captain Scraggs,
"Tll pizen you. I've chawed tobacco
all my life. and my meats as bitter as
NORWOOD"
It was too funny to hear Scraggs
testing with death. Mr. Gibhey forgot
his own mental agony and roared with
laughter in Tabu-Tabu's face. The
cannibal stood off few feet and
looked searchingly in the commodore's
eyes. He was not used to the brand
of white man who could laugh under
such circumstances, and he suspected
treachery of some kind He hurried
over to join the king and the two held
a hurried conversation. AS result of
their conference, huge savage was
called over and given some instruc-
lions. Tabu-Tabu handed him a war
club and Mr. Gibney, rightly conjectur-
ing that this was the official execu-
toner, bowed his head and waited for
the blow.
1t came sooner than he expected.
The earth seemed to rise up and smite
Adelbert p. Gibney across the face.
There was roar, as of an explosion
in his ears, and he fell forward on his
face. He had confused notion that
when he fell the post came with him.
For nearly minute he lay there,
semi-conscious, and then something
warm, dripping across his face, reused
him. He moved, and found that his
feet were free, though his hands were
still bound to the post, which lay ex-
tended along his back. He rolled over
and glanced up. Captain Scraggs was
shrieklng. By degrees the bells quit
ringing in the commodore's ears, and
this is what he heard Captain Scraggs
yelling:
"Oh, you McGuffey. Oh, you bully
Irish terrier. Soak it to 'em, Mac. Kill
the beggars. You've got dozen of
'em already. Plug away, you good old
hunk of Irish bacon"
Mr.. Gibney was now himself once
more. He struggled to his feet, and
as he did, something burst ten feet
away and little fieecy cloud of smoke
obscured his vision for a moment
Then he understood McGuffey had a
rapid-fire gun trained on the war;, and
the savages. with frightful yells, were
fleeing madly from the little shells
Half dozen of them lay dead and
wounded close by.
"Hooray," yelled Mr.. Gibney, and
dashed at the post which held Captain
Scraggs prisoner. He struck II pow
hloxy NTH h;S cho,,Idar opI