Cheyenne Wells record., 1922-04-13
Mcaufrey leaned against the gun.

1
and for the moment he was as wea
as child. ."Gawd," he mutteret
that was Scraggsy and they're a'goir
to eat him up. Oh, Glib. Glib. old mar
why wouldn't you listen to me? Nov
they've got you. and what In blaze
I'm going to do to get you back, dea
or alive. dunno"
1t was fully half an hour before poo
McGufrey could pull himself together
and when he did. his grief was super
setled by fit Of rage that was ter
rible to behold.
"Step lively, you blasted scum o
the seas" he bawled to the mate, ant
the crew gathered around the gun
Lug up case OF ammunition ant
we'll shell that bush untll,even par
rot won't be left alive in It,"
"Aye, aye, sir" responded the crew
to man, and sprang to their task.
"I'm an old navy gunner" said the
first mate quietly. "Ill handle the
gun. With a 'pom-pOm' gun It's just
like playing a garden hose on them
only it's high-explOslve shell instead OF
water. can search out every nook
and Granny In the coast Of this island
Those guns are sighted up to 4,OoO
yards"
"KiIl 'em ALL" raved McGuffey, "kill
all the blasted niggcrs."
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 n dozen hands
were laid on him and In II trice he was
lifted and carried back of the wari to
II clear space where dozen heavy
tenkwood posts stood in Il 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-
iion of cannibnls arrived. bearing the
limp. naked body Of Captain Scraggs,
whom they hound In similar fashion to
the post beside Mr.. Gibney. Scraggs
was very white and bloody. but con-
scious, and his pale-blue eyes were
nickcrIng like n snakes.
"What's-what's-t meanin' Of
this. Gib:' ne Ensped.
at MEANS" replied the commodore.
that It's all OFT hut the shouting with
me and you, Scraggsy. This fellow
Is n id traitor, and his
people are still cannibals. He's the
dccoy to get white mel, ashore. They
Schemcd to treat us nice and he friend
iy 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
.;uivered like hooked fish.
"Nill they-eat-us?" he Quavered,
finally.
Mr.. Gibney did not answer, Only
Scraggs looked into his hOr-
rified eyes and read the verdict.
"Die game. Scraggsy." was au Mr..
Gibney could say. "Don't show the
white feather"
"D'ye think McGuffey could hear us
from here II we wns to yell for help?'
inquired Captain Scraggs hopefully.
Don't yelp. for Gawd's sake" i'm
plored Mr.. Gibney. 1--WE got ourselves
into this. so let's pay the fiddler our
selves. If we let out one zip and Nc
Guffcy hears 1t, he'll come ashore with
his crew and Tickle this outfit, even II
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 II he hns time to thinl
over It he'll realize It would be fOOlisl
to try to do anything. But right nov
Macs mad MS wet hen, and II WI
holler for help-Scraggsy. please dom
holler. Die game"
Captain Scraggs turned his terrified
glance on Mr.. Gibney's tortured face
Scraggs was certainly coward a
heart hut there was something In MI
Gibney's unselfishness that touched
spot in his hard nature-a somethin
he never knew he possessed. H
bowed his head and two big tears stol
down his weatherbeaten face.
"God bless you, Glib. my dear boy,
he said brOkenly. you're man."
At this juncture the king casie III
and thoughtfully felt of Captain
Scraggs In the short ribs. while Tabu
Tahu calculated the precise amour
of luscious tissue on Mr.. Gibney's well
upholstered frame.
"Bimeby we eat white man," sal,
Tabu-Tabu cheerfully.
'If you eat me. you bloody -hande,
beggar," snapped Captain Scraggs
"Fll pizen you. I've chnwed tobacc,
all my life. ard my meats as bitter d
wormwOOd."
1t was too funny to hear Scragg
jesting with death. Mr. Gibney forgo
his own mental agony and roared Will
laughter in Tabu-Tnbu's face. TIL,
cannibal stood off few feet ant
looked searchIngly in the commodore!
eyes. He was not used to the brant
Of white man who could laugh undel
such circumstances, and he suspected
treachery of some kind. He hurried
over to Join the king and the two hell
a hurried conversation. AS n result O.
their conference, huge savage wa.
called over nnd piypn Snma ipefruc