The Oklahoma miner. [volume] (Krebs, Okla.) 1912-192?, 1922-01-26

formed the Mexican, I'm atrocious Span
lsh well mixed with English, that If
the latter so much as lifted his little
finger he might expect to be sunk like
dog. "Down below, everybody but
the helmsman, or I'll sweep your
decks with another muzzle burst" he
Numbered.
The Mexican ebeyed and Captain
ScruEgs went up in the pilot house and
laid the terribly battered Maggie
alongside the schooner. The instant
she touched, Mr.. Gibney sprang
aboard, quickly followed by Captain
Scraggs, who had relinquished the
helm to his first mate.
Suddenly Captain Scraggs shouted,
Look, Glib, for the love Of the Lord,
look !" and pointed with his finger. At
the head Of the little iron-railed com
panion-wuy leading down into the en-
gine room man was standing. He
had monkey wrench in one hand and
a greasy rag in the other.
Mr.. Gibney turned and looked at the
man.
"McGuTey, for a thouSandl" he bel
! lowed, and ran forward with out
stretched hand. Captain Scraggs was
at G'bney's heels and between them
they came very nearly disloCating Bar
| thOlomcw McGuffeys arm.
"McGufrey, my dear boy" said Cap
tain Scraggs. "Whatever are you
a-don' on this heather battleship?"
Me !" calculated Mr.. McGuffey, with
his old-tlme dellberation. "Why, I'm
the chief engineer of this craft. had
a good job, too, but I guess it's all off
now, and the Mexican governmental
fire me. Say, who chucked that buck
shot down into my engine room?"
admiral Gibney did it," said
Scraggs. "The old Maggie's along
side and me and GIBBS filibusters. Bear
a hand, Mac, and help us clap the
hatches on our prisoners"
THANK God" said Mr.. Gibney piOus-
ly, 81 didn't kill you. Come to look
into the matter, didn't kill anybody,
though / see half a dozen MeXicans
around decks more or less cut up.
Where you been all these years, MaC|
81 been chief engineer in the Mexi-
can navy" replied McGuffey. "Have
you captured us in the name Of the
! United States or what?"
"We've captured you In the name of
Adelbert F. Gibney," was the reply. II
been huntin' all my life for n ship of
my own. and now I've got her. Lord,
Mac, she's a beauty, amt she2 All
hardwood finish, teak rail, well found,
1,,et hA 70
trade. Well well, well I'm Captain
Gibney at last"
"Where do l come in, GibY asked
Captain Scraggs modestly.
"Well, seein' as the Maggie has two
holes through her hull below the wa
terline, and is generally nicked to
pieces, you might quit askin' questions
and get back aboard and put the
pumps on her. You're lucky If she
don't sink on YOU before we get to Des-
canso bay. If she sinks, don't worry.
I'll give you a job as my first mate.
Mac, you're my engineer but not at %
fancy Mexican price. I'll pay you the
union scale and not n blasted cent
more or less. Is thar fairW
McGuffey said it was, and went be-
low to tune up his engine. Mr.. Gibney
took the wheel of the gunboat, and
sent Captain Scraggs back aboard the
Maggie, and in a few minutes both
vessels were bowling along toward
Descanso bay. They were of the bay
at midnight, and while with Mr.. Glib
ney in command of the federal gun
boat Captain Scraggs had nothing to
fear, the rapid rise of water In the
hold of the Maggie was sadly discon-
certlng. About daylight he made up
his mind that she would sink within
/ two hours, and without pausing to
whine over his predicament, he
promptly beache' her. She drove far
up the beach, with the slack water
| breaking around her scared stern, and
when the tide ebbed she lay high and
/ dry. And the rebel soldiers came
| trooping down from the Megano
rancho and falling upon her carcass
/ like so many ants, quickly distributed
| her cargo amongst them, and disap-
| peared.
Captain Scraggs sent his crew out
| aboard the captured gunbOat to assist
! Mr.. Gibney In rowing his prisoners
ashore, and when finally he stood
alone beside the wreck Of the brave
old Maggie, piled up mt last In the port
of missing ships, something snapped
within his breast and the big tears
rolled in quick succession down his
sun-tanned cheeks. The old hulk
!