Arizona state miner., 1926-05-29
STEADY" 1 whispered. "Tm going

STEADY" l whispered. "pm going
to jump"
"Ja !"
I threw my legs upward and twined
them around the stay, hanging like
monkey from it, and Peter went under
with a gurgling ripple which might
have been made by fish. Presently
he came to the surface and swan
beneath me-
"Can you climb, Bob?"
II think so."
"Goodt! I waidt."
The stay was fortunately dry--had
it been slippery-wet 1 could never have
swarmed it-and I was able, after
much effort, to secure a grip on the
bowsprit and lift myself astraddle of
it. l worked down the bowsprit to
the lift of the bows; but still 1 could
see nothing, even on the fo'csle. Twas
plain, however, that here was no watch
to fear, and l dropped to the deck
and crawled aft on my hands and
knees toward the hum of talk, which
/ made certain now came from the
waist.
The fo'csle was Uttered with spare
cables, water-casks and other sailors
truck, which l had to avoid displac-
ing; but I had my reward, for as
advanced the hum of voices dissolved
into words and phrases.
"a foxy 'un, Murray u.s." said a
seaman's voice.
"And the James fellers1l fight US.
whatever zee say" added a second.
"O' course they Wilt"
This was Silver's unmistakable oily
speech.
"Who wouldn't fight for the grand
est fortune as any gentlemen adven-
turers ever had a chance att"
1 wriggled behind a chase-gun, and
peered over it's breech into the waist.
Two battle-lanthorns were suspended
from the mainyard, and their yellow
glare revealed the Walrus' crew squat
ted in serried ranks around the butt
Of the mainmast, where Flint, Bones,
Silver and several others sat on up
turned rum-barrelS.
Flint leaned forward, wrathfully
insistent, as 1 propped myself against
a trunnion.
'Gut me If I thought to find such
skulkers in my crew." he snarled.
"D'ye think to take any prize wi'out
loss?"
AYE" said a third seaman logged
ly, "but we ha' never yet fought WI
Murray. Them as does don't ha' luck"
A murmer of assent answered him.
"Ah," struck in Silver, "but there's
a first time always, mates. Murray's
like the rest O. US. A ball or a cut
lass-edge will finish him. And I say
again, who wouldn't risk death for
more'n a million and a half O. pounds
in good gold and hard silver ASH buy
every man jack o. us such pleasures
as few men ever comes by, mates"
"But there's only as much aboard
the James as we ha' here" objected
one of the first speakers.
'"True for you Tom Allardyce," said
Flint "But the rests safe enough,
amt it?'
There's only them few knows o. it,"
returned the man. "They said on the
James there was but the three men
and the girl was landed to bury it,"
Flint's answering laugh was horri-
BILE.
"And dye think that out o. four
people, not countin' Murray-and one
o. the four a girl-we can't make one
talk? 1 tell ye' Tom, the stuff is as
good as divided
"Ye ha' first to catch Murray" re-
torted Allardyce.
"And why won't we?" demanded
Silver. Didn't we take what he was
ready to give US and thank him for
it like blessed lambs? And if he does
suspect, what good'll it do him? On
a night like this he'll never know
where we are until we're on him.
Two good broadsides, and then well
sweep bis decks"
Nobody spoke for time.
"When does the ebb maker" asked
Flint with a stretch and a yawn.
Another two glasses yet" said
Bones.
g., I must ha' a bit of Sleep"
growled the pirates captain. Come
to a vote. lads, and be done wi it.
Will We go or won't ye? Ye all know
what mercy Murray'll give We, If he
ever hears O. this council-and there's
them as would like to blab, be sure O.
that"
Silver pulled himself erect, cuddling