, 1926-04-28

steady 1 whispered. I'm going
to jump"
ia"
/ threw my legs upward and twined
them around the stay. hanging like a
monkey from it, and Peter went under
with a gurgling ripple which might
have been made by a fish. Presently
he came to the surface and swan
beneath me.
Can you climb, Bob?'
81 think So"
"Goodt! | waidt."
The stay was fortunately dry-had
II been sllppery-wet | could never have
swarmed it-and | was able. after
much effort, TO secure n grip on the
boHsprit and lift myself astraddle of
1t. | worked down the bowsprit to
the lift of the bows; but still | could
see nothing, even on the fo'csle. Twas
plain, however, that here was no watch
to fear, and | 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 | had to avoid dlsplac-
ing; but | had my reward, for as |
advanced the hum of voices dissolved
into words and phrases.
"a foxy 'un, Murray is" said a
seaman's voice.
''And the James fellersIl fight us.
whatever 'ee say added "a second.
90 course they will !"
This was Silver's u~nmistakable oily
speech.
who wouldn't fight for the grand
est fortune as any gentlemen adven-
turers ever had a chance att"
l %wriggled behind a chase-gun, and
peered over its 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
lnsistent, as | propped myself against
a trunnion.
Gut me If | thought to find such
skulkers in my rev !" 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 doe don't ha' luck"
A murmer of assent answered him.
All" struck in Silver. but there's
n first ffp1a n1NuuNs nnaFnG Afnrrav sc
like the rest o. US. A ball or n cut
lass-edge will finish him. And | 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 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 horrl-
BILE.
And dye think that out o. four
people, not countin' Murray-and one
o. the four n glrl-we can't make one
talk? I tell ye' Tom. the stun is rs
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
1t like blessed lambs? And If he does
suspect, what goodll 1t do himf on
a night like this he'll never know
where we are until we're on him.
Two good broadsides, and Their wen
sweep his decks"
Nobody spoke for a time.
when does the ebb maker" asked
Flint with n stretch and u yawn.
Another two glasses yet" said
Bones.
-. | must ha' n bit of sleep"
growlcd the pirates captain. "Come
to n vote. lads, and be done wi 1t.
VIII we 60 or won't ye? Ye all know
what mercy Murray1l give ye. II he
ever hears o. this council-and there's
them as would like to blab. be sure o.
that"