The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-09-10
CHAPTER XVII
Flint's Way


Bones staggered into the cabin
whilst we were at breakfast, and his
ieathery face crinkled In what he in
tended for an amorous grimace as his
eyes fell upon Mora.
"This is what l calls proper home
like he declared. 'You come and sit
on Billy's knee, my pretty, and cut up
this here goat for me-"
/ started to rise, but Darby was
ahead of me.
"Do We so much as put finger on
her. and I'll send a bullet into the
black heart o. ye," he challenged In his
shrill boys voice.
eOh, We will? Ye red-headed-"
ME heads the ships luck" boosted
Darby. 1.-The less ye say on that score,
the betther for ye.'
well see to thatr' snarled Bones.
sYou're the cabin boy, my lad, and no
more; and +"
He tugged at the cutlass-hilt, and
Darby, in no wise daunted, hauled
forth a pistol as long as his arm. But
before one could assail the other Flint
showed in from the companionway and
caught Bones by the shoulder.
"What now, Bill?" he demanded.
"Ain't we got enough to face wfout
you fightin' in the cabin?"
"And would We ha' me take lmpl-
dence and worse from this red-headed
land-rat as-Long John picked up in New
York;" shouted Bones.
I'D not" returned Flint. Darby
you may be my good luck and Lad
promise, but I'll lay the cat to your
shoulders if you go for to make
trouble"
Twas him was afther maxim the
throuble," answered Darby sturdlly
"Wasn't he botherin' Misthress O'Don
nell? Sure, I'm Irish, the same as her
and I'll kill the rogue that does bt
givin' her cause for to weep a tear
that / will. And l care not who ht
may be ~
Easy, ALL" admonished Flint
"What's this, BillT'
"Blow me for a dock-swab if l cal
see as how she'd oughter be set apart,
clustered Bones. I'm mate, / am
and if I"
Flints bloodshot eyes focused upol
him with something of the silent fore
that had seen Murray employ agains
his wild crew.
"You know better nor that, Bill" h
said quietly. Here Long Johns JUS
been TO tell me the crew ha' demande
a fo'csle council, and God knows wha
Allardyce and his gang will be up tC
And you want to bust into the middl
of Rule Four. Gut me! There
many things [ held against AndreN
Murray, but one thing he did as wa
the wisest any gentleman adventure
ever done-and it's to his credit n
less because Bart Roberts done it b'
fore him-and that was Rule Four"
"a woman's a prize, same as trea
ure," grumnled Bones.
"Oh, no, she ANTI A woman
trouble-she's no prize. You kno
what happens when there is wome
aboard buccaneer. I'D throw tt
wench overheard if it weren't tn;
she's my best chance to find the stu
Murray hid"
''If harm comes to her you'll get +
such knowledge from any of u.s." l L
terposed.
"Oh, Delay that" he rasped. "You'l
lucky to be alive, and the one reaso
for it is that We know what We know
He turned to Bones again.
'Now, mark me- Bill, lay off he
When we get this treasure cleaned ,
We can take all the time We fancy f
wenches or aught else"
AYE, when we do!'
"And that'll be sooner than
think" retorted Flint.
"Wi' the crew all shoutin' for d
bandment? Allardyce talkin' of gol
home tomorrow? ha' seen We hand
some bad times, John Flint, but you
no Andrew Murrayw
The gibe annoyed Flint. His ia
turned blue, as it did when his temp
was famed or he was in liquor.
'watch me-" he snapped. "Pll lea
'em few things yet. No Andre
Murray! Maybe not But 1 ha' I
own way, Bill. Aye, Flint's way! A.
IT amt so bad"
He suddenly remembered us.
keep your mouths shut, dye hes
No sneakin' up to John Silver or al
one else. And as for you. my wench-
he frowned at Moira-"keep und
cover, for your own sake as well
mine. This is a rough ship, pirs
ship, and"
Don't We worry about Misthr'
O'Donnell," said Darby Loyalty. :"
see to her."
"Oh, We will 70