The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-06-25
CHAPTER TX
Peter Plays at Bowls with
Destiny

Darby McGraw's red head shone In
the lanthorn light.
"Whisht, but it's Master Bob again !!
Now amt this the mighty forchune
to have We with us Ha' We left the
old devil yon for goods"
He nodded his torch of hair at
the vague hull of the James. Flint
exploded with raucous laughter.
"The old devil yon,'" he repeated.
g. me. but it takes Darby to put
the right word to man. Ills what
he Is, blast him for the - -
he sets himself up to BET"
Darby proffered him a huge silver
beaker Of rum.
II fetched this from the cabin after
We, captain said the Irish boy In
his wheedling brogue. 'Troth, say l
to meself, If the captain must talk
with Murray he'll ha' bad taste in
the mouth o. him to be washed out,
and I'd best ha' sup O. sugar-juice
handy for his needin's."
Flint seized the rum, threw back
his head and drained the fiery stuff
as If 1t had been wine.
"You said right, my lad" he an
swered sourly. "And I'm thinking
I'll maybe need all the luck that red
head o. yours can bring me. Where's
Billy BonesY'
"Dhrunk under the cabin table," re-
turned Darby promptly.
"Gut him for the souse he Is! And
Long John?
"Sure, captain dear, twas yourself
sent him ashore to keep the lads up
to the fort from carvin' themselves"
$50 did Well, I'll see to the pris-
oners myself then"
"Pris'ners protested Darby. wide
eyed. "Och, captain, We won't be
hard on Master BobI He's as kindly
young gentleman as ever / see
and Peter there is grand fightin'
Teller. Ye should hear to tales they
tell O. his murtherin' and slayin' with
the red Injuns."
"pll be as hard as they make me
be-" returned Flint. "But for tonight
I must have them SAFE"
Peter, at my elbow, spoke for the
first time.
ia, ia" We go. 1 have a wish
to Sleep"
"Sleep, Is it?" jeered Flint 'That
We shall, my hearty! Come along O.
me-"
He led us aft, the others following,
Darby In the rear almost in tears.
At the end Of a dark passage Flint
unlocked a lanthorn from wall and
one of his men heaved up a trapdoor.
Below was a pool Of shadows that
scuttled and swayed as if to escape
the feeble light. There was an odor,
also, none too pleasant.
drew back.
"Certes, you could lodge as securely
otherwhere than this" protested.
''No, no." answered Flint. There's
not door aboard hath lock would
hold Darby, let alone you two. I'm
sorry for We, lad, If it's no fault O
yours that you're here; but for to-
night at least you must lie in the
lazaret. Here, We shall ha' the Ian
thorn to keep the rats off, and in the
morning we'll manage different"
Peter pushed past me, and took the
lanthorn from his hand.
"We go, ja," he squeaked. Come,
Bob"
1 followed him without another
word, already wondering at his ex-
traordinary docility. A hasp clacked
home In bolt, and footsteps thudded
away. 1 sat on the bottofnmost step
Of the ladder and peered hopelessly
around me as Peter, swinging the
lanthorn as high as the low deckroom
allowed, prowled around the limited
area of our prison.
A black rat as large as cat rushed
across my feet. Squeaks and rus
things sounded in the corners.
Peter returned to the ladder-foot,
deposited the lanthorn on the floor
and pumped himself beside it.
"What you t'ink, Bob?" he said
blandly. "Do we stay or get oudt?'
1 frowned at him.
"'Tis no joke" snapped. 81 had
reasons for"
"Ja," he agreed. Der little GAL"
"How did you known" I exclaimed
81 know" he replied with his sim
pering imitation Of a laugh. "You
t'ink der little gal is good gal. You
tink it is not'goodt dot she be taken
aboard der James. You want to be
there andt be sure dot she Is safe