The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-09-24

me, L called aS loudly as / could.
Further, we had the word Of Captain
Flint that no harm should be done to
her or any of u.s."
"Flint's word was no better'n mine"
grinned Bones. "'Twas only as Flint
had no use for women, but I'm diff
ferent, and first, I'm goin' to ha' We
caught and logged, Buckskiu, and
then I'll cut your ears off for keep
sake like"
He waved his arm carelessly.
"Pull him down, mates. I can't be
bothered fightin' pris'ner."
Several Of his cronies made to obey
this command; but Silver, Black Dog
and a number of others set up a pro-
test
"Give the Buckskin q fair show"
they shouted. Hes put his mark on
her. Took her himself, he did, when
Murray carried the Santissima Trini-
dad"
Bones friends hung back. From
the rear ranks of the circle came adj
vice and opinions of all shades. But
Silver's faction must have been primed
for the incident for they worked up
such a Juror In my support that they
swayed the general opinion by sheer
volume of noise. Silver even raised
Moira's hand with bloody cross upon 1t
and held 1t up for those behind to see.
Fair play for ALL" proclaimed his
stentorian voice. 1.-THE Buckskin was
one O. Murray's crew, and he took the
girl In fair fght. He's put his mark
on her, and II he wants to fight for her
he can, pris'ner or no pris'ner."
Bones observed the mounting tur-
MOL with an obvious mingling of emo
lions. He realized he had been tricked,
but he did not yet see how 1t had
been done or comprehend the Interior
purpose of Silver's strategy. To do
him justice, !. do net believe that he
feared me or doubted his ability to
kill me In knife-fight, for had never
had occasion to exhibit my skill with
the knife before the pirates. He SIM
ply knew that he had been lured into
a position where he must fight per-
sonally to maintain his authority over
the crew, and the initial fare Of his
hatred was naturally directed against
me. But he did not forget Silver.
'Tll mind this" he flung at the one
legged man as he crouched forward to
meet me, knife poised across his chest
and left arm extended to clutch at my
knife-wrist or parry a stab from the
side.
"'Tain't my doin's, Bill, If We will
ha' the GIRL" demonstrated Silver. 81
warned We o. Rule Four. And the
cap'n's all the same as any other In a
question o. honor"
That's right" shouted a score of
threats. "Cap'n's got to meet any
body"
'T'll meet some others alter 1 finish
this swab," gritted Bones.
circled away from him, gaging the
effect of the swaying lanthorn-light
upon the deck shadows and the feel of
the pitchy plsnks underfoot.
"Stand to 1t, ye," he snarled.
Don't let him break from the ring,
mates. want his heart for that
wench to chew on-and mind the fat
Dutchman doesn't jump on my back.
He's bad 'un' he Is"
Silver was prompt to summon half
a dozen men to block OF Peter, who,
having seen me use the scalping-knife
Of the frontier since childhood, was
not {n apy nav nnocaruad q "a phat
should be able to do against half
drunken sailor whose one idea of
knife-fighting was to grab his op-
ponent's wrist at the same time the
opponent grabbed his, and then strain
and heave until one Of the pair tore
lose and struck.
Don't We worry, Bill" counseled the
one-legged man soothingly. ave won't
let the Dutchman nor nobody else
harm We. Just you hop in and gut the
Buckskin-if We can"
'If I cant" Kissed Bones. watch
mel"
He dropped to all tours and bounded
into the air In clumsy fashion--not
at all as an Iroquois warrior would
have done it, hurting like projectile,
with his whole body behind the knife.
I stepped to the left and stabbed
down, aiming to drive inside the collar
bone. But the light or something
fooled me, and my blade slashed his
cheek from eye to mouth, great scar
ing cut that laid open the whole side
of his face.
He beloved with surprise, and l
was put out myself, for had thought