The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-06-25

her, and the only lights she showed
were in the waist and the main cabin.
The Walrus was blaze of lanthorns
from poop to fo'csle, but Murray
hailed the deck twice before he had
an answer.
BOAT ahoyw responded a husky
voice then. "Why'n - don't We
come aboard?"
"'Tis Captain Murray to see Cap
tain Flint" replied my great-uncle
calmly.
AYE, aye, sir" answered the husky
voice on a quaver of fear. "We'll
cal. him directly. VIII We come
aboard, sir?"
My great-uncle turned to Peter with
one foot on the side ladder.
"Are you certain you must go with
Robert?" he asked. 81 can assure
you no harm shall come to him."
"Ja, CO."
My great-uncle's reply was shrue
Of indifference, and Peter and
climbed after him to the deck. The
Walrus was revelation after the or.
dered discipline of the Royal James
In a word, she was pigdirty. Her
deck was Uttered with all kinds OF
rubbish; her rigging was slack and
spliced In fashion which seemed Tub.
berly to me, who was a lubber; hel
canvas was torn, poorly patched and
wretchedly furled; boats, barrels, lum-
Der, spare spars and cables lay about
in entire confusion. The planks we
trod on were slippery with grease
The paint was peeling from the bull
warks. There were spots of rust or
the muzzle of a chase gun, which itself
was hauled out of its proper position
Flint came staggering down to us
from the poop in condition which
was In harmony with his surround
ings. Like most of his men, he ha6
discarded coat, shirt, stockings anC
shoes to accommodate himself to the
heat of tropical summer His loose
canvas trousers, Identical with those
the seamen wore, were streaked with
dirt and tar. His bare calves anG
forearms were covered with dried
blood where they had been scratched
by brambles in his shore expeditions
out of the matted hair on his chest
was thrust the head of a tiger, most
marvelouSly tatooed in black and vel
low. His hair was a lank frame fol
his saturnine face, stubbly with 6
weeks growth Of beard.
what dye seek, MurrayT he
growled. "Come to look us over?'
II am come to fulfill my contract
with you," replied my great-uncle. 81
am sailing with the morning ebb, and
/ bring you, not one hostage, but two
Flint stepped closer and scrutinize6
Peter and me.
1.-Two, eh?" What do 1 want wi
two?" What goods this fat man te
me? He means nothing to you"
ION the contrary" denied my rela
tive. master Corlaer is an old and
valued enemy Of mine, Of whom
have hopes of making in time s
friend"
"Well, he's no good to me; gut me
if he is!'
you will take both or none," sale
my great-uncle in the voice like {
dripping icicle which he knew so wei
how to assume.
NASTY, are YEP rasped Flint
BLAST we for a"
A light in Murray's tawny eye
kindled like flame under the refiec
ton of the battle-lanthorns which
were hung from the lower spars.
1.-TWO 1t is" Flint ended hastily
"But yell never see either one O. ZEN
If We don't make good on your bar
gain. / ha' supported much from We
Murray, but"
you'll support more for sufficien
gold," rebuked my great-uncle. "Tut
man, read you like book. Whel
we first encountered you were prou,
to be mate of trading brig. l hav,
put you in the way to rank and for
tune, if you know how to exploit you
opportunities. Hank YET"
"You said seven hundred thou
sand," snapped Flint.
II said seven hundred thousand tt
be divided betwixt the two ships"
A shrewd look dawned in Flint!
face.
And where are We a-goin' to plucl
this million and a half O. treasur,
from?" he demanded. you ha' sale
much of it. but you told me little
What course doth the treasure shiI
sail? Where do you Turk for her
There's wide seas betwixt the MAR
and the Atlantic, and We can't stoI
every hole, Murray"
"You may safely entrust that por
ton of the task to me-" replied m.
great-uncle dryly.
He offered me his hand, and some
what to my own surprise fount
myself inclined to accept it.
Robert" he said. Il regret exceed
ingly the necessity I am under Of in
ficting this unpleasantness upon you
shall endeavor to provide you ade
quate reparation. You also, frienC
Peter. Remember, we are working
for a greater cause than our persona
| ovxx sah,