Arizona state miner., 1926-07-10
CHAPTER XVII
EIint's Wav

eyes fell upon Moira.
''This is what I calls proper home
like he declared. "You come and sit
on Billy's knee, my pretty, and cut up
this here goat for me-"
I started to rise, but Darby was
ahead Of me.
"Do We so much as put a finger on
her, and I'll send a bullet into the
black heart O. ye" he challenged in his
shrill boys voice.
ooh, ye will? Ye red-headed-"
'Me heads the ships luck" boasted
Darby. "The less ye say on that score,
the betther for ye."
''We'll see to that" snarled Bones.
"You're the cabin boy, my lad, and no
more; and I"
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, BiII?" he demanded.
Saint we got enough to face wi'out
you fightin in the cabin?"
"And would We ha' me take impf-
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 O
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 sturdily.
'Wasn't he botherin' Misthress ODon-
nell? Sure, I'm Irish, the same as her,
and I'll kill the rogue that does be
givin' her cause for to weep a tear
that l will. And l care not who he
may be!'
easy, ALL admonished Flint
"What's this, Bill?"
"Blow me for dock-swab If I can
see as how she'd oughter be set apart, "
clustered Bones. I'm mate, 1 am,
and if L"
Flint's bloodshot eyes focused upon
him with something of the silent force
that had seen Murray employ against
his wild crew.
"YOu know better nor that, Bill" he
said quietly. Here Long Johns just
been to tell me the crew ha' demanded
q fo'cSle council, and God knows what
Allardyce and his gang will be up to-.
And you want to bust into the middle
of Rule Four. Gut me! There's
many things l held against Andrew
Murray, but one thing he did as was
the Wisest any gentleman adventurer
ever done-and it's to his credit no
less because Bart Roberts done it be-
fore him-and that was Rule Four"
"A wOman's a prize, same as treas
Ure,' grumbled Bones.
"Oh, no, she amt! A woman's
frouble-she's no prize. You know
what happens when there is women
aboard a buccaneer. "Pd throw the
wench overheard if it weren't that
she's my best chance to find the stuff
Murray hid"
'If harm comes to her you'll get 10
such knowledge from any OF u.s." i'a-
terposed.
"Oh, belay that !" he rasped "You'ne
lucky to be alive, and the one reasc n
for it is that ye know what ye know"
He turned to Bones again.
"NOw, mark me, Bill, lay off her.
When we get this treasure cleaned up
ye can take all the time ye fancy for
Wenches or aught else"
"Aye, when we dov'
hO
think" retorted Flint.
"Wf the crew all shoutin' for DIS
bandment? AIlardyca t%ikin' of goln'
hoE1e tomorrow? 1 ha' seen ye handle
some bad zines, John Flint, but you're
no Andrew Murray"
The gibe annoyed Flint. His face
turned blue, as it did when his temper
was famed or he was in liquor.
watch me-" he snapped "I'll learn
'em a few things yet. No Andrew
Murray! Maybe not But 1 ha' r1y
own way, Bill. Aye, Flint's way And
1t amt so bad"
He suddenly remembered US.
Keep your mouths shut, dye heari
NO sneakin' up to John Silver or any
one else. And as for you, my wench--'
he ft0|1ed at Moira-"keep und-,T
cover, for your own sake as we'll as
mine. This Is a rough ship, pirate
ship, and"
Don't ye worry about Misthress
O'DOnnell," said Darby Loyalty. "Ill
see to her.
"Oh, We willP'
Flint laughed
you're beginning young, Darby
Gut ne, what lad! Well, you keeI
her out o. harms way, and when ws
divide the treasure maybe therell bt
an extra allowance for ye. How'd ye
like to have her, eh2"
"SheIl be better worth the havin
than all the treasure there is," flashed
DAFhE ~A1d do ye be mindin' what