Arizona state miner., 1926-03-20
PORTO BELLO GOLD

that point" / cried, and raised my
hand in threatening gesture.
He did not stir.
"YOur conversion will be quite al
difficult as I had foreseen," he said,
mo, you would gain naught by strik-
ing me. Impartlally / may recommend
you to adopt an attitude which will
secure you the maximum Of liberty
and opportunity. OF what avail for
you to force yourself into confne-
ment?"
"Sir," I returned, "be convinced of
this. The day you attack a defense
less ship l will slay as many Of you
as can and contentedly die"
1t has a sound of theatricalism now
but meant it at the time.
Il purpose nothing of that sort fot
you," answered my great-uncle. "And
while l am tempted to argue you out
OF a position founded upon a false
ethical basis, l shall content myself
with the observation that you would
do well TO hold your temper in leash
until you find need for it's employ
ment."
He glanced oversize.
Il see we are under way. must
ask you to excuse me for the present
Robert. l am constrained to serve as
pilot"
He raised his little silver whistle,
and its shrill call fetched several of
the crew aft.
AYE, aye, captain" 1t was Bones.
"What's your wish, sir?"
Have this poor fellow Murray
gestured toward Corlaer's recumbent
form-"carried to one Of the state
rooms. Use him gently. Bid the Irish
boy-what's his name? Oh, Darby !
! bid Darby tend him and fetch him
what he requires.
'This gentleman, here"-he indicat-
ed me-"is my great-nephew, Master
Bones. 1t may be he will succeed me
in command of the Royal James some
day, although he is not with us Of
his own wish as yet. He is to have
complete freedom except he undertake
TO achieve aught to our disadvantage
Pass the word to me men, If you
please"
That's queer lay" growled Bones.
''Is he friend or enemy, captain?"
"An intelligent question:" replied
my great-uncle. ave may call him an
enemy who is to be treated as nearly
as possible as a friend"
BLASTED if see any sense In IT,
affirmed Bones But whatever you
says captain"
Exactly" said my great-uncle.
'Stir your stumps, We lousy swabs,"
roared Bones to his men. Glitch on
to this here land-whale my
lights and gizzard If I ever see such
monstrous heap o. human flesh
We'd ought to take him to the South
seas and sell him to the canneybals
That's all he's good for. Come on,
young gentleman, you may be the cap
tain's nevvy Or by-blow or whatever
twas he called We, but everybody
works on this ship. Lend a hand"
l obeyed him in silence, while he
with a fluency defying description.
What a company! Except in Muir
rays presence they owned NO disci-
pline, accepted no restraint. Palpa-
bly, they hated as we'll as feared him,
and I found myself wondering how
secure a hold he had upon their
passions. Let them once cast off
the spell Of his magnetism and su-
perior wickedness, and they would be-
come so many irresponsible agents
of lust and destruction.
shuddered and was glad of the
hooded cabin-lamp as we slowed
Peters limp body into the CONSTRUCTED
space Of bunk; gladder still when
they tramped away and left me alone
with the Dutchman
Through a portfolio the lights of
New York winked farewell to me.
l was as frightened as a child by
himself for the first time in the dark.
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