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

10 uul60 uiul. MOI man uOVeu IOf
two or three breaths in the circle
around us, for none had expected to
see the fight terminated so quickly.
MORA told me afterward that 1t was
comical to see how Silver's jaw gaped.
Bones staggered back, the squirting
blood binding him so that he had to
feel his way. followed him slowly.
half prepared for a ruse, and he must
have heard me. for he called out:
"Don't let him slay me, matesl ]
can't see, and he's a-comin' alter me r.
At this dozen pirates Jolted in be-
tween us. cursing and threatening me,
and gave ground toward where my
friends were standing with Silver.
The one-legged man hoped out to
meet me. But / had scant satisfaction
from him. He snatched the knife from
my hand and, bending low, spat at me
with scorn words cannot possibly
convey:
aye bungleri As good as blind, and
ye didn't do for him u
And he swung by me on his crutch,
hallooing to his friends:
They're after Black Dog yoni Lay
into the dirty swabs, matesl"
Knives were out all over the deck,
and men were slashing and stabbing
at one another. Bones was swallowed
up in the mass Of frantic humanity
that milled around the restricted space
between the butt of the mizzen and
the rise of the poop.
A man plucked at my sleeve. and
spun about defensively to confront
Peter.
where's Moira2' painted.
DARBY took her. He has plan for
us to get free. Hurry, Bob! We got
a goodt chance, ia. This Is what Sill.
yer worked for, to hafe you kill Bones
or set der crew against him."
I noticed that Peter steered me
for'ard where the deck was deserted
but 1 asked no questions, for Silver's
voice spurred me on.
LAY aft, lads" he was shouting
"We'll show 'em what We won't LEI
no perishin' fool like Bill Bones go for
to hold out that treasure-map on us
Couldn't even handle the Buckskin, he
couldn't!"
MORA hailed us from the shelter OF
the capstan.
"Will it be you, Bob? Oh, thank
God, thank Godl"
"And your handT I stammered.
She pressed it to my lips.
"There!" said she. eff you win be
SO chary Of other places"
I strove to redress my fault, and
she lay for one precious moment in
my arms.
"Are you sure We will have meant
TT" she asked shyly.
Meant It'll Since the morning
heard the Tilt of your voice in"
A low whistle came from over the
side to larboard.
"Tis Darby!" she cried HE slid
down the anchor-cable to get at one
of the boats they will have lowered
by the side ladder for the water-party
that was going ashore, and didn't"
Peter beckoned urgently from the
rail.
1--WE don't talk he ordered grimly
ave CO."
There was coil Of spare cable
handy, and we dropped 1t oversize,
sliding one by one into the jolly-boat
which Darby held steady beneath the
heft of the bowsprit. The Walrus
had swung with the tide until her
stern was toward the town, and OAR
by and I took the oars and rowed
quietly along the mass Of the pirates
hull In the direction of the scattered
lights that represented Savannah. How
beautiful they seemed to US, those
tiny glimmers of flashlights and liant
horns In clearing in the wilderness
They spelled safety, perhaps home.
But we were none too sure Of our
selves yet. The big vessel loonaed
over us, her gunports like row OF
gouging tusks, her spars and rigging
a monstrous net poised for casting.
Her decks seethed with lawlcss men.
fighting and running. with harsh out.
cries and the clashing Of steel and an
occasional pistol shot
We passed the cluster Of boats
moored by the side ladder, unwilling
to risk the time 1t would take to cut
them adrift. We passed the poop,
where a particularly savage fray was
going on. Men were battering at the
door to the cabin companionway and
one called to "roll up a chase-gun,
and give the q round-shot
In his belly"
(To BE coNTINuED.3