The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-06-04

foot were Eastern rugs, thick-pled
and soft of hue.
My great-unele surveyed this mag
nificence with pardonable pride.
Twas evident it meant something to
him.
''Diomede," he said to the negro,
where Is Master GunnY
A high, piping voice answered him
from the companionway.
Coming, worshipful sir. Ben
Gums a-coming. jest stopped by
the galley to fetch up your chocolate"
The man who followed the voice
trotted in bearing silver pitcher Of
steaming chocolate, Murray's favorite
drink; aye, and food. He was slen-
der fellow, with simple. open face.
clad In plain black as became an up
per servant. He stopped dead at sight
of us.
"Set your tray on the table, Gunn,"
instructed my great-uncle. This Is
my granddaughter, Master Ormerod,
and his friend, Master Corlaer. They
are to sail with us while"
Gum pulled his forelock and ducked.
"Sarvant gentlemen" he acknowl-
edged. "Allus glad to please, is Ben
Gum. Bound to oblige We, gentlemen.
You jest name your drinks, and I'll
fetch 'em up from the wine-bins."
FOOD as well, Gunn," said Murray.
"And Captain Flint is coming aboard"
Ben Gum cooked his head one side.
THAT means rum" he commented.
plenty o. rum, says you. Jest leave
it to Ben, captain"
He ducked and scraped again and
skipped off into the companionway
with kind Of wiggle like a self
conscious child.
'My steward remarked my rela-
| tive"
The man is half-wit, Is he notY
asked.
"A natural, yes" assented Murray,
tasting the chocolate.
81 should think 1t would be danger
Gus to have one so simple in such close
proximity to YOU"
My great-uncle smiled.
LOU dIc QullC, 4uitC "iOhSy my UOy.
1t is for the very reason that the man
is incapable of spying that use him.
He Is more valuable for my purposes
than the most intelligent member Of
the crew."
He broke off.
"This chocolate is by no means so
well brewed as Silver's. An extraor-
binary fellow, that, monstrously clever
exactly the sort of man, Robert. I
never permit to remain near me. In
deed, If you possess the patience and
the interest to analyZe the composition
of my officers and crew you will OBJ
serve, l believe, that there is not an
independently clever man amongst
them. Aye, and II you find me a
clever man aboard the Royal James
yourself and friend Peter excepted, Of
course / will thank you to point him
out to me, and I will straightway
make a present Of him to Flint, who
must have half dozen of the Walrus'
crew who esteem themselves equally
capable with him Of commanding her.
II am not-by necessity 1 am not
regarded with affection by my follow
ers. And on the whole, think I have
gotten along better by means of fear
than / might have by means of affec-
ton. Fear is a natural element in a
pirates career. What place has he
in his life for affections? Hank! Do
hear somethingT
He did beyond question-an uproar
Of curses and shouts upon the deck
outside.
'Tt is only that Captain Flint has
come aboard. Pray take your seats.
promise you an interesting episode"
The door to the deck banged open,
and a harsh, domineering voice bel
lowed in the companionway.
60 me, Martin, what the --
- dye think We are? By the
- - We lousy, slack
bellied swab, We made us"
"Stow that, We apol-
ogy for " - - -" in
terrupted Martin mildly from the
deck. "Why, any would ha'
had more sense than your
Like ! I'm my own master,
I am. I"
eye may be when We stand on the
Walrus' deck, but here you're only
another as doesn't
know better'n to veer after"
Delay for - - lackey, We
slab-faced chunk O. rotted sea-horse!
I'll talk to your master"
Slam went the door, and mutter
Of curses rambled from the companion
way, preceding tall, blue-jowled man
in a flaming red coat all cobwebbed
over with gold lace. He halted in the
cabin entrance, hands on his hips, feet
planted wide, closest green eyes
flickering balefully on either side of
long nose that seemed to poke out
from a tangle Of lank, black hair.
Back, eh, Murray?" he snarled.
1.-TWO men the richer for your effort.
Gut me, twas a fools errand!"
Pardon me-" objected Murray, shut
am considerably more than two men
the richer in consequence of my run
ashOre-although / would not appear
~ these words to deprecate the inn
portance to be attached to the acquisi-
ton Of my granddaughter and Master
~; =ssss -
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