Arizona state miner., 1926-05-22
matter what you show him. He wants

matter what you show him. He wants
ALL"
"Ah."
Murray regarded more attentively
the boatload of pirates just rounding
up to our port quarter.
II see that Captain Flint has with
him John Silver and the red-haired
Irish boy he calls his luck. Humph
You may be right, friend Peter. But
l should not be greatly concerned over
that. Twill do no harm if l reveal
that it occurred to me that in many
ways it might simplify our problem
did Captain Flint resort to force"
The Irishman counted the gunports
in the Walrus' side
"He seems to carry as heavy met
al"
"But on the sea, as on the land, it's
the brain which overmatches brute
force, chevalier. You, who are an en-
gineer, do not need to be reminded
of this axiom. However, we are not
yet come to the issue. and am never
one for engaging In search for
trouble
eve are in an impasse," reflected
O'Donnell gloomily.
"Not at all" rejoined my great-uncle
"We have played our hand with entire
success SO far in the game. IT'S now
for us to sit back and await the plays
of other participants. What they do
No QI1f
tain Flint is come aboard. This con-
versation is without purpose, since
fact must now displace conjecture. y
He eyed us all somewhat gravely.
81 have but one word more to say
he added. Whatever happens, leave
me to do the talking"
eyed do it whether we would or
no., growied O'DOnnell.
Flint climbed over the bulwarks
with a racket of oaths and staggered
up to the poop. Martin dropped a
whip from a block on the mainyard
and John Silver was hauled up in its
blight, his crutch hanging from his
neck. Darby and the rest scaled the
side ladder and mingled with the
James crew. Their eyes popped from
their heads as they circled the heap
of treasure.
Their chief was equally frank in re-
vealing the lust of greed the picture
warmed in him. His green eyes flick
cred hotly on either side of his thin
beaked nose, and his blue jOwl was
bluer than ever, the weatherworn skin
over his cheekbones laced with net
work of crimson veins that bright
ened as his excitement increased.
Yet he forgot the treasure the in
stant his gaze fell upon Peter and me-
$50 your hostages returned to ye
Murray? Gut me, twas pretty trick
ye played us! Ye'd keep faith wi
me, ye would! Oh, yes Ye'd give
me two hostages, instead O. one
You'll fulfill your contract, you will
There's no need for it, to be sure, but
yell do anything to prove good faith
to me! And take both or none, says
you. Both or none! Well, ye fooled
me that time, Murray, but ye never
will again, by thunder-not if my
names John Flint !"
My great-uncle heard him out in
silence, waiting until he had stepped
off the poop-ladder and stood facing
us.
81 am not responsible for your los
ing the hostages" he replied then in
his iciest tones. "Stap me, Flint,
warned you your ship was in a dis
graceful condition. With all hands
drunk, did you think to keep fast two
men of strength and intelligence?"
Drunk or sober, we were promised
them," assented Flint, trif1e less bel
ligerently "And sure, ye could ha
turned 'em back to us-not that that
will do me any good for the two men
| they killed, they or whoever helped
'em to break from the Walrus."
Nobody from the Royal James as
! sisted them," said Murray. "You have
s e:s s; TX esss & =s:; e sss S ::s