The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-08-27
Here be Flint's Redhead /"

the unmlSIdKdDle naming iOChS VI
Darby McGraw, with one arm which
fiourished diligently what once had
been a white shirt. At the first
glimpse of me he scrambled into the
open.
"Will We be letting me come in, Mas
ter Bob" he called. II ha' message
for himself"
"Who?"
"Hlmself-him that's uncle to ye."
swell, seeing that we hear each
other excellently as we are, suppose
you speak your message from the spot
you stand on" / said.
"Troth, that will suit me fine" he
replied with alacrity. "And it's easy
said. Flint will ha' Cap'n Murray
shift the treasure to the foot of the
hill, and that done, the Walrus will
take 1t and CO. If he won't, We'll be
takin' it anyways-or by chance we
don't. we'll blow the James out o. the
water and leave We all marOoned."
1 looked down inquiringly at my
great-uncle.
''If they seek terms, they are uncer-
tain of success" he said. "Send the
boy away"
"But If they destroy the JamesT
"First they will attack-and after
that we will deal with the problem of
protecting the ship"
And as hestitated-
"Be so good as to answer him at
once, Robert, or shall have him shot
as he stands"
go back, Darby" I called. "Cap-
tain Murray will have none of your
offer" ~
God save usr" he exclaimed in
voluntarily. I'm thinkin' that will
be the death of many a tall Teller,
Master Bob. Well, good luck to We
and to Master Peter and the elegant
young maid. If we all come out
safe"
My great-uncle leaped upon tree
stump and fired pistol over Darby's
head. The boy stood motionless
moment, mouth agape.
"The old devil!' he howled then,
and fed down the hillside for all he
was worth.
Flint did not wait to receive Muir
rays verbal answer; that pistol-shot
was sufficiently explicit. Three mus
ket-shots echoed it from the foot OF
the hill, and at once there was re-
newed hustle of men on the fo'csle
of the Walrus. A puff Of white smoke
blew up from the deck, and the crack
| of long twelve started myriads OF
| sea-birds from the seward marshes
The shot sang over us and crashed
into the forest beyond. The Other
chase-gun bowled shot into the en-
closure. where is simply buried Itself
In the soft sand.
The carronades were unable to reaci
the hlockhouse with their heavier
shot, and the Long Toms lacked TINT
power to penetrate the green wood o
the walls. Most Of the round-sho
pumped into the sand. Three post
of the stockade were knocked Owe
and promptly set up again. That wa
all. When darkness interviewed AM
the firing ceased we felt that we hal
been the winners of the first bout o
the struggle.
In the meantime we had not seel
trace Of the landing-party from tn
WaIrus and as the night shut dow
we all peered curiously through tn
posts of the stockade, expecting me
mentarily to discover rush of crouch
ing figures. But hour after hou
passed without sound to disturb tn
silence, and even Murray, who's
nerves were of forged steel, becam
uneasy as he appended the hour-glas
for the third time since sunset an
decided to inspect the circuit of tn
defenses.
"There is another hand than Flint
behind these Fabian tactics" he oil
served. perhaps John Silver's. I'll
clever rogue, and cunning. W
cannot be too vigilant."
Coupeau Joined US on the souther
arc of the stockade. On the mort
side we came to a pit which we
empty, and In the next one to 1t ma
] Law on his stomach as If asleep.
: Murray prodded him with his swor
= and the fellow groaned, but did M
stir.
: "What is the matter with tn
man?' demanded my great-uncle.
: "Please, EUR, it's Job Pytchens," a
: swered the man next beyond.
81 asked what was the matter wit
s him, said my great-uncle coldly.
e "He'm wur one o. they as had
!. hun'erd n fifty lashes. cap'n, EUR"
l .shuddered. My great-uncle toe
snuff.
"And who is gone from this vacal
r placer" he pressed.
'Tom Morphew, EUR. Hem dea
EUR"
0 "Was he shot?"
8 "No, EUR, cap'n. He's had hun'el
q N fifty lashes, too"
t "Where is he?"
> please, EUR, us buried him." Il
man answered.
"Where?"
The man waved an arm vague
= over the sandy top of the hill.
:, "Ahi Well, you will leave unburi
: the next man who dies, be he Job
: another-else shall have the cat a
: ministered to all of you who ha
? abandoned your posts without perm
sion"
"'Iss, zur Thank zee, zur." repli
: the man-but there was no thanks
: his snarling voice; his face W
Z masked by the darkness.
u "Stap me-" said Murray, turni
I away, "but these rascaIs are becomi
y as slack as Flint's tattertails !"
3 Across the clearing musket {
II ploded. Then another and another.
2 volley cracked from the lower slop
and our men replied. A hoarse Yell