Arizona state miner., 1926-07-10

IucK-aye, lucky ye'u be do ye come
off WI a neck ye can breathe through" :"
Flint went pale.
Nov, now, Darby" he wheedled.
Don't We talk that reckless way.
'Tain't good for our luck. And l ha'
been main kind to ye, and"
"'Tis you would be the ruin Of our
luck" said Darby. "All I'm for tellin'
! ye is to be gentle in handlin' an ell
CANT young maid as We ought to be on
your two knees before this moment for
the trouble and sore dismay ye ha'
wrought WI her"
She's safe enough, Darby" Flint an
swered. "I'd never harm her. Wen
keep her until we ha' lifted what's
buried on the Dead Mans Chest, and
then she and her two buckos can take
a small boat and fare how they please,
and"
"And I'll be with 'em," added Darby
"Oh, no, not you, Darby! Think O.
all the red gold yell have aboard the
Walrus And there's your luck We'll
still need"
"Me luck !" fumed Darby. MAY
the - curse me luck 'Tis more of
nuisance than a help"
Flint was nigh frantic.
Lad, would We lose all your red
| head has brought us? And look We,
too, if the maids to be safe, it's
alone can keep her so, for wi'out me
there'll be = to pay, and none to stall
the reckoning"
"And that before this glass is out"
affirmed Bones with saturnine en-
| phasis.
The mate knocked the neck off
flask of rum with his cutlass-hiIt and
poured the equivalent Of water-glasS
down his throat, gurgling 1t Justify
that he might secure the full SAVIOR of
the fiery liquor
"PlI take the rest o. that" ex-
claimed Flint eagerly. "Aaa-aah!
There's naught like good rum to put
heart in a man, Bill Here, Darby,
you finish it. That's the ladl And
| don't talk no more about losin' your
luck. We're gOin' to need that luck
mighty bad these next few days. Aye,
this very day, as Bill says. For here's
Tom Allardyce and batch O. chicken
hearted = a-cryin' we should be
satisfied WI what we got, disband and
save our necks. And l don't know
what more bilge- slush."
""Tain't Allardyce I'm feared Of"
said Bones wisely, "but Silver. He's
got a head on his shoulders, Long John
has. and all the men'll listen to him
aftcr the way he carried the stockade."
Flint nodded.
True for you but what you're amiss
on is that John feels same as do about
msbandin'. After the treasures all
lifted, look out for squalls But right
now, Bill, Silver's as strong for pullin'
/ together as you and me-"
Maybe" said Bones with more of
doubt than conviction.
Maybe? Gut me for a lubber if I'm
not right
Flint rose from the seat he had as
sumed.
You come along on deck, and I'll
show ye You. too, Darby. No, no,
lad'-when Darby would have hung
back-"I want We by me- l tell ye
that red head O. yours is the best
beacon 1 ever steered by"
At the exit to the companionway he
halted and spoke to us over his shoul-
der:
"You mind what I said about the
girl. Keep her under cover"
'Must we all ~emain below decks?"
l demanded with some heat
That's as ye may happen to feel"
he replied careIessly. $50 long as We
don't try to suck up to any O. my men
and make trouble you can go and
come around the ship; but let me find
ye up to mischief, and treasure or no
treasure. I'll keelhaul ye."
His green eyes twinkled evilly.
"1maybe Murray told We what that
might mean"
He gave Darby push before him.
run out and call the men aft" he
commanded. "Thats the boy! Bill,
- ye for a lOw-hearted - -,
plaster a grin on that mug o. yours
and pipe us a song We mustn't let
them swabs fOr'ard figure us to be
worried none, ehY'
And his voice doomed hollow be-
twiXt the confined walls of the COM
paniOnway:
"Oh, a fine, tall ship was the Elephant
AS ever sailed the seas;
She came down Channel apast Ushant
Bound for the East Indies.
And Dicky Lamb he says to the crew
He was the bosun's mate
Pickle my CUTS! Will ye do what do?
Be game, says l. tempt fate!
Bones joined valiantly in the sweep
of the tune.
They were out on deck now, and
Flint stayed the song long enough to
roar:
Lay aft, ye swabs! Ye asked for
a fO'csle council, and ye shall have it.
- me, Bill, can't ye sing louder?"
There was no answer TO this, only
the slapping Of bare feet on the deck