The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-07-30
Porto BellO Gold

Peter, LOOKING up lIonl the cHeSSlueit
with which he had been toying on
the tabletop.
And that I have admitted, friend
Peter" answered Murray.
"One night Bob andt me swan In
der water from der Walrus to der
James," pursued Peter as If my great
uncle had not spoken. Maybe we
could do dot again, ja.'
"Hal" cried O'Donnell, shifting the
table with his fist. 'The very thing"
But my great-uncle sat unmoved.
cit could be donel" l exclaimed.
"And none besides ourselves have
knowledge Of It."
Murray's wonderful, tawny eyes set
tied upon my face.
AVE. 1t could be DONE" he agreed.
"But there is danger, lad. 'Tis a still
night. You can hear the fish leap"
"And Flint's people keep slovenly
watch" / replied. "But Peter and
are good swimmers. Wen not make
a sound"
Peter commenced to blow out the
candles.
ia" he said. "Me, don't like
der water when II makes waves, but
quiet 1t is NICE"
My great-uncle smiled In the dwin-
ding light.
II should be hypocrite as well as
a fool, did l refuse your offer, gentle
men," he said. "'Tis not only our
own lives are at stake, but Mistress
Moira's too"
,, A groan came from O'Donnell.
"Ah, didn't / tell We the way we
would be left to the mercy of your
cutthroats and latch-drawers, Murray?
And now it's yourself must admit it
A sorry business it is, and / wish to
God I'd never heard your name or
| gone forth of Spain"
Murray himself blew out the last
candle.
| "Well, well, chevalier,' he answered
little tartly, forth of Spain you
went, and aboard the Royal James
you are, and the one hope of life you
have is that you stay aboard the Royal
| James-and this Is saying naught of
the obligations we owe to your friends
on the other side.'
Peters great bulk glided by us.
II go get rope" he squeaked.
| "a rope!" hiccuped O'Donnell. "And
If we don't end In the moose Of a
rope, We'll likely be walking the plank.
1 care little for myself I'll have seen
my life and had my fling. But it was
an i'll day, Murray, you prevailed on
me to fetch Mora along. / can't think
what was in your mind-a young maid
in a pirate hold! 'Tis wicked past
belief
"Tut, tut" demonstrated my great
uncle. my reasons were Of the best
and have been INDICATED by events
But here Is Peter. You found the
roper"
"Ja," answered Peter, and knotted
an end around leg of the table as
1 had done the night Of our surrep
titious entry.
ODonnell sought solace in glass
of brandy. Murray assisted Peter and
me to undress, and accompanied us
to the stern windows.
mo needless risks, remember" hi
whispered as l crawled over the sill
And above all, avoid discovery. Bet
ter learn nothing than be found out
/ had wrapped my ankles arount
the pendent rope and was prepared
for a cautious slide into the water
when faint chuckle escaped him.
"What is it?" / asked.
81 was but thinking what sturd.
pirate you are become"
He withdrew his head before
could answer, and / dropped into tn,
tepid water, with care that there
should be no splash. An instant late
, Peter was beside me, and we began
to swim with long, slow strokes II
the direction Of the Walrus, so i'm
palpable was the texture Of tina
breathless night There was not evel
a star in the sky-and the sky itsel
was invisible.
5 The hull Of the pirate ship did no
7 take shape until we were under tn
sheer of the stern. A single. gutter
I ing lanthorn seemed to burn in tn
a main cabin, which was tenantless
e And we paralleled the sta'b'd side
q attracted by hum Of voices for'art
Peters hand on my shoulder dc
r tanned me as we swan beneath tn
heel of the bowsprft.
: Here you climb oop," he breathe
y , in my ear. ''They are all on he
Q deck. t'ink dey smoke der pipe
e council, jail"
r / trod water, and explored with bot
/ arms above my head.
r There's no rope within reach,
o told him.
"Dot's all right. I lift you"
r He was clutching the cutwater wit