The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-07-02

the pOlSDeu SurI2ce with the sea-
water that streamed off him and the
blood from his SCARED hands.
A bottle of the aqua vitae my great
uncle favored stood by his place, and
l took this and poured liberal tot
between Peters lips. He staggered
to his feet, blinking his eyes and red
as school miss.
"All right, Bob" he squeaked. Il
be all right, ia"
His eyes CHANGED upon the lead-line,
still fast to the tables leg, and he
stopped and unknotted it and dropped
it out of the window.
"We better not stay here" he NUT
tered. "Neen! If Murray sees US"
"Oh, my Gawd!"
Ben Gum goggled at us from the
companienway.
Drowned, they be!' he gasped to
himself. ''He done for 'em, Flint
dbl"
was afraid he would run out on
deck and cry an alarm, and / started
for him to prevent this.
"Be still, Ben" said. "We don't
mean to hurt you"
He plucked up a little courage
when / spoke.
"'Taint right for We to talk" he
objected. ~ never heard tell as how
sperets-"
"We're not spirits" answered.
"We are as alive as you are. Here,
feel this"
He shrank back as I placed my
clammy, wet hand upon his neck, but
the touch treasured him.
aye amt sperets, says you" he re-
peated amazedly. "Nor We amt
dead. And SEEM as you're here, why,
it do stand to reason as how We amt
aboard the Walrus, which is where
We was and where We Oughter be-"
He shook his head.
"'Tis perfectly natural" retorted.
Master Corlaer and / have escaped
from the WalEus."
Ben came a step or two into the
cabin and stared hard at Peter. Then
he turned disappearing eye upon the
pools of water we had sprinkied on
the table and the rich carpet
swell, it do look to be zee two"
he conceded grudgingly. But We ha'
mucked up the cabin awful, and the
captain will like to ha' me triced to
the main for dozen VII the cat
Maybe So" he agreed. But he won't
ike it that We come aboard this way"
/ seized upon his opening without
scruple.
"Yes, he'll hold it against you, Ben.
TITS shame"
He shivered, and appreciated what
my great-uncle's wrath must be.
''Ye wouldn't let him now Master
Ormerod! Oh, say We wouldn't! Ye
don't want poor Ben Gum to be
screamin' on the triangle"
THAT 1 DON'T" assented warmly.
"You must hide US, Ben. Nobody will
know that you had alght to do with
our coming aboard; and indeed Cap
tain Murray will not care, 1 think.
Twas not of his own will be gave us
to Flint"
'If it's so, why don't zee go up on
the poop and tell the captain now?"
'Hed have to send us back to Cap
tain Flint. You wouldn't like to be
sent aboard the Walrus to stay, Ben"
Ben Gum cooked his head on one
SIDE
81 amt so sure" he answered.
maybe Flint would let me wear
seaman's gear and tar my hair"
eff l ever command a ship you shall
be a tarry sailorman aboard her.
Ben,' l promised. But if you don't
hide US quickly, Ben, I'll never be able
to make good on it."
He caught my hand in his.
''You jes come along O. me. Ben
Gum knows thing or two, he does.
I'll show zee, my master. You jest
come along o. me-"
Peter and / sopped after him up
the companionway to door for'ard
of the staterooms we occupied, which
led by way of steep flight of ladder
stairs to the galley and service quar-
tiers, a space partitioned off from the
vast sweep of the gundeck. Ben un-
hooked lanthorn from the wall,
opened trap in the deck and signed
us to follow him. At the bottom of
second ladder we found ourselves
in a lazaret such as had been our
prison aboard the Walrus. But there
was this difference in our surround
ings: That they were clean. The
walls were whitewashed, and around
them were ranged kegs and pipes Of
wines, ale and rum, and racks laden
with bottles of various liquors.
"'Tis Murray's wine-cellar," l COM
mented aloud.
Ben Gum deposited the lanthorn