Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1931-07-03
CHAPTER V-Continued


Todkill smiled. exclalming: "Ods
bloodi Ye look as wise as a mid
wife at bornin'. l. give We my word
he is not on this ship or on the
shore"
Whereupon, Mr.. Samp, always
philosophical in his cups. turned his
thought toward the eternal veKities:
las liar We couldn't earn farthin'
a day. Ye don't do it natural like.
It's left-handed lynn. Everybody likes
to believe We If yen only give him
chance. Now there was Bill Shake
speare. used to pass him every day
on the street. He wrote out a lot O.
lies-spun 'em so slick folks could be-
lieve 'em and they did. What hap
pened? Why, Bill made a fortune by
it. Amos, We lie like a tapster. Ye
don't give no one chance Yell die
a poor man. If was you I'd try the
truth to help me- Now, there's a
start on the right road"
Mr. Samp looked gravely into the
face of Todkill.
''Well, john" said Amos, this is
hay to q jaekass that is full O. oats.
Ye got no more knowledge o. this
world than lame cobbler. I can't
help We. If could l wouldn't take
yer money"
They turned to witness a singular
and a right perilous game now going
on between two fishermen. It was the
game of Jim Where-a deadly sort of
duel. The players stood blindfolded.
their wrists tied together. Each held
in his right hand stocking with a
round pine ball in the end of it. One
would call "Jim Where" The other
answered, Here" and lodged, where
upon his adversary struck viciously,
guessing at the location of the man
he desired to hit. They took turns
in calling and striking. A noisy crowd
surrounded them, its members shout
ing words Of encouragement. The air
was filed with profanity and the odor
of perspiration. In a moment one of
the players was hit and fell like an
OK under the hammer, dragging the
other down upon him.
"Necked, by Cd" was the shout
that greeted the fall.
The man who had gone down lay
for a moment stunned. He had been
hit in the neck, which had turned
black and blue and was swelling. The
injured man and the crowd streamed
out to the deck, where a fight had
started Mr.. Samp had yielded to his
specific gravity and sat down. He
had nodded as the duel went on. Soon
he was fast asleep.
Todkill said to the tapster: Hes
got brick in his hat. Let him sleep
a while. He's had hard day.
He hurried through the throng that
surrounded the fighters to the star
board side and blew his whistle Big
Tom Wannerton and Dixie Bull were
having desperate battle with their
fists. Often these engagements led
to knives or belaying-pins and murder.
It was Todkill's business to dip in
with his mighty arms and pour his
Drawn and the oil of an able tongue
on the troubled waters. Tonight he
had other business. In a moment he
and Robert Heathers were moving
toward the shore. Their packs were
ready, for Amos had anticipated the
sudden arrival of an officer. Amos
had his gun and pistol and store
Of ammunition, a few light tools,
bread, dried fish and moose meat.
Robert had only his pistol, sword and
clothing. Under their packs they set
out on path made by mast cutters.
which led westward in the forest a
distance of about three miles. Soon
they heard many wild cries behind
them.
Its them crazy devils leavin' the
ship and comm ashore said Amos.
They're yellin' and whoopin' like
the hends in hell. If yen drop down
with me a minute Wen make some
calculations. My OIL brain is on its
tiptoes. There's lot O. drift comm
down from up-river."
'What do you mean?p Robert asked.
woman trouble ! don't waste no
breath giving We information There's
a great touse over 1t an reckon they