Casper Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 3, 1921, Page 11

“Well,” said Mr. Gibney, “for a starter, I can. fais aw Yj SS) a3 there's tons of black coral and nobody's ever been able to sheak-in and get away with | it. Eyery time a boat used to land at Kandavu, the native niggers would hate a white-man stew down on the beach; and it’s got so that skippers s 8 i Se £8 a ge give the island @ wide berth. “Gib, my dear ” chattored Cap- tain Scraggs, “I'm a man of peace and I—I——" old = stick-tn-the-mnd,” said Mr, Gibney, laying an affectionate hand on the skipper’s shoulder, “you're nothin’ of the soct. You're a fightin’ tarantula, and nobody knows it ber tern Adelbert P. Gibney. I've seen you in action, Scraggsy. Remember that. It's all right for you to say you're a man of peace and advise me and McGuffey to keep out of the t: of trouble, but we know that « down low you're goin’ around lookin’ for blood, and that once you're up agin the enemy, ‘you never bat an eyelash. Eb, McGuffey?" McGuffey modded; whereupon, Cap- taln Scraggs, making but a poor ef- fort to conceal the pleasare which Mr. Gibney’s rude compliment afforied him, turned to the rail, glanced sea- ward, and’started to walk away to at- tend to some trifilng detail connected with the boat falls. “All: right, Gib, my lad,” he said, affecting to resign himeelf to the inev- itable, “haye it your own way. You're & commodore and I'm only a plain captain, but I'll follow wherever you lead. Tl go as far as the next man and we'll glom that black coral if we have to slaughter every man, woman and child on the island. Only, when we're’ sizzlin’ in a pot don't you up if there's any paint aboard. I'd just as lief give the old girl a different ureéss petore we drop anchor in Pan- ama? ; “Gib,” said Captain Scraggs, earnest- ly, “I'M keel-haul and shull-drag the man that says you ain't got a great bead.” Y “By the lord,” supplemented McGuf- fey, “you have.” ‘The commodore smiled and tapped bis frontal bone with bis forefinget. “Imagination, ny lads, imagination,” he sald, and reached for the last of the punch. , Exactly three weeks from the date of the ‘naval battle which gook place off the Coronado islands, and whereby Mr. Gibney became commodorr, and man- aging owner of the erstwhue Mexican coast patrol schooner Reina Maria, that vessel sailed out of the harbor of Pav- ama completely rejuvenated. Not a scar on her shapely lines gave evi- dence of the sanguinary engagement through which she had passed. r Mr. Gibney had her painted a creamy white with a dark blue weterline. Sho ck tura a big trick.” Captain Scraggs went at‘ once on deck, Ten minutes later he returned to report that the mate and the four seamen elected to stick by the ship. “Bully boys,” said the commodore “bully boys. I like that mate. He's a smart man and handles a gun well. Whjle' I should Yesitate to take a ~yantage of my prerogative as commo- dore to interfere with the normal work- in's of the deek department, I trust that on this special occasion ‘our es- teemed navigatin’ officer, Captain Scraggs, will not consider it beneath bis dignity or an attack on his office it I suggest to him, it he brew ai other kettle of grog for the crew.’ “Second, the metion,” replied Me- Guffey. ~ “Carried,” said Scraggs, and pro- teeded to heat some water. “Anything further?” stated the pres- (dent. 3 io of the Gib- @ room. CHAPTER If—With this mot! wastrel The engin a NY ae "Za Ss eT oS 4 4 Sony ~ Wa Lee im = good muddy bottom that'll hold. Mc- Guffey, lad, better run below and tuhe Up your engines. It's too dangerous ®& passage on an ebb-tide for a sailin’ Vessel, so we'll run in under the pow- er. Scraggsy, stand by and when I give the word have your crew shorten nail.” Within a few minptes a long white streak opened up in the wake of t= schooner, announcing that McGuffey’s eagines were doing duty, and a nice breeze springing up two points aft the beam, the Maggie heeled over and fairly flew through the water. Mr. Gib- mey smiled an ecstatic smile as he took the wheel and guided the schoon- eer through the channel. He rounded her up in twelve fathoms, and within five minutes every stitch of canvas was clewed down hard and fest. The sun was setting as they dropped an- chor, and Mr, Gibney had lanterns nung along the sail so that it would be impossible for any craft to ap Proach the schooner and board her without belng seen. Also the watch on deck that night carried Mauser rifles, six-shooters, and cutlasses. Mr, Gibney was taking no chances, CHAPTER XI. “Now, boys,” announced Commodore Gibney, as he sat at the head of the officers’ mess at breakfast next morn- ing, “there'll be a lot of canoes pad- dling off to visit us within the hour, #0 whatever you do, don’t allow more than two of these cannibals aboard the schooner at the same time. Make ‘em keep their weapons in the canoes with ‘em, and at the first sign’ of trouble shoot 'em down like dogs; It may be that these precautions, ain't necessary, but when I was here twenty. years ago it was all the rage to-kill-a white man and eat him. Maybe ‘times bas changed, but the harbor and the coast looks just as wild and lonely as ‘they ever did, and I didn't see no sign of missionary when we dropped hook last night. So don’t take no chances.” had had her bottom cleaned and scraped ang the copper sheathing over- hauled and patched up. Her sails| ¢! had been overhauled, inspected, and repaired wherever necessary, and in order to be an the safe side, Mr. Gib- ney, upon motion duly made by him and say I never warned you, because IT did. How 4’ye propose intimidatin’ natives. Gib?” ,” sald the commodore, solemnly, “we've waged a private war agin a friendly mation, licked ‘em and helped ourselves to their ship. id. \ “How about uniforms?” This from Captain Scraggs. . “We'll leave that to Gib,” suggested McGuffey. “He's been in the Colomhi- an navy and he'll know just:what to ret us.” on and rake the steamer. CHAPTER V.—S¢ray 3 and of wild conviviallty Gibney “Well, there's another thing that’s} and seconded by McGuffey (to whom | We've changed her name and rig Yions on the Maggie. ‘They | Set to be settled,” continued Captain! the seconding of the Gibney motions | her official number and letters and Tecetvede, but remain, On | Scraggs. “If I'm to be navigatin’ offt- | had developed into a habit), purchased | we're sallin’ under bogus papers. That : ener ant cer on the flagship of a furrin’ fleet, | an extra suit of new sails. The en-| makes us pirates, and that old Maggie enagead sage strike me pink if I'll do more cookin’ burgee floatin' at the fore ain't noth- Yi—The derelict proves to | in the galley. It's degradin’, I m vin’ more ‘nor less’ than the Jolly Roger. Bee eee ee etn ecuador gts on: | that we engage some enterprisin’ Ori- All right! Let's be pirates. Whi attempts to a, 4 but Grae esis cares? When’ we @iip into M’galao McGuttey. alone. seit the. ship to. Ban Sire Neegeme toe king end \his Fran ir salvage money amount- head men aboard for dinner, We'll ing to $1,000 apiece. Once more McGuffey stood up. “'Gen- get ‘em drunk, clap ‘em in double ‘lemen and brothers of ths syndicate,” irons, and surrender ’em to their weep- two in’ subjects when they've filled the ing S$ hold of the Maggie II witti black ms ef.-ex-officio. was to hold himself | coral. If they refuse to come aboard Etnes which they believe’ oy contain the orde:s-of the commodore and | we'll shell the bush with that long smuggied “Oriental ef They find, transferred to the deck department | gun and the Maxim rapid-fire guns we've got below decks. That'll scare ‘em so they'll leave us alone can help ourselves. to the coral,’ . Scraggs’ cold blue eyes glistened, “Lord, Gib,“ he ,murmured, “you've got a head.” “Like playin’ post-offige,” was Mc- Guffey's comment. ‘The commodore ‘smiled, “I thought You boys would see it that way. Now tomorrow I'm going ashore to buy three divin’ outfits and lay in a big stock of provisions for the voyage. In the meantime, while the carpenters are gettin’ the ship into shape, we'll leave the first mate in charge while we go ashore and have a good time. I've seen worse places Panama.” As a result of this conference Mr. Gibney’s suggestions were acted up- on, and they contrived to make their brief stay in Panama very agreeable. They Inspected the work on the canal, marveled at the stupendous engineer- ing in the Culebra Cut, drank a little, gambled’ a little. McGuffey whipped bartender. He was ordered arrested, and six spiggoty little policemen, sent to arrest him, were also thrashed, The reserves were called out and a riot ensued. Mr. Gibney, following the motto of the syndicate, 1, ¢., necessary, Mr. Gibney approved the and it went into effect, Only entering or leaving a port, or in of chase by an enemy, were.the engines to be used, and McGuffey was warned to be extremely saving of his distillate, ‘ . Mr, Gibney made a splendid job of changing the vessel's name, and as she chugged lazily out of Panama bay and lifted to the long ground-swell of the Pacific, it 1s doubtful if even her CHAPTER (VIN —Scrages’ necks ‘to “double cfoss” his two apsociates, but Mr. Gibney outwits him and makes a satisfactory financial settlement with the Chinese company. whom the bodi oo) have in the cold. id we war "Bcrages accepts, and the ‘old era tie domination, Screses Ande Conalgnes, tne having "antmoe: —Sethatetg tinmendibe ana contey iets ‘Tevoludonists. tn ‘Solombia. ‘On uae wey re boa! @ greater sacrilege to have brazenly planned to enter her as a privateer in the struggles of the republic of Colom- ‘bia. “'The’past tense is used advisedly, for that project was now entirely off, much to the secret delight of Captain Scraggs, who, if the hero of one naval engagement, was not anxious to take Part {n-another. In Panama the free- booters of the Maggie IT learned that during Mr. Gibney’s absence on his fillbustering trip the Colombian revolu- tionists had risen and struck their blow, After the fashion of a hot- headed and impetuous people, they had entered the contest absolutely un- trained. As a result, the war had last- ed just two weeks, the leaders had X—Our three adventurers form a “syndicate,.” with the gunboat, +h they have renamed the Maggie li, fh the Mouth Bos: islands, where they pian RY io"obtin valuable Diack'coral. —— “Feller members and brothers of the syndicate: In the management of the deck department of this new craft of ourn, my previons knowledge of the worthy president and the ‘unworthy secretary leads me to believe that there's goin’ to be trouble. A shi divided agin herself must surely 3 on her bedm ends. Now, Scraggsy: here has been master so long that the Juice’ of authority has sorter’ sorked: “Gentiemen and Brothers of the Syn- _ Micate,” He Began. he began, “I’m satisfied that the back- bitin’, the scrappin’, the petty jeal- ousies and general cussedness that characterized our lives on the old Maggie will not.be duplicated on the “Maggie IL Them vicious days is gone foreyer, I hope, an’ from now on the motto of us three should be: All for one and one for all— United we stand, divided we fall, mized in. the confilct and presently found himself in durance vile. Cap- tain Scraggs, luckily, forgot the mot- to and escaped, but Inasmuch as he was on hand next morning to pay a fine of thirty pesos levied “against each “Wy (2 H nto his marrer bones. For twenty ' been incontinently shot, and the white-| o¢ the culprits, he was instantly for- UN | Years it's been ‘Howdy do, Captain “An for one ‘and one for all— » | Winged dove of peace had once more | given, * Giese vowed. ae ct a tN/) Scrages, ‘Have a drink, Captain United we stand, divided we fall” | spread her pintons along the borders | Uniteq states cruiser didn't happen as, Scraggs.’» ‘Captain Scraggs this an'| ‘This earnest little speech, which | Of the.Gold coast: to be lying in the roadstead, he would eel! Captain Scraggs that.’ I don’t mean} came straight from the honest McGut-| Commodore Gibney was disgusted be-| have shelled the town in retaliation. no Offense, gentlemen,. when I state Y that you can’t teach an ‘old dog new tricks. No man that’s ever been a Y master makes a good mate. On the “ other hand, I realize that Gib here J} has been a-pantin' and a-bellyachin’ cal f yond ‘measure, and at a special meet- ing of the syndicate, called in the cabin of the Maggie IT that same eve- ning, it was finally decided that they should embark on an indefinite trad- ing cruise in the South seas, or until such time as {t seemed their services must be required to-free a downtrod- den people from a tytant’s yoke. Captain Scraggs and McGuffey had never been in the South seas, but they bad beard that a fair margin of profit fey's heart, brought the tears to the commodore's eyes. Under the inspira- tlon of McGuffey’s unselfish words the glasses were refilled and all three pledged their friendship anew. As for Captain Scraggs, he was naturally of a cold and selfish disposition, and Mc- Guffey’s toast appealed more to his brain than to his heart. Had he’ known what was to happen to him in the days to comb-and what that simple, Uttle motto was to mean in his par- But eventually the days passed, and the Maggie II, well found and ready for sea, shook out her sails to a fair breeze and.salled away for Kandavv. She kept well to the southwest untt! she struck the southeast trades, when she swung around on her course, head- ed straight for her destination. It all his life to get a ship of his own z 4n' have folks call him ‘Captain ,G!b- as hey.” Now that he’s gone an’ done SS) tt, I say he's entitled to it, But the fact of the whole thing is, Gib's the , natural leader of the expedition or Va cident, and the health of all hands Was excellent. Mr. Gibney took daily observations, and was particular to whatever it's goin’ to be,and he can’t} ticular case, {t is doubtful :¢ he would | was to be wrung from trade In copra, | make daily entries in his log when bh have his peace of mind wrecked. and | have tossed off his liquor us gally as| shell, coconuts, and thdred tropical | he, Seraggs, and McGuffey were not y his.plans disturbed a-chasin’ sallors} he did. Mrigats products. ‘They so expressed thew-| play age, a game of which all around the deck of the Maggie II. Gib is sorter what tho feller calls bh the power behind the throne. He'n Ay too big a figger for the grade of-cap. : tain. Therefore, I move you, gentle- IX, men, that Adelbert P. Gibney be, and selves, To this suggestion, however, Commodore Gibney waved a deprecat- ing paw, i “Legitimate tradin’, boys,” he said, “ts a mice, sane, healthy business, but the profits is slow. What we want is quick profits, and while {t ain't set down in black and white, one of the principal objects of this syndicate is to lead a life of wild adventure. In tradin’, there ain't no adventure to speak of. We ought to do a little Dlack-birdin’, or raid some of those Jap pearl fisheries off the northern coast of Formosa,” “But we'll be chased by real gun- t boats if we-do that,” objected Captain tice that the official letters and num-{ Scraggs. ‘Those Jap gunboats shoot bers cut into her main beam ts F-C-P | to kill. Can't you think of somethin’ —957, I'll change the F to B,.and the : “There's one thing more that we mustn't neglect,” warned Mr. Gibney before the meeting broke up. “We've got to run this lttle-vessel into some dog-hole where there's a nice beach and smooth water, ‘and change her name, I notice that her old nanie Reina Maria is screwed into her bows and across her stern in raised gilt let- ters, contrary to law and custom. AWe'll snip "em off, sandpaper erery spot where there’s a letter, and re- paint it; after which we'll rig up a stagin’ over her bow. and stern, and cut her new name, ‘Maggie I,’ right into her plankin’. _Nobody’ll ever sus- pect her\name’s been changed. I no- F passionately fond. oon of the twenty-ninth tleaving Panama the lookout, reported land. Through his glasses Mr. ‘Gibney made out a cluster of tall palms at the southerly end of the Is- land, and as the schooner held lazily on her course he could discern the white breakers foaming over the reefs that guarded the entrance to the har- ber. “That's Kandavu, all right,” an- nounced the commodore. “I was there in '89 with Bill McGinty in the schoon- er Dashin’ Wave. There's the entrance to the parbor, with the Esk reefs to the north and the Pearl reefs to the south. The channel's very narrow— not more than three cables, if it’s that, but there's plenty of water and a "| N y j iy is hereby nominated and appointed, to the grade of. commodore, in full com- mand and supervision of all of the fj} Property of the syndicate, And I ¥, so move that Phineas Scraggs be ap- ¢/ pointed chief nayigatin’ officer of, this | Py packet, to retain his title of captain, 44, and to bé obeyed and respected as ‘ \ f Such by every man aboard with the l) WA, exception of me and Gib. The pre: i Y@ ent mate'll do the navigatin’ while Scraiggsy’s learnin’ the deep sea stuff.” =“Second the motion,” safd Captal Scraggs briskly. ““McGnffey, your a Was a pleasant voyage, devoid of in- |. All hands promised that they would precious persons might remain intact, fee at a gulp and went on deck. The Kandavu aborigines were not long tn putting im an appearance. Even Mr. Gibney hands on deck, ch enemy. When the flotilla was within pistol Gibney stepped to the rail and motioned them Immediately the natives ceased paddling, and a wild-looking fellow After the manner of his kind he had all his life soused his head in lime-water age toilette, and jock of black hair stood on end and bulged out like a He was naked, of course, and in his hand he held a huge shot of the schooner Mr. back. Stood up in the forward canoe. when making his as a result his crowded hayrick, war club, “That fellér’d eat gasped Captain Scraggs. Gib, if he bats an eye.” trifle * testily ; and 51 white master.” “Bless - my gasped. the commodore, “dimbing u, -“Mr. Gibney met the spokesman at They Rubbed Noses Very Solemnly, solemnly, after the manner of saluta- Captain Scraggs tion in Kandaru. bustled forward, full of importance, “Interduce me, Gib,” he said amiably, and then, while Mr. Gibney favored him with a sour glance, iptain Scraggs stuck out his hand and shook briskly with the native, “Happy to make your acquaintance, he sald. “Scraggs is my name, sir. Shake hands with McGuffey, our chief engineer. Hope you left all the folks at home well. What'd you say your name was?” The islander hadn't sald his name was anything, but he grinned now and replied that it was Tabu-Tabu. MURRAY = take extreme care, to the end that their so Mr. Gibney finished his cup of cof- as Mr. Gibney came on deck half a dozen canoes shot out from the beach. immediately piped all rmed them, and non- ntly awaited the approach of what might or might not turn out te be an a rattlesnake,” “Shoot him, ‘Shut up,” said the commodore, a “that's the number-one nigger, who does the talkin’, Hello, es “Hello, cap'n,” replied the savage, med gravely. ‘“You likee buy chicken, buy pig? Maybe you say come | "board, I talk. Me very good friend sweet-scmted soul!” “What won't them missionaries do next? Cut off my ears if this nigger’ain’t civilized !” He beckoned to the canoe and it shot ‘alongside, and ‘its brown crey came over the rail of the Maggie the rail and they rubbed noses very “Well, my bucko,” muttered McGutf- fey, who always drew the color line, “I'm glad to hear that, But you ain't the only thing that's taboo around this packet. You can jest check that war club with the first mate, pendin’ our better acquaintance. Hand tt over, you black beggar, or I'll hit you a swat In the ear that‘ll burt al! your relations. And hereafter, Scragesy, just keep your nigger friends to your- self. I ain't waxin’ effusive over this savage, and it's agin my principles ever to sh.ke hands with a colored man. This chap’s a d—d ugly cus- tomer, and you take my word for It.” ‘Tabu-Tabu grinned again, walked to the rafl, and tossed his war club down into the canoe., “Me good missionary boy,” he said, rather ‘humbly. “McGuffey, my Gear boy,” protested Captain Scraggs, “don't be so doggone rade, You might burt this poor lad's feelin’s. Of course he's only a simple native nigger, but even a dawg has feelin's, You——” “A-rt-rh! snarled McGuffex, “You two belay talkin’ and snappin’| at each other,” commanded Mr. Gib-| ney, “an’ leave all bargainin’ to me, This boy is all right and we'll get! along first rate if you two just haul} ship and do somethin’ useful besides buttin’ {nm om your superior officer. Come along, Tabu-Tabu. Makee little eat down in cabin. You talkee cap- tain.” “Gib, my dear boy,” sputtered Cap- tain Scraggs, bursting with curiosity, following the commodore's reappear- ance on deck, “whatever's in the wing?” “Money—fortune,” said Mr, Gibney, solemnly, McGuffey edged up amd eyed the commodore seriously. “Sure there ain't a little fightin’ mixed up tn it?” he asked. ! “Not a bit of it,” reptind Mr. Gibney, “You're as eafe on Kanclavu as if you was in church, This Tabu kid ts sort of prime minister to the king. with a heap of influence at court, The crew of a British cruiser stole him for a galley police when he was a kid, and he got civilized 4 learned to talk English, He was a cannibal in them days, but the chaplain aboard showed him how foolish it was to do such things, and finally Tabu-Tabu got re- gion and asked as a special favor te be allowed to return to Kandavu to civilize his people. As a result of ~Tabu-Tabu's efforts, he tells me the king has concluded that when he eats a white man he's flyin’ in the face of his own Interests, and most generally @ gunboat comes along in a few months and shells the bush, and—well, any- how, there ain’t been a barbecue on Kandavu for ten years. It’s 4 capital crime to eat a man now, and punish: able by boilin’ the offender alive to palm oil.” “Well,” rumbled McGnffey, “this Tabu-Tabu don't look much like a preacher, if you ask me. But how about this black coral?” “Oh, I've ribbed up a deal with him,” sald Mr. Gibney, “He'll see ttle wart.” he roared. “If you in- clude me on that cannibals’ visitin’ lst, and go to contradictin' me agin, m— “Mac,” interrupted Mr. Gibney. an- grily, “control yourself. It’s agin the rules to have rag-chewin’ and back-bit- tn’ on the Maggie I. Remember our motto: ‘All for one and one for ail’ “Here comes that sneakin’ bushy- headed murderer back to the vessel,” interrupted McGuffey. “I wonder what devilment he's up to now.” Mr. McGuffey was partly right. for in a few minutes Tabu-Tabu came along- side, climbed aboard, and salaamed, Mr. Gibney, fearful of McGuffey’s tn- ability to .atrol his antipathy for the race, beckoned Captain Scragss and Tabu-Tabu to follow him down into the cabin. Meenwhile, McGuffey contented himself by parading back- ward and forward across the fo- castle head with a Mauser rifle tn the hollow of his arm and his person fatr- ly bristling with pistols and cutlasses. Whenever one of the flotilla of canoes hove to st a respectful distance, showed signs of crossing an tmasgt- ary deadline drawn by McGuffey, he would point his rifle at them and swear horribly. He scowled at Tabu-Taba when that Individual fnally emerged ~ A 75a = on = v3 era 0/7) Ss 4 ¢ McGuffey Contented Himeelf by Pa. rading Backward and Forward Across the Fo’ Castle Head. from the conference with Mr. Gibney and Scraggs and went over the side to his waiting canoe, “Well, what's in the wind this time?” inquired McGuffey. “We're invited to a big feed with the king of Kandavu,” replied Captain Scraggs, as happy boy. “Hop into a clean sult of ducks, Mac, and come that we get all the trade we can lug uway. We're the first vessel that's touched here in tio years, and they have a thunderin’ lot ot stuff cn hand. Tabu's gone ashore to talk the king into doin’) business with us. If he consents, we'll Svs him and Tabu: Tabu and three or four of the sub. chiefs aboard for dinner, or else he'll invite ns ashore for a-big feed; and we'll have to.go,” “Supposin’ the king don't care“ to have any truck with us?" inquired Me- Guffey, anxiously. “In \that: case, Mao,” repiled the commodore ‘rith a smile, “we'll just naturally’ shell him out of house and home.” ' “Well, then/’ said McGuffey, “let's get the xuns ready. Somethin’ tells me these people ain’t to be trusted, and I'm tellin’ you right now, Gib, I won't sleep well tonight unless them two quarter gatlings and the Maxim- Vickers rapid-fire guns is mounted and vrer..7 for business.” “411 "right, Mac,”: replied Mr, Gib- ney, In the tone‘one uses when humor- ing a baby. “Set ‘em up if it'll make you feel more cheerful. Still, I don't see why you want to-go actin’ so fool-.| ish" over nothin’.” “Well, Gib,” replied the engineer, “I may be crazy, but I ain't no fool, and if there’s a, dead whale around’ th ship, I can come pretty near smellin’ it. I tell you, Gib, that Tabu-Tabu nigger had a look in bis eye for all the world'like a cur dog lickin’ a bone. 1 afn’t takin’ no chances, “My old man used to say: _‘Bart, whatever you do, allers have an anchor out to wind- ward!" “By the left hind leg of the Great Sacred Bull,” snapped Captain Scraggs, ‘if you ain't ‘enough to precipitate war.” “War,” replied McGuffey, “is my ong sult—particularly war with native siggers. I just naturally crave to yunch the ear of anything darker than a Portugee. Remember how I cleaned vat the police department of Panama?” “Mount the guns if you're goin’ to, Mac, If not, for the love of the Lord don't be @moralizin’ the crew with thid talk of war. All I ask ts that you set the guns after I've finished my business here with Tabu-Tabu. He's been on a war yessel, and knows what guns are, and if he saw you mountin’” them it might break up our friendly relations. He'll think we don’t trust him.” “Well, we don't,” replied McGuffey, doggedly. . “Well, we do,” snapped Captain Scraggs. 5 ‘There is always something connected with the use of that pronoun of kings which eats Ike a canker at the heart of men of the McGuffey breed. That officer now spat on the deck, in defi: ance of the rifts of his superior offi- cers, and glared at Captain Scraggs. ers —~self, you miserable SESE ¢ S ener Ar 2, a along, Gib’s goin’,to broach a little keg of liquor and, we'll make a night of it.” “Good lord,” groaned McGuffey, “does the man think I'm low enough to eat with niggers?” “Leave him to his own devices,” -said Mr, Gibney, indulgently, “Mac's just as Irish as if he'd been born in Dublin, instead of his old man. No- body yet overcome the prejudice of an Irishman so we'll do the honors ourself, ‘Scraggsy, old skittles, and leave Mac in charge cf the ship.” “Mind you're both back at aseason- }\ able hour,” warned McGuffey. “If you \ ain’t, I'll suspect mischief and—say! Gib! Weill, what's the use of talkin’ Ke ( \y ) BS | if \ have to go ashore after you two, these -Islanders'll date time from’ my visit, ant Gon't you forget it.” Upon arrival at the beach the twa adventurers were met by a contingent of frightful-looking savages bearing long spears. As the procession formed ground the guests of honor and plunged into the bush, bound for the king's’ warl, two nd = maldens marched behind the two sea-dogs, wav- ing‘ huge palm-leaf fans, the better to make the passage a cool and comfort. able one. “By the gods of war, Gib, my déar boy,” said the delighted Captain Scraggs, “but this is class, eh, Gib?" _ “Every time,” responded the commo- dore. “If that chuckle-headed McGutf- fey only had the sense to come along’ he might be enjoyin’ himself, too. You must be dignified, Scraggsy, old sali mander; Remember that you're big-« ger an’ better’n any king, ‘because you're an American citizen. Be digni- fled, by all means. These people are sensitive and pecullar, and that’s why we: haven't taken any weapons with, us. If they thought we doubted their hospitality they'd have the court bouncer heave us out of town before you could say Jack Robinson.” “I'd love to see them giving the bounce to” McGuffey,” said Captain Scraggs, musingly. Mr. Gibney. had a swift mental picture of such a proceed- ing and chuckled happily. Had he been permitted a glance at McGuffey at that moment he might have observed tuat worthy sweltering in the heat of the forward fold of the Maggie II, for he was busy getting his guns on deck. From which it will readily be deduced that B. McGuffey, Esquire, was following the advice of, his pa- ternal ancestor and getting an anchor out to windward. {To be Continued) 2 A seme The earring is not a modern inven- tion, for more than 20 centuries ago the daughter of Aristotle wore gold- en hoopstin ther cars. ‘The philosoph- er’s daughter's earrings were found in™her tomh near Chalcis by explor- ing archaeologists, and certainly mod- ern workmanship cannot) producé - their equal,