Part 43 (1/2)
To the A sick, and as the sailor caoing to pay yew for that, young ”
”Like to do it now?” said Tom, sharply
”No; I'm not quite ready, mister Yew'll knohen I am”
”Thankye,” said Toive you a hint, too I'ood deal o' notice o' what I say If you don't keep a civil tongue in your head, I'll tell hi he can do is to have sos, and then shove you below along with your men”
”What!” cried the skipper, fiercely; ”put me in irons! Me, an Amurrican citizen I should like to see him do it!”
”You soon shall,” said Toet down into that boat”
”Who are yew ordering about, sir?”
”You,” cried Toet down into that boat”
The skipper turned to walk away, but To hot, and without a moment's hesitation he seized the man by the collar and waistband, thrust hiway
”Ketch hold!” he shouted, and the ed the skipper down into the boat just as the other was rowed alongside
The skipper started up to revenge hiain to brood over the affront, while, as rapidly as they could be transferred, two more men were thrust into the same boat with hi fierce, and ready for a fresh attelish sailors, and the fierce readiness of the blacks, Soup and Taters, awed then, and a quarter of an hour later captain and men were safely fastened in the forecastle, with Soup now as sentry--Taters having been sent on board the second schooner to see to the freed slaves, with another man to help him Then a haasthe second fairly well, and some knots were sailed toward the north before the position of the sun suggested to Mark that an anxious ti For if an attempt were made to turn the tables upon theht
However, Mark went on with his preparations The blacks on both shi+ps were fed, every precaution taken, and, giving up all idea of sleep for that night, a well-ar quite an old man with his responsibility He asked hi he had left undone, whether the tow-line would hold, and a score of other questions, while all above was callittered and shone down froht?” he thought, as he looked over the schooner's counter at the dark silent vessel towed behind
To aft to hi a soft _pad_ _pad_ upon the deck
”Got your shooter, sir?” he whispered
”Yes”
”Loaded?”
”Of course; but why do you ask?” cried Mark, excitedly
”The gaun, sir It will have to be the irons, after all”
Almost as he spoke there was a flash and the report of a pistol, fired from the forecastle hatch
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
TOM FILLOT ADVISES
There was a fierce howl of rage and a heavy crash fro toward the hatch with To around, in thethe capstan bar hich he was ar blow at soroaning, but not much injured, fortunately for hi fallen upon the ork of the hatchway