Lincoln County leader., October 08, 1909, Image 7

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The Pirate of
By
RUPERT SARGENT
HOLLAND
Author of "Tho Count at Harvard," etc
Copyright. 1008, by J. B. Llpplncott Company. All rights reserved
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CHAPTER XI.
Tt was of the first Importance that
Monsieur Duponceau thould keep himself
well hid, and to this end he spent his days
-In the cabin of the Ship, coming out only
when night had fallen, and. then most cir
cumspectly. There were not the same rea
sons for concealment In my case, however,
so I boarded the Ship soon after I left
Barbara that day and set op my easel as
an excuse in case any chance observers
should look across the beach and see me.
This also gave me the chance to keep a
careful lookout.
It was perhaps 4 o'clock when, as I
sat on the gunwale of the Ship, sunning
myself and leisurely smoking a pipe, I
-saw Charles approaching with a pitcher
and glasses.
"The afternoon being so warm, I
thought that you and the other gentleman
might be wanting something cool to drink,
air," L eiiiuiiicJ, when ho had coma
on board ; "so I made a pitcher of claret
cup."
"Much obliged to you, Charles. Take It
-down to the cabin, where It'll keep cool
until we want It.'
Charles disappeared with the clinking
pitcher. When he returned I spoke again.
"What Is Monsieur Duponceau doing?"
"lie Is lying in one of the bunks, sir,
with his eyes wide open, and when he
ees me, he says, sort of pleasant-like,
You're trying to make me think I'm back
In Paree, but unfortunately the setting
Isn't the same!"
"I don't expect to be much at home for
ome time, Charles, I'm going to help
Monsieur Duponceau here. We may need
jou suddenly, so keep an eye on the
broken mast, and if you see a lamp or a
flag come over at once. Otherwise, keep
mum."
"Yes, Mr. Felix. I've been pestered all
day with some of them skulking fellows
that wants to know my business. May I
land 'em one If they Interfere?"
"You man land 'em one whenever you
feel like it; only, land so hard that there
won't be any come-back."
"Yes, I will, sir;" and Charles made
o bold as to grin. I could see that th
spirit of fight was taking hold of hi in
also.
I went back to my pipe and my drowsy
survey of the sea. There was little wind,
and the oily rollers swept calmly in with
a curiously machine-like rhythm. Far
out the funnel of a south-bound steamer
sent a black ribbon across the sky ; to the
west of the Shifting Shoal a sloop was
lying to, waiting for the evening breezes.
I half dozed, thinking what a peaceful
scene It was.
Ilalf an hour later I heard Duponceau
call my name from the cabin stairs.
"It's getting Intolerably warm down
here: might It not be possible for me to
come on deck If I kept in the shadow of
the gunwale?"
I looked the situation over, and decid
ed that no one could possibly see a man
who hid at the side of the ship, keeping
low down by the rail. I advised Dupon
ceau of this, and then told hiin the mo
ment, the beach being clear, he might dart
from the hatchway, and scurry across to
shelter. This he did, and, with a sigh
of thankfulness at having reached fresh
outer air, he stretched himself In the
shadow, and I sat opposite, facing him
and watching the shore.
"I've been sleeping," Duponceau said,
"so that I could stand watch to-night.
What a beautiful world ! But It's not
like France ; nothing is like France. And
to think I may not see it again 1"
"Why?" I asked.
"Because " He hesitated. "Because
I have enemies who would shut me away
from the sea and the sky and tEe sun,
and so I have to come to some lonely cor
ner of the New World, and seek refuge.
Ah, this new world of yours! It Is good
for the young, but not for those who
have grown gray in the Old. There Is
only one world for them and one land
for me I love it as I might love a wom
an." Foreigners have the habit of sentiment;
K did not seem strange to me to listen to
the thoughts of an exile spoken in a
voice that was musically clear. The
frankness of the man cleared away all
barriers.
Suddenly looking up, I caught sight of
Barbara coming towards us by the path
behind the cliff. She carried a package
under her arm. As I watched her descend
carefully, I saw the two men that I had
met in the morning come out of the pines
and approach her. As she saw them ap
pear, Barbara involuntarily glanced over
to the Ship, and the men instantly turn
ed their eyes in the same direction, ind
so caught sight of me.
"Sit still and keep very low," I whis
pered to Duponceau, under cover of my
pipe.
Barbara took a step forward.
"Not so fast. Where are you going?"
demanded the surly faced chap.
"I am going where I choose," she an
swered, and took another step.
"You're not going out to that Ship,"
he stated. "There's some one hiding here
we mean to find."
' I caught his words and jumped to my
feet.
"What's the trouble t Miss Graham.
won't you come on board?"
I was careful to lean direetlv over Dn.
ponceau, in order to shield him better.
well all three come," announced the
man.
I was put out ; It would be Impossible
for Duponceau to crawl from the shel
ter of the eunwale to the cahin now with.
out being seen. I temporized.
"Well," said I, "suppose "
"Come on," said the leader to Bar
bara; "you were very anxious before."
He stepped forward.
"Ilold up!"" I cried, pretending to get
angry. "I didn't ask you to come over
here. It happens that I'm painting, and
don't wish to be disturbed."
The other man laughed. "We won't
hurt your painting. I've never been over
that boat, and she looks interesting."
Duponceau was still crouching low un
der me. It was time for me to be em
ph tic,
"The Ship is mine. I bought It when
I bought my cottage. I don't want you
on board, and If you try to come on I
shall certainly keep you oft."
Now Barbara spoke up. "If all this
contending Is over me, she said, "I'll give
up my visit to-day. Some other day will
do as well, Mr. Seldon. Good-afternoon
;" and she started away.
"Not so fast!" The surly faced man
was beside her, had his hand on her arm.
"You will either go with us, miss, or he
gives us a chance to search that boat."
I could scarcely keep Duponceau
crouching longer; I could feel that his
fingers were Kchlng for one of hiB re
volvers.
"Stop!" called a voice from the cliff,
and I saw Rodney Isllp standing there,
He took In at a flash that Barbara was
in trouble, and came leaping to her aid
"What the devil's this? Take your hand
away !" and he raised his walking-stick in
the man's face. The latter, startled at
Islip's violence, dropped Barbara's arm
and fell back.
. "Now, what do you fellows want here?"
demanded Islip. "I've a mind to thrash
you both for touching a lady."
"We're going on board that boat," said
the man ; then he hesitated. "Od we'll
take the lady with us."
"Oh, you will?" said Islip.
"Yes," said the leader, his confidence
returned ; "and I don't think you'll stop
us."
Rodney and he squared. The fight
would be two to one; Barbara was trem
bling.
"Now," I cried, and looked along my
leveled pistol, "if it's come to fighting,
we'll all be In the fight. Isllp, bring
Mibs Graham on the boat. There's a bul
let waiting for the man who stops you."
The men fell back, hesitating, and seis
ing advantage of the moment, Rodney
took Barbara's hand and led her over
the causeway. They came up the ladder
and on board.
"That's all!" I cried to the men on
shore. "You can go !"
I bad the drop on them, and their
hands did not even seek their pockets as
they turned and went into the woods.
But I knew that they were as sure of
Duponceau's presence as if they had seen
him on board.
"Well," said Islip, as he saw the
strange figure of the Frenchman hidden
behind the bulwark,, "here s a pretty ket
tle of fish ! So there is a mystery, and
we're carrying guns."
"My dear lady," said Duponceau, ris
ing, "I shall never forgive myself for
causing you such distress."
But Barbara was not distressed; In
stead, she looked very much pleased. .
I motioned Duponceau to go below to
the cabin, and the others followed him
there. I sat at the top of the steps,
where I could both join in the conversa
tion and watch the shore.
Barbara placed her package on the ta
ble. "I thought I was only bringing you
provisions," said she, "but instead I've
brought you a recruit. Mr. Islip, this is
.Monsieur Duponceau," and she added
lightly, "the pirate of Alastair."
Islip shook hands. "So you're In on
this, too, are you, Selden?" he called up
to me. "All arrayed against the blood
hounds, I take it? Well, whatever the
game is, count me In on It. I'll feel more
as though I were back In little old New
York."
"Good !" cried Barbara. "Now you've
four men to man the Ship, counting
Charles, and a spy at the club to bring
you news and food.
She caught sight of the pitcher of clar
et and poured out four glasses. Than
she raised one to her lips.
"I pledge myself In the defense of Mon
sieur Duponceau, who came out of the
sea and found una land Inhospitable 1"
she cried. "Drink with met"
We drained our glasses.
"That's the oath of fidelity," she said,
looking at IbIIp and me, and I think she
knew she could trust us both to the end
of the adventure.
The sun was dropping low, and Bar
bara prepared to leave the Ship. Isllp
started to join her.
"No." she said; "I'd rather go alone,
No one will stop ms now. You must stay
here and watch during lb night."
He bowed, but Insisted upon escorting
tier ashore and setting her on the path
homeward. Then he came back to the
Ship.
"It's curious," he remarked to me as
we sat alone on deck, "but I don't feel as
though I were living in the twentieth cen
tury any longer. It seems as if I'd gone
back to about the sixteenth. I'm just
thirsting for a revolver and a chance to
get in a fight. I didn't know I was really
so much of a savage."
"Same hwe," I answered. "I've al
ways longed to have a fight on this Ship.
Then there s something about this man
I can't resist."
When It fell dark we supped on the
food Barbara bad brought, and then w
divided up the watch for the night.
CHAPTER XII.
We were not yet sufficiently good sail
ers to drop to sleep in the stuffy bunks
below when It was not our turn on watch.
Rodney tried it, but soon came up on
deck, announcing that he never had felt
more wide awake In his life and believed
he could last through the night without
a wink. So we three busied ourselves
making the Ship snug, and Rodney In
addition In vainly trying to interrogate
Duponceau.
There was no doubt but that In the
direction of the beach we were practically
impregnable. Invaders would first have
to climb ' the rocks and then splash
through the water, or, If they came by the
causeway, pass the narrow defile at the
base of the cliff. In either case we would
have ample chance to defend ourselves,
and even If they succeeded in reaching
the Ship's side we would have the advan
tage of being six feet above them. I
pulled In the rope ladder that still hung
over the side and stowed it away In a
cupboard In the cabin. When we had
done everything precaution could suggest,
we three gathered on the forward deck
and sat with out backs to the sea, facing
the shore.
The night was clear and cool ; there
was little sound beyond the regular throb
bing of the waves on the bench and the
occasional distant call of a bittern from
the marshes up-river. A I lirtened to
the talk of the other two, I realized that
Rodney was slipping under that same in
describable fascination of Duponceau's as
readily as I had done.
"But I say," put In Islip at last, "do
you mean to tell me that you came all the
way over here without any luggage, that
you let those chaps land you just as you
were, without anything else?"
"Without anything else save a little
box of papers" Duponceau smiled "and
each paper worth many thousand times
its weight In gold."
"Why," said Islip, "what kind of se
curltles were those?"
"See how I trust you," returned the
other. "We hid the box in the ground
back in the woods, between two roots of
a hemlock, one pointing south by the
compass, the other west. The hemlock
is ten paces west of a scarred fir that was
stripped of Its sea branches by lightning."
"I know the tree, said I.
Rodney rubbed his hands Joyfully. "Ye
gods and little fishes, think of It ! Ever
since I was a boy I've wanted to have
my hand in a buried treasure. We used
to hide tin cans in the back yard, Just
to dig them up again. And now to think
that I've come across a real treasure!
What would those other boys say !"
"Here's one of them now," I put In. "I
used to do the very same thing myself."
Duponceau was smiling again. "You
can both take It lightly," he said, "be
cause you do not know. Many men, aye,
many governments, would give almost
anything for a chance at that box out
there."
"Better and better. The higher the
Interest, the more sport for us," said
Rodney. "I've always wanted to be mixed
up In an International affray. I'm more
than ever glad I decided to come to the
Penguin, for more reasons than one;"
and he looked across slyly at me.
I could not help liking him, even if he
was in love with Barbara; he was so
open and frank about everythrlng.
After a time Duponceau went below
for a two hours' nap, and Islip and I sat
on deck, smoking and chatting. About
midnight the air grew colder, and we
walked to warm ourselves.
"Do you think," said Rodney, finally,
"that we might go on a hunt for that
tree? My eyes are fairly itching to fol
low that trail, and we might reconnoitre
the enemy's position you know. We
could make tracks back to the Ship if
there was any need."
"Walt till Duponceau comes up, and
we'll ask him," I suggested.
In time, at the end of his midnight nap,
Duponceau came on deck, and gave ui
permission to take a survey of the shore.
"If I need you," he said, "I'll make the
call of the osprey listen ;" and he sent
forth a long, quavering cry that was
echoed back to us, from cliff and beach.
Armed with revolvers, Rodney and I
Blipped out of the Ship, forded the lake,
and, keeping as close as we could to the
rocks, for the night was bright with stars,
bonded towards the pines.
We said not a word, but tip-toe, I lead
ing, he following, we skirted the woods
until we came to the scarred fir. There
I turned to look back ; the beach lay a
bright silver field sloping to the sea,
which rippled like quicksilver beneath the
stars. The beach was empty as ?5e des
ert, and still, save for the lnpping waves.
"Ten paces to the east," whispered
Rodney, and, with infinite caution, we
tiptoed through the pines. The trees are
very thick there; we felt as if ploughing
into an unknown screen. We came to
the hemlock, and crouched on the sea side
of It, some Instinct telling us that there
was need of caution. On hands and
knees I crawled a foot farther, and beheld
a white tent, its' guide-ropes running to
the hemlock's roots. Islip pulled hi nisei
up beside me.
(To be continued.) '
Centipedes are eaten in some part
of South America.
Sanitary Milk Palis.
Much the larger proportion of milk
Is carried In wide-topped, uncovered
palls from the cow to the strainer, a
distance of 25' to 100 feet, across a
cowyard, under a hay loft, or past a
manure pile, thus exposing a large
surface of warm milk, which absorbs
all kinds of undesirable odors and col
lects dirt and dust.
Galvanized iron is something used
for milk pails, but It Is not best, for
the rough surfaces afford biding
places for bacteria. Wooden vessels
should not be used for holding milk,
for it Js almost Impossible to keep
them clean. Besides Imparting a me-
DOUBLE PROTECTION. NO SPATTERING.
sleep In a cool, restful place in hot
weather will not give a full flow of
milk. The temperature of the work
ing or producing animal must be kept
normal to give best results. If there
are no windows in your stables, cut
out a number now and let light and
fresh air come for the health and com
fort of the animals. There is nothing
like plenty of good fresh air in living
and sleeping rooms, whether the rooms
be for the occupancy of man of for
animals. This holds good for both
winter and summer.
talllc flavor to milk, rusty tinware Is
objectionable because it Is Impossible
to keep it clean. Good tin is the only
practicable material for milk vessels,
and it must be kept shiny and bright,
The most Important thing in pro
ducing milk is to keep the dirt out
This can only be done by carefully
grooming the cows and by using a
sanitary pail, two of which are shown
here. There are several types of these
pails, but they all have the same prin
ciple. There Is a cover with a small
opening, under which Is fastened a
cheesecloth strainer. The one with
Spraying Experiment.
Experiments with fungicides upon
potatoes have been carried on at the
Vermont Experiment Station for
eighteen years. Experiments made re
cently were designed particularly to
determine the relative gain from
spraying potatoes with bordeaux mix
ture and parls green, comparing the
results from two, three and four ap
plicatlona. Two applications of bor
deaux mixture made in August proved
less efficient In checking the flea bee
tle and early blight than where other
applications were made, particularly
the spraying made In early July. The
increase in marketable tubers for the
sprayed over the unsprayed lots varies
from 52 to 172 per cent
Drinking: Water for Fowls.
Scummy drinking vessels cause sick
ness. They should be scalded out
every now and then. Filthy water
drank dally Is very irritating to the
bowels. Water is the principal con
stituent of the flesh, bones, feathers
and eggs of fowls, and necessarily
large quantities of It Is consumed
dally. Therefore, It should be seen
thatsthe water supply Is not only pure,
but fresh.
TbUtle Stock Food.
Stock of all kinds greatly relish
the plants of the Russian thistle, which
has fairly jumped out of the ground
since the rains, and our Eastern plains
SUBSTITUTE FOB GATE.
There are places where a common everyday gate Is an utter nuisance
and where a turnstile or some other gate substitute or contrivance Is par
ticularly convenient and welcome. With the arrangement herewith Illus
trated the gateway is always closed to animals, but men may pass through
It without difficulty. The accompanying drawing will give a clear Idea of
the plan. The sketch is made to represent a very small gate, but to an
swer all purposes the wing panels and gate perhaps should be half a rod
in length.
the spout strains the milk as it enters
the pail, and also as It Is poured out.
Farm and Home.
Saw Rats Freight an Ears.
After an investigation covering two
weeks, William Krohbach of Danby,
Pa., has learned the reason he has
been receiving only two or three eggs
a day from his flock of sixty hens, and
Incidentally found out something
about the inventive capacity of rats.
One morning he heard a noise In
his chicken house, and quietly making
his way there, he saw two big rats
in the act of making away with a
newly-laid egg. One of the rodents
was lying flat on its back with the
egg tightly clutched In Its four paws,
while the other rat was dragging it
along by the tail. Krohbach was so
impressed by the sight that he
watched the rodents for three minutes,
during which time they carried the
egg for twenty yards along the fence
until they came to a hole in the
ground, into which they took the egg.
One of the rats became tired while
carrying the egg and changed places
with Its fellow.
Ventilating Stable.
Horses and cows are in the stable at
night for rest. When the weather Is
warm the atmosphere In close conflne-
Iment becomes very warm and oppres
sive, so much so that the animals be
come very uncomfortable, and hence
fall to get proper rest. The horse that
does not get proper rest is not in a
good condition for heavy work the fol
lowing day, and the cow that does not
are verdant with It. Why not make
hay of It? So palatable is the bay to
cattle that they leave green pasture
and break through fences to devour
this obnoxious and outlawed weed if
it Is cut and stacked before the red
dish tinge comes on to the plant,
which occurs about the middle of July.
Many of our Colorado people have
used Russian thistle for forage for
several years, and some of them Bay
that it Is as good as alfalfa. In a re
cent analysis the Russian thistle as
sayed as follows: Protein, 17.95; ether
extract, 3.61; ash, 21.98; crude fiber.
20.14, and carbo-hydrates, 36.32, All
over Eastern Colorado there Is a la
mentable shortage of protein feed
stuff. Corn, corn stalks, straw, millet,
Kaffir and prairie hay are all long on
starchy matter, but short on protein.
In the thistle we have a crop that
grows on the arid reaches which will
not only yield a large amount of for
age, but a very palatable one at that,
and a crop that Is rich In the two ele
ments In which others are deficient.
Field and Farm.
Bordeaux Mixture.
The Bordeaux mixture Is the proper
remedy to use for all fungous trou
bles, viz., mildew and rust of beans;
potato and tomato rot and leaf-blight;
melon and cucumber diseases; celery
leaf-blight and rust, etc. The half
strength mixture (two pounds copper
sulphate, two pounds quicklime, fifty
gallons of water) is strong enough to
use In the vegetable garden, except
for potatoes