The Argosy, April 1916 — page 127: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

FOOLS OF at any time and leave the island and my employ, providing only I recétve two months’ notice. “And I must de the like by you if it seems better to me to dispense with the services of any of you. It’s all fair and square in your contracts. “There’s been some skulking, some un- derhand work done. That was wrong, and also it was a mistake. Put it behind us and make a fresh start. “Only stores were brought to the island contraband, and no guns or ammunition, William Ransom has sworn to me on his oath, in the presence of witnesses. He has told me also that you would like to get a little more profit out of your work. At the same time he said he understood that this was hardly just the moment to propose. “T tell you all now I am considering whether I can do better by you. It de- pends on two things—on your loyalty and on the market in New Orleans. “There’s my boss, New Orleans, as here I am your boss. Let’s work together. Good morning, men!” Captain Neville doffed his gold-braided cap and saluted them solemnly. ‘“‘Flandsome as a picture, my dear, in his white suit and gold buttons,” Miss Addison murmured close to Susan’s face, in order to banish if she might the cloud of weariness and misgiving that shadowed it. “Three cheers for Captain Neville!” hailed Overseer Ransom, turning toward his men. They were given with a will. Then the men marched rapidly away. The half-wit, Jolly George, pranced and skipped at the rear of the’ brigade, wrenching every bit of sound out of his mandolin and singing over and over his own song about sailing far away to the Bay of Biscay. Along the curving round the men marched with his wild dancing figure behind them, singing as if he were the very spirit of music. Soon the men took up the song, and the queer, plaintive legend swelled in volume, its fantasy floating out to sea on the mild morning breeze. Yet not all the men sang. Jake Haas chewed a huge mouthful of tobacco, and when not chewing or spitting was smiling as if at some uproarious jest. Sailor Pete gazed before him stupid-eyed, occasionally giving utterance to a grunt of supreme sat- isfaction. The face of William Ransom was a yellow mask. SACRIFICE. 117 Half-moon House was now far behind them. Here Captain Neville on his way to his offce, where Oscar Molle was waiting to assist him with his correspondence, came upon Michael Sands in a large square room, known as the armory. Michael had dragged three small brass cannon out into the middle of the floor and laid about a dozen guns of various kinds, as well as seven or eight revolvers, also of various pattern, on the heavy timber tables round the room. His coat was off and he was rolling up his shirtsleeves when the captain caught sight of him and stepped inside the doorway. ‘In the name of sense, Michael,” he asked, “‘what are you up to?” “Now, my dear Captain Neville,’”’ Sands answered, saluting, “you must take no of- fense, if you please, but let me folly me own idea—that is, as it were, act foolish- like. All these playthings, never used for anything except hunting or firing salutes, is likely to be full of dirt and rust. ‘“Divil a bit o’ hunting we’ve done on Little Twin Island since the last big storm —a year it'll be the fifth of next month— when you and me ourselves was hunted by. the fiend’s own wild beast.” ‘“‘Nor shall we hunt now for a while.” the captain said. ‘And why you're taking these things out when you ought to be off looking for Mother Juliet is beyond me.” “Captain,” Mike.retorted loudly, bracing his five feet four of tremendous muscle and standing at attention, “every one of them—’”’ “Please don’t roar so, Michael.” The captain slapped the door shut with a back-swing of his arm. Michael’s voice sank to a whisper, which was like steam from an exhaust valve: ‘Captain, every one of them implements is an oath. None of your ‘so help me’ about them, but help yourself is their way of putting it. And they’re dependable oaths—you understand me; they stick when they land.” “You believe, then, that Ransom lied?”’ “T don’t believe he lied, captain. And I don’t believe he told the truth. ‘Seeing is believing with me in this mat- | ter; and wouldn’t I hate to see him and Jake Haas and Sailor Pete coming up on us one mornin’ at the dinin’-room window— and me at me third cup of coffee—with three spick-and-span rifles and me saying to Rebecca: ‘Keep the coffee hot, Rebecca cCoOmicoooks C@©