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Show SOUTH CACHE COURIER, HYRUM, UTAH CThe Qreen Pea Pirates By PETER B. KYNB Author of Mans Man, The Valley of the "Webster Giants,? Etc. Copyright, fcjr Peter B. Kyoa nados, and it seemed to him now even a greater sacrilege to have brazenly planned to enter her as a privateer in the struggles of the republic of Colombia. 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 in another. In Panama the freebooters of the Maggie U learned that during Mr. GIbneys absence on bis filibustering trip the Colombian revolutionists had risen and struck their blow. After the fashion of a hotheaded and impetuous people, they had entered the contest absolutely untrained. As a result, the war had lasted Just two weeks, the leaders had been incontinently shot, and the whitewinged dove of peace had once more spread her pinions along the borders of the Gold coast. Commodore Gibney was disgusted measure, and at a special meeting of the syndicate, called In the cabin of the Maggie II that same evening, It was finally decided that they should embark on an Indefinite trading cruise fax the South seas, or until such time as it seemed their services must, be required to free a downtrodden people from a tyrants yoke. Captain Scraggs and McGuffey had never been In the South seas, but they had Ward that a fair margin of profit was to be wrung from trade In copra, shell, coconuts, and kindred tropical products. They so expressed themselves. To this suggestion, however, Commodore Gibney waved a deprecating paw. Legitimate tradin, boys, he said, is a nice, sane, healthy business, but the profits is slow. What we want is quick profits, and while It aint 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 aint no adventure to speak of. We ought to do a little or raid some of those Jap pearl fisheries off the northern coast of Formosa. But well be chased by real gunboats If we do that, objected Captain Those Jap gunboats shoot Scraggs. to kill. Cant you think of somethin ' else, Gibr Well, said Mr. Gibney, for a starter, I can. Suppose we Just head straight for Kandavu island In the and scheme around for a cargo of black coral? Its only worth about fifty dollars a pound. Kandavu lays somewhere In latitude 22 south, longitude 178 west, and when I was there last It was fair reekin with cannibal savages. But theres tons of black coral there, and nobodys ever been able to sneak In and get away with It. Every time a boat used to land at Kandavu, the native niggers would stew down on the have a white-ma- n beach, and Its got so that skippers give the Island a wide berth. Gib, my dear boy, chattered Captain Scraggs, Im a man of peace and I I Scraggsy, old said Mr. Gibney, laying an affectionate hand on the skippers shoulder, youre nothin of the sort Youre a figbtln n tarantula, and nobody knows It Adelbert P. Gibney. Ive seen you in action, Scraggsy. Remember that. Its all right for you to say youre a man of peace and advise me and McGuffey to keep out of the track of trouble, but we know that away down low youre goin around lookin for blood, and that once youre up agin the enemy, you never bat an eyelash. , Eh, McGuffey? McGuffey nodded; whereupon. Captain Scraggs, making but a poor effort to conceal the pleasure which Mr. Gibneys rude compliment afforded him, turned to the rail, glanced seaward, and started to walk away to attend to some trifling detail connected with the boat falls. All right, Gib, my lad, he said, affecting to resign himself to the Inevitable, have It your own way. Youre a commodore and Im only a plain captain, but Ill follow wherever you lead. Ill go as far as the next man and well glom that black coral If we have to slaughter every man, woman and child on the island. Only, when were sizzlin In a pot dont you UP and say I never warned you, because I did. How dye propose Intimidatin the natives. Gib? said the commodore, Scraggsy, solemnly, .weve waged a private war agin a friendly nation, licked em and helped ourselves to their ship. Weve changed her name and rig and her official number and letters and were sailin under bogus papers. That makes us pirates, and that old Maggie burgee floatin at the fore aint nothin more nor less than the Jolly Roger. All right! Lets be pirates. Who cares? When we slip Into Mgalao harbor well Invite the king and his head men aboard for dinner. Weil get em drunk, clap em in double Irons, and surrender em to their weep-Isubjects when theyve filled the hold of the Maggie II with black coraL If they refuse to come aboard weil shell the bush with that long guns gun and the Maxim rapid-firweve got below decks. Thatll scare em so theyll leave us alone and we can help ourselves to the coral. Scraggs cold blue eyes glistened. Lord, Gib," he murmured, youve got a head. be-yo- CHAPTER X Continued. 11 "Theres one thing more that we mustnt neglect, warned ,Mr. GIbney before the meeting broke up. Weve got to run this little vessel Into some where theres a nice beach and smooth water, and change her name. I notice that her old name Relna Marla is screwed Into her bows and across her stern In raised gilt letters, contrary to lqw and custom, .Well snip em off, sandpaper every spot where theres a letter, and repaint It; after which well rig up a stagin over her bow and stern, and cut her new name, 'Maggie 11 right into her plankin. Nobodyll ever sus-- I pect her names been changed. I notice that the official letters and numbers cut Into her main beam Is 9957. Ill change the F to E, and the O to 0, and the P to It. A handy man with a wood chisel can do lots of things. He can change those nines to eights, the five to a six, and the seven to a nine. Ive seen It done before. Then well rig a foretopmast and a spinnaker boom on her, and bend a fishermans staysail. Nothing like It .when youre sailing a little off the wind. Spraggs, you have the papers cf the old Maggie, and we all have our licenses regular enough. Dig up the old papers, Scraggsy, and Ill doctor 'em up to fit the Maggie H. As for our armament, well dismount the guns and stow em away In the hold until we get down on the Colombian coast, and while were lying In Panama repairing the holes where my shots went through her, and puttin new planks In her decks where the old plankin has been scored by shrapnel, those paraqueets will think were as peaceful as chipmunks. Better look over your supplies, McGuffey, and see if theres any paint aboard. Id Just as lief give the old girl a different dress before we drop anchor In Panama." Gib, said Captain Scraggs, earnestand shull-drathe ly, "Ill keel-haman that says you aint git a great head. By the lord, supplemented McGuffey. you have. The commodore smiled and tapped his frontal bone with his forefinger. Imagination, my lads, Imagination, he said, and reached for the last of the punch. Exactly three weeks from the date of the naval battle which took place off the Coronado Islands, and whereby Mr. Gibney became commodore and managing owner of the erstwhile Mexican coast patrol schooner Belna Marla, that vessel sailed out of the harbor of Panama completely rejuvenated. Mr. Gibney had her painted a creamy white with a dark blue waterline. She had had her bottom cleaned and scraped and the copper sheathing overhauled and patched up. Her sails had begn overhauled, inspected, and repaired wherever necessary, and In order to be on the safe side, Mr. upon motion duly made by him and seconded by McGuffey (to whom the seconding of the Gibney motions had developed Into a habit), purchased an extra suit of new sails. The engines were overhauled by the faithful McGuffey and a large store of distillate stored In the hold. Captain e aversion to Scraggs, with his a made motion (which was expense, seconded by McGuffey before he had taken time to consider Its Import) providing for the abolition of the office of chief engineer while the Maggie II was under sail, at which time the was to hold himself chief under tlie orders of the commodore and be transferred to the deck department if necessary. Mr. Gibney approved the measure and it went into effect. Only on entering or leaving a port, or In case of chase by an enemy, were the engines to be used, and McGuffey was warned to be extremely saving of his dog-hol- e j P g ul Glb-oe- y, old-tim- lo distillate. Mr. Gibney made a splendid Job of changing the vessels name, and as she chugged lazily out of Panama bay and lifted to the long ground-swel- l of the Pacific, It Is doubtfqj( If even her late Mexican commander would have recognized her. She was Indeed a .beautiful craft, and Commodore heart swelled with pride as he stood aft, conning the nan at the wheel, and looked her over. It seemed like a sacrilege now, when he reflected how he bad trained the gun of the old (Maggie on her that day off the Coro Glb-ne- ys black-birdl- n, was "Like playin comment . The commodore smiled. I thought you boys would see(lt 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, weil leave the first mate In charge while we go ashore and have a good time. Ive seen worse places than Panama." As a result of this conference Mr. Gibneys suggestions were acted upon, and they contrived to make their brief stay in Panama very agreeable. They Inspected the work on the canal, marveled at the stupendous engineering in the Culebra Cut, drank a little, gambled a little. McGuffey whipped a 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, L e.. ys post-offic- e, All for one and one for all United we staiql, divided we fall, mixed In the conflict and presently found himself In durance vile. Captain 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 of the culprits, he was Instantly forgiven. Mr. Gibney vowed that If a United States cruiser didnt happen to be lying In the roadstead, he would have shelled the town in retaliation. But eventually the days passed, and the Maggie II, well found and ready for sea, shook out her sails to a fair breeze and sailed away for Kandavu. She kept well to the southwest until she struck the southeast trades, when she swung around on her course, headed straight for her destination. It was a pleasant voyage, devoid of incident, anc the health of all hands was excellent Mr. Gibney took dally observations, and was particular to make dally entries In his log when he, Scraggs, and McGuffey were not playing crlbbage, a game of which all three were passionately fond. On the afternoon of the twenty-nintday after leaving Panama the lookout reported land. Through his glasses Mr. Gibney made out a cluster of tall h Fi-JI- s, e ing, "therell be a lot of canoes paddling off to visit us within the hour, so whatever you do, dont 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 aint necessary, but when I was here twenty years ago it was all the rage to kill a white man and eat him. Maybe times has changed, but the harbor and the coast looks jut as wild and lonely as they ever did, and I didnt see no sign of missionary when we dropped hook last night. So dont take no chances." All hands promised that they would take extreme care, to the end that their precious persons might remain Intact, so Mr. Gibney finished his cup of coffee at a gulp and went oh deck. The Kandavu aborigines were not long In putting In an appearance. Even as Mr. Gibney came on deck half a dozen canoes shot out from the beach. Mr. Gibney immediately piped all hands on deck, armed them, and nonchalantly awaited the approach of what might or might not turn out to be an enemy. When the flotilla was within pistol shot of the schooner Mr. Gibney stepped to the rail and motioned them back. Immediately the natives ceased fellow paddling, and a stood up In the forward canoe. After the manner of his kind he had all his life sbused his head In when making his savage toilette, and as a result his shock of black hair home. stood on end and bulged out like a lets Well, then, said McGuffey, crowded hayrick. He was naked, of get the guns ready. Somethin tells course, and in his hand he held n huge me these people aint to be trusted, war club. and Im tellin you right now, Gib, I That fullerd eat a rattlesnake," wont sleep well tonight unless them Shoot him, two quarter gatllngs and the Maxim-- ' gasped Captain Scraggs. Gib, if he bats an eye. Vickers rapid-fir- e guns is mounted and Shut up, said the commodore, a ready for business. trifle testily; thats the number-on- e All right, Mac, replied Mr. Gibnigger, who does the talkin. hAo, ney, In the tone one uses when humorboy. ing a baby. Set em up if itll make Hello, capn, replied the savage, you feel more cheerful. Still, I dont and salaamed gravely. You likee buy see why you want to go actin so foolchicken, buy pig? Maybe you say come ish over nothin." board, I talk. Me very good friend Well, Gib," replied the engineer, I white master. be crazy, but I aint rio fool, and may soul ! Bless my if theres a dead whale around the What wont ship, I can come pretty near smellln gasped the commodore. them missionaries do next? Cut off it. I tell you, Gib, that my ears If this nigger aint civilized I" nigger had a look In his eye for all He beckoned to the canoe and it shot the world like a cur dog lickin a bone. alongside, and Its brown crew came I aint takin no chances. My old man climbing over the rail of the Maggie used to say: Bart, whatever you do, H. allers have an anchor out to windMr. Gibney met the spokesman at ward. " the rail and they rubbed noses very By the left hind leg of the Great solemnly, after the manner of saluta- Sacred Bull, snapped Captain Scraggs, tion in Kandavu. Captain Scraggs If you aint enough to precipitate bustled forward, full of Importance. war." Interduce me, Gib, he said amiably, is my War, replied McGuffey, and then, while Mr. Gibney favored long suit particularly war with native him with a sour glance, Captain niggers. I just naturally crave to Scraggs stuck out his hand and shook punch the ear of anything darker than a Portugee. Remember how I cleaned briskly with the native. out the police department of Panama? Happy to make your acquaintance, he said. Mount the guns If youre goin to, Scraggs is my name, sir. Shake hands with McGuffey, our chief Mac. If not, for the love of the! Lord engineer. Hope you left all the folks dont be demoralizin the crew with at home well. Whatd you say your this talk of war. All I ask Is that you name was? set the guns after Ive finished my The Islander hadnt said his name business here with Tabu-Tablies was anything, but he grinned now and been on a war vessel, and knows what guns are, and If he saw you mountin replied that it was Tabu-TabWell, my bucko," muttered McGuf- them it might break up our friendly fey, who always drew Jhe color line, relations. Hell think we dont trust Im glad to hear that. But you aint him. the only thing thats taboo around this Well, we dont, replied McGuffey, packet. You can jest check that war doggedly. club with the first mate, pendin our Well, we do, snapped Captain better acquaintance. Hand It over, Scraggs. There Is always something connected you black beggar, or Ill hit you a swat in the ear thatll hurt all your with the use of that pronoun of kings relations. And .hereafter,- Scraggsy, which eats like a canker at the heart Just keep your nigger friends to your- of men of the McGuffey breed. That self. I aint wnxin effusive over this officer now spat on the deck, in defisavage, and Its agin my principles ance of the rules of his superior offever to shake hands with a colored icers, and glared at Captain Scraggs. man. This chaps a d d ugly cus"Speak for yourself, you miserable If you intomer, and you take my word for it." little wart," he roared. Tabu-Tab- u grinned again, walked to clude me on that cannibals visitin the rail, and tossed his war club down list, and go to contradictin me agin. Into the canoe. Ill Me good missionary boy, he said, Mac," Interrupted Mr. Gibney, anrather humbly. grily, "control yourself. Its agin the n "McGuffey.' my dear boy, protested rules to have and so be our on n. "dont the Remember doggone Scraggs, Captain Maggie rude. You might hurt this poor lads motto: All for one and one for all feellns. Of course hes only a simple native nigger, but even a dawg has Here comes that sneakin " feellns. You murderer back to the vessel," snarled McGuffey. I wonder Interrupted McGuffey. You two belay talkin and snappln what devilment hes up to now." at each other, commanded Mr, GibMr. McGuffey was partly right, for in ney, "an leave all bargainin to me. a few minutes Tabu-Tabcame alongThis boy Is all right and well get side, climbed aboard, and salaamed. along first rate If you two Just haul Mr. Gibney, fearful of McGuffeys Inship and do somethin useful besides ability to control his antipathy for buttin in on your superior officer. the race, beckoned Captain Scraggs Come along, Makee little and Tabu-Tabto follow him down eat down in cabin. You talkee cap- into the cabin. Meanwhile, McGuffey tain. contented himself by parading backGib, my dear boy," sputtered Cap- ward and forward across the tain Scraggs, bursting with curiosity, head with a Mauser rifle In the following the commodores reappear- hollow of his afm and his person fairance on deck, "whatevers in the ly bristling with pistols and cutlasses. wind? Whenever one of the flotilla of canoes Money fortune, said Mr. Gibney, hove to ,at a respectful distance, showed signs of crossing an Imagisolemnly. McGuffey edged up and eyed the nary deadline drawn by McGuffey, he commodore Sure there would point his rifle at them and swear seriously. aint a little flghtln mixed up in it? horribly. He scowled at Tabu-Tabhe asked. when that individual finally emerged "Not a bit of It," replied Mr. Gibney. from the conference with Mr. Gibney Youre as safe on Kandavu as if you and Scraggs and went over the side was In chrrch. This Tabu kid Is sort to his waiting canoe. (TO SS CONTINUED.) of prime minister to the king, with a Tabu-Tabu- Tabu-Tab- u wild-lookin- g lime-wat- er Tabu-Tab- bet-ter- n Now, boys," announced Commodore Gibney, as he sat at the head of the officers mess at breakfast next morn- heap of influence &c court. The ct of a British cruiser stole him tor a galley police when he was a' kid, and he got civilized and learned to talk English. He was a cannibal in them days, but the chaplain aboard showed him how foolish it waa to do such things, and finally Tabu-Tab- u got re. llgion and asked as a special favor to be allowed to return to Kandavu to civilize his people. As a result of s efforts, he tells me the king has concluded that when he eats a white man hes flyln In the face of his own Interests, and most generally a gunboat comes along In a few months and shells the bush, and well, any. how, there aint been a barbecue on Kandavu for ten years. Its a capital crime to eat a man now, and punishable by boilin the offender alive In palm oil. Well," rumbled McGuffey, this Tabu-Tab- u dont look much like a preacher, if you ask me. But how about this black coral? Oh, Ive ribbed up a deal with Hell see him," said Mr. Gibney. that we get all the trade we can lug away. Were the first vessel thats touched here In two years, and they have a thunderin lot of stuff on hand. Tabus gone ashore to talk the king into doin business with us. If he consents, well have him and and three or four of the subchiefs aboard for dinner, or else hell Invite us ashore for a big feed, and well have to go. "Supposin the king dont care to have any truck with us? Inquired McGuffey, anxiously. In that case, Mac, replied the commodore with a smile, well just naturally shell him out of house and sweet-scente- d stick-in-the-mu- d, -- CHAPTER XI. u u. They Rubbed Noses Very Solemnly. palms at the southerly end of the Island, 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 harbor. Thats Kandavu, all right, an1 was there nounced the commodore. in 89 with Bill McGinty in the schooner Dashln Wave. Theres the entrance to the harbor, with the Esk reefs to the north and the Pearl reefs to the south. The channels very narrow not more than three tables, if Its that, but theres plenty of water and a good muddy bottom thatll hold. McGuffey, lad, better run below and tune up your engines. Its too dangerous e a passage on an for a sailin vessel, so well run In under the power. Scraggsy, stand by and when 1 give the word have your crew shorten sail. Within a few minutes a long white streak opened up In the wake of the schooner, announcing that McGuffeys engines 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. Gibney smiled an ecstatic smile as he took the wheel and guided the schooner through the channel. He rounded her up In twelve fathoms, and within five minutes every stitch of canvas was clewed down hard and fast. The sun was setting as they dropped anchor, and Mr. Gibney had lanterns hung along the sail so that It would be impossible for any craft to approach the. schooner and board her without being seen.f Also the watch on deck that night carried Mauser and cutlasses. Mr. rifles, Gibney was taking no chances, ebb-tid- - rag-chewi- back-bit-l- n bushy-heade- d u Tabu-Tab- u. u le u |