United States or Mexico ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !


Seeing he was dead I took his pistols; but gave him scant attention, being afraid Thirkle or Buckrow might be about, investigating the sound of the shots. Petrak's estimates on the distance of their hiding-place had been rather vague. I turned away to the west in the direction I felt sure the trail must be, and, when the ground was clear, ran as fast as I could.

Now wouldn't that be the way with him once he got at the gin? Hey, Bucky?" "He could be watched and his lip kept shut," said Buckrow. "Would you want to trust yer neck to Petrak's close lip? Tell me that, Bucky. Could ye sleep with Petrak and his bragging, and Long Jim and his bragging, and the two of 'em whispering together, considering the friends they make when drunk. Why, Bucky, man!

I'll take the lead, Bucky, and Long Jim last, and we've got the ship. We can let the fire-room chinks and the nigger go until morning. We'll take the bridge and keep the old tub going until day and then pick out a good place to drop her when we've got what we want. Petrak's got the wheel now, and we can do for the chinks, come day.

Ye know I ain't the kind to turn on a pal, Thirkle, and I say you stick to me and I'll stick to you, come what do. Ain't that right, Thirkle?" "Reddy, yer true blue," and he took Petrak's hand and shook it vigorously, and patted the little rat on the back. "Stick to Thirkle and Thirkle will stick to you like a Dutch uncle, and never mind what Mr. Trenholm has to say.

That's a capital idea, Reddy, and we'll use it." They bound my arms to my sides, and put the end of the rope round Petrak's waist, so that I was about five feet behind him when it was taut. In this way we set out for the beach, with Petrak in the lead and Thirkle, carrying his bundle and smoking a cigar, treading on my heels, to make me keep close up.

It seemed beyond reason that this chain of events could be nothing but a combination of coincidences, and, when I analyzed the situation, I framed what I considered a good theory regarding Petrak's presence outside my door.

I now began to fear that he would tell Thirkle what I had said to him. When we went out for another sack, Petrak looked over at Thirkle and hesitated as if he wanted to say something, but Thirkle was writing in a little book, with a pistol between his feet. "Well, what is it now?" he demanded truculently, having seen something suspicious in Petrak's manner. "What's the lay now?

He impudently winked at me as he stepped into the light, and hitched up his trousers in a nonchalant manner that was amusing. He had his shoes in his hand, and he had evidently dressed in a hurry to obey the summons of the mate. "Petrak's my name, sir, and they make a joke on my head by making me out 'Dago Red, sir. Been bos'n in "

He pointed to Petrak, who stood behind me with my baggage on his shoulder. "Hardly that," I laughed. "He says he's a sailor with a Manila thirst in his throat and no job." Petrak swung his burden to the deck and squared his shoulders, making a gesture, which he intended as a salute to the captain. "Petrak's my name, sir," he said, addressing Captain Riggs.