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Some others, again, have obtained their denominations by way of antiphrasis, or contrariety; as Absinth, because it is contrary to Psinthos, for it is bitter to the taste in drinking; Holosteon, as if it were all bones, whilst, on the contrary, there is no frailer, tenderer, nor brittler herb in the whole production of nature than it.
That's Captain Bart Brittler, sticking his head out of the companionway; and Dolph's somewhere below." "But what are they doing on the Cassie J.? Their vessel was named the Silicon." "They're one and the same craft! I'm certain of it. I recognize her rig now, even if it was night when I saw her the first time.
Matters showed a decided improvement over what they had been a half-hour before. But the victory was as yet incomplete and Jim was too good a general to lose the battle from over-confidence. At any minute Dolph and Brittler might burst their way out through the double doors of the Barracouta and establish communication with the two men guarding the Chinese.
Cat-footed, he stole down toward the water. Steps approached, voices; he halted, ready for a hasty retreat. But the feet receded toward the cabin, and he had no difficulty in recognizing the tones of Dolph and Brittler. The latter was in a bad humor. "Now," he growled, "we've got a long way to go, and none too much time. Every minute we waste here means just so much off the other end.
Like lightning he slammed and hooked the double doors of the companionway, pulled the slide over, and snapped the padlock. Dolph and Brittler were prisoners on board the Barracouta! There was a moment of surprised silence. Then bedlam broke out below, a confused, smothered shouting, a violent thumping on the closed doors and slide. But Percy gave it no heed.
Elbow on table, chin resting in palm, Jim was buried in thought. In a short time, he knew, Brittler and his gang would sail away in the Barracouta. They would land their human cargo and probably scuttle the sloop. Somehow they must be thwarted; but how? The boys had no weapons to match those of their armed guard. Without ammunition, the shot-gun was but a bar of iron.
As they came, two wrenched the handkerchiefs from their faces, revealing to the astounded boys the features of the would-be sheep-thieves of the first of the summer, Dolph and Captain Bart Brittler! The latter was white with rage. His voice rose almost to a screech. "No more fooling! We need that sloop and we're going to have her! Will you sell her?" "No." "Then we'll take her!"
"Take him up to the camp, boys!" puffed Brittler. The doughty captain had not escaped unscathed. A swollen black eye and a bleeding nose bore eloquent testimony to the force and accuracy of Jim's blows. A guard on each side and another behind were soon propelling Spurling toward the open door. From within came the ceaseless click of a telegraph instrument. Throppy was still calling the cutter.
They didn't see our faces that night, so they don't know how we look; but they tried to make me talk enough so that they might recognize my voice. Guess that lookout's not so deaf as he pretended to be! Once Brittler felt sure who it was, he gave orders to the wheelman to run over us. He'd have done it, too, if I hadn't seen the schooner's bow start swinging the wrong way."
Dolph and Brittler were coming with a lantern; a blur of light brightened through the fog. "The compass and chart are aboard," came the captain's voice, "and this can of gas'll be enough to make us sure of striking the mainland. Launch that dory!" The dip of oars and an increasing brightness told that the boat was approaching. It would not do for Percy to be detected.
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