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Updated: June 28, 2025
I could have wished he was, so he might not have heard those words. He lifted his face to the light, and I could see the sweat of agony upon it. He did not speak. He just looked at the man in front of him. It was a look of unutterable loathing; his expression was as though he were regarding something indescribably obscene and revolting. And then he pursed his lips and spat in Captain Swope's face.
When he was cut down, his arms seemed paralyzed, and it was a full day ere the ache passed from them. And Newman had been enduring this pain for hours. But now, I thought, he must be mercifully unconscious, for his head hung upon his breast, and he made no sign that he heard the captain's gibes. It was sport to Swope's liking, and he was enjoying himself right royally. Aye, I could tell.
An' it was Swope's barn and I run in an' opened the door, didn't stop to knock or nung, an' I hollered out: 'Yib barn's afire! an' he run out in his sockfeet, an' he says: 'My Lord! he says. 'Linc, he says, 'run git the ingine an' I putt." Linc drew in a long, tremulous breath like a man that has looked on sorrow. "Why 'n't you " "Betchy 't was tramps," interrupted a bystander.
"'E was in the syl-locker mykin' hup to 'er," the speaker said, "an' tellin' as 'ow 'e'd lead the crew arft, and kill the hofficers, and tyke charge 'imself. That's wot 'e says, s' 'elp me!" "Ah, yes, he was making up to her, eh? And plotting mutiny? And my wife lent herself to such a scheme, did she?" This came in Swope's voice, soft, purring, the very tone an insult.
I went below after that watch with the thought of mutiny stirring in the back of my mind. But in the back, not the front, mind you. For mutiny on a ship is a dreadful business, as I, a sailor, well knew. A neck-stretching business! Yet there the thought was, and it stuck, and pecked ever more insistently at my consciousness as the days passed. Of course, I was wild with rage at Swope's attempt.
Fm West End Avenue and Swo Swope's. Gee! I'm hot's flitter." "Keep y' coat on when you're all of a prespiration, that way. How'd it ketch?" "Ount know. 'S comin' by there an' I whoof! I smelt smoke and Gosh! I'm all out o' breath an' I looked an' I je-e-est could see a light wisht I had a drink o' somepin' to rench mum mouth out. Whew! Oh, laws!
But if they had that hand-engine now though! "Up with her! Down with her!" Have that fire out in no time! They're not trying to save the barns. They're a dead loss. What little water they can get from the cisterns and wells around hasn't it been dry? they are using to try to save Swope's house, and the one next to it. Is that where Lonny Wheeler lives? I knew it was up this way somewhere.
The hard wet sand was ploughed and trampled with their tracks, the records of a dozen useless plunges, when suddenly instead of dodging Hardy stepped quickly forward, his "lily-white hand" shot out, and Jasper Swope's head went back with a jerk. "You son-of-a-goat!" he yelled, as the blood ran down his face, and lowering his head he bored in upon Hardy furiously.
But my God, boy, it hurts my feelin's to think of you all alone up here, tryin' to appeal to Jasp Swope's better nature." He twisted his lips, and shrugged his huge shoulders contemptuously. Then without enthusiasm he said: "Well, good luck," and rode away after his cattle.
Aye, and I understood in a flash why I had not beard the shotguns; the tradesmen had not Swope's murderous intent towards Mister Lynch. and they held their fire because they could not rake the gang without hitting Lynch. The tradesman, Connolly, was crouched against the companion hatch; he was staring after Newman and the lady, mouth agape.
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