The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 1 — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

THE BUNKEL MYSTERY. 77 “T think you had better lie down on the floor, Miss Singerlay, for a ball from the revolver might go throtigh the side of the boat, though I don’t think there is much danger of it,’’ said Andy, when the fair skipper had seated her- self in the cuddy. ‘“Tf there isn’t any danger, I don’t want to run away, to smile, but it was hard work. ‘There is danger, and I think you had better lie down ; but not much danger, for the villain is too far off to hit us.”’ >) added Di, trying Di yielded to this argument, and reclined on the floor so that her body was _ below the water line of the sloop. She placed her head near the door and her position was comfortable enough. ‘But what are you going to do, Andy ?’’ asked Di, thinking for the first time of the safety of her plucky companion. “Tam going to sail the boat, Miss Singerlay,’’ replied hfe with a cheerful smile. : “ But the wretch will hit you with his revolver, appeared to be really concerned about him. | “T don’t think there is much danger of his hitting anything smaller than Bunkel Island ; butif I find I am likely to be shot, I am not too proud to duck my head below the top of the washboard so that he can’t see me,’’ replied Andy, laughing. ‘‘I can’t imagine where the rascal got the revolver, to say nothing of a second one I see in his belt ; and Iam sure he can have had no practice with the weapon.’’ ‘Are you go’n’ to stop that boat ?’’ yelled Tom, before the present skip- per had made all the arrangements described. : ‘“She won't stop, Thomas! She don’t know how to do sucha thing,’’ returned Andy. “T tell you I’m goin’ to shoot if you don’t stop !’’ cried Tom, who could not help seeing that the Diana was getting away from him. 7 ‘ Shoot away !’’ replied Andy, as he slid off his seat, and gathered him- self up on the floor of the standing room. _ In this position he could see over the top of the washboard by raising his head, while he easily retained his hold on the tiller. The two hoodlums were pulling with all their might ; but they were not skilled in the use of oars, besides being much excited by the savage sap ec of their great leader, and they did their work very badly. — “T ain’t foolin’ and if you don’t stop I’ll put a bullet through your soft head,’’ yelled Tom again. He was evidently disgusted with the weak im- pression produced by his pistol. ‘Put it through !’’ called Andy, as he looked over the washboard. The hoodlum had exhausted his patience in his efforts to induce Andy to be alarmed, and raising his weapon he fired it. ‘The skipper of the Diana did not scorn to duck his head, and the report followed his movement. ‘None of that !’’ shouted a voice, the owner of which did not appear to be on the stage of action. Andy heard the words very distinctly, though as his head was down, he failed to note the direction from which the sound came. The remark a) suggested Di, who Tt Commiclooolks 3