Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 245: what you’re looking at

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

up a stout heart, and that her release would soon be effected, the little French- man took his departure. CHAPTER XVI.—THE Pursuit". WHILE Struthers, Cottrell and Captain Kent were quietly discussing cer- tain details of their future plans, the sailors had grouped themselves at some little distance, and were holding a very animated conversation in low tones. And presently, just as the trio were about to give the order to start on the expedition, a sailor, acting as spokesman, approached Struthers and touched his cap respectfully. “ Beggin’ your pardon, sir,” he said politely enough, but in decided terms, “ we boys has decided we aren’t goin’ on no chase through them mountains. We've ’ad enough fightin’ already, an’ yer can’t say we didn’t do our damnd- est! But we didn’t ship for no brigand chasing. We be sailors an’ not deputy police. Without wishin’ to be disrespectful, sir, the boys as asked me to in- form you that they won’t go another step further in this ’ere adventure! ” Kent sprang to his feet and glared at his men like an enraged bull. “ What in ‘ell does this mean?” he rodred. “I'll have every one of you blasted mutinous seadogs put in irons for this! ” “ Shut up, Kent,” said Struthers. Then turning to the group of tars, who shifted and stirred uneasily under his stern eyes, he addressed them as follows: , ‘“ Boys, you have shown the stuff you are made of this night, and I thank you for what you did. Now, I can’t compel you to go after those outlaws, but if you have any heart youll not hesitate to follow me and rescue that unfortu- nate girl, who is in the clutches of Don Cavara. - It is true I never bargained for such work as we have had this night. The worst I expected was a tussle with ten or a dozen cutthroats—certainly not a company of brigands—and you must not imagine for a moment that 1f I had dreamed of such a thing, ] wouldn’t have prepared you for what was to come. ‘“T strongly suspect that the countess has been betrayed into captivity by a certain relative of hers, but, however that may be, she is a captive, and we would not be men if we did not attempt her rescue. Now, what have you all to say?” A great big burly fellow spoke up: “ Why don’t you put the matter in the hands of the police, then, as is their business to look out fer sech affairs? ”’ ‘‘ Because we don’t want the knowledge of our connection with this affair to come to the authorities, if we can help it, for very good reasons, and let that be enough for you, Jack Bender!” said Struthers shortly. The sailors held another brief consultation, and then their spokesman again addressed Struthers. | ‘ Sir, if this was any ’ornary adventure, with the chances of a broken ’ead hand nothing more, we’d be with you, every one on us, and you know, sir, on shipboard we’d fight while there was a plank hunder our feet. But yer see, sir, we be mostly married men wi’ families to look arter, and to run our noses into that brigand lair to be hung up like a side o’ beef is more than we feel called GONG OOO ceo