Cheer Boys Cheer: The Boys' Journal, No. 62 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

36 PAGES. against their skipper. I’ve spotted your tricks already, you see, and if there’s going to be any more of ’em, Ill soon settle your hash. ‘Twouldn't be the first time I’ve ut a man ashore to save feeding im in irons!” - Holroyd drew himself up, the Cockney and Tom Jesty looking to him as if they trusted him for their spokesman. «Tm not going to be bullied and hazed like this,” he said quietly. “Tve got to see the voyage out, and I’m ready to obey you as man to man. But I won’t be bullied, and I’m net going to stand by and see those poor wretches tortured by you or anybody else. What I’ve seen since I’ve beer aboard this cursed vessel—that cargo of helpless slaves,. packed closer and treated worse than cattle — it’s made me mad, I tell you F —it’s made me mad!’ And he clenched his fists EVERY TUESDAY. ONE PENNY. § side of his mouth. ‘‘ They wanted me there, Mr. Harry Royden—for that’s your real name, and you're a deserter from the Navy!” The young map made a liitiec helpless gesture, like one warding off a_ blow. He gazed at the Cockney, who merely gaped back; then he turned to Tom Jesty, who scratched his golden beard in perplexity. “Ay,” chuckled Captain Chance, “they wanted me there! I'd like to see any man strike me on my own deck. A puppy o’ your size—why 9 4 and gave a great sob of anguish. The captain spat over one shoulder. “You and this other whipper- : Yj apper ” — point- t Bantry— {get » forard : i ye're [}MEas tf told by me and Mr. | i | sn Hawkins. As for the Kanakas, they're | my busi- ness, not yours. We're going to | work ’em to Queens- land, and for every one as dies on th’ voyage there’ll be a reckoning *twixt |\!/\ Hi you and me. Tain’ -tty in this trade for ‘ili! my health, my lad, SSS nor yet for plea- sure. Not like the kid-glove skippers you've been used to!” he added, with an evil leer. Holroyd turned white under the tan on his lean face He recoiled a step, breathing fast, and Tom Jesty and the Cockney swung towards him in bewildered surprise. Captain Chance gave a malicious chuckle. “Ay, you didn’t dream as I had tumbled to that?” he went on. “ But it ain’t so long ago as I saw the Sydney papers; and I’ve got a memory for faces. Besides which, there’s the Navy touch about you. But they couldn’t learn you to obey your superior officers seemingly.” He rolled the cigar to the other Ane Straight and hard a fist around and , Shot out, and the hulking ing his \. bully went QY)\ the deck. “Stop!” panted Royden. “‘ It’s true enough what you say about me, but there’s my side to the matter. You don’t understand; I wouldn’t trouble to explain to a man of your stamp.” “My stamp!’’ blazed up the skipper, dropping his cigar. “ Say that again, you swab! Give me another bit of your insolence and Til have a rope’s end about you. Down with your hands—stand back, by thunder, or Pll kick you round the ship! You lying fraud! You dirty defaulter! You——” ww There came a sharp snap as the captain's teeth closed together, almost biting through his tongue. Twice Royden had lifted his hands and then forced them down again by a desperate effort. But in the midst of that foul stream of taunt- ing jeers he had lost control of him- self, and straight and hard his fist had shot out, eatching the skipper on the point of his stubbly chin. The hulking figure crashed full length on the planking; but in a moment the bully scrambled up and was bellowing like a mad bull, whilst he wiped the blood away from his lips with the back of one hand, “You hound ! Sink me, soul and all, if I don’t have you in irons for this! Ay, but that’s ee too good for you! Here, Hawkins,” he roared, as the fi f mate came stum- iff bling aft with a couple of villainous Mh Portuguese at his LEAN, heels. “‘ Hold that WA swab—seize him! = The boat, there! fi = You, Jesty, bring Hl her alongside! D’ye Ve hear me?” it aa The sailor turned | ize|!| reluctantly to obey, (Zan it || to carry I ominous || Hauling in the open ‘il boat that had been i "idly rocking astern, = he slipped over the rail and dropped order. his great bulk into the stern __—. sheets. With a curious look in his eyes he got out an oar, and then stood listening to the hubbub up above, where the captain, all his face by this time streaked with blood, was dancing shak- fists at crashing to Royden, by now a passive prisouer in the custody of Hawkins. “Into the boat with him!” roared the skipper. ‘‘ Get him off my decks and out o’ sight before there’s murder done !’* “You'll send him ashore to the island?’ asked Hawkins. “ Ay, that I will, by thunder! And let him thank his lucky star I don’t send him to the bottom in- stead. But the island won’t be no pienic for you, my son. Tuhere’s water, and there’s cocoanuts, and that’s all you’ll get. Ha, ha, ha! When I come again I'll look for your bones and bury ‘em! Take p92 the hound away! Peis Ae z= TAI Pana vA AYaAYa)| 7C— Comicbooks: (e(oylan) SW) TL