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proposal. On the other hand, he reasoned, it would be as much to their

advantage to have the deserters return to them as it would to the deserters

themselves, for when they had heard the story told by Red Sanders and Wison of

the murder of the others of the party they too would realize the necessity for

maintaining the strength of the little company to its fullest.

"I don't see that we're goin' to gain nothin' by fightin' 'em," said Wison. "There

ain't nothin' in it any more nohow for nobody since the girl's gorn. Let's chuck it,

an' see wot terms we can make with Squint Eye."

"Well," grumbled the Negro, "I can't fight 'em alone; What yo doin' dere, Bony?"

During the conversation Bony Sawyer had been busy with a stick and a piece of

rag, and now as he turned toward his companions once more they saw that he

had rigged a white flag of surrender. None interfered as he raised it above the

edge of the breastwork.

Immediately there was a hail from below. It was Ward's voice.

"Surrenderin', eh? Comin' to your senses, are you?" he shouted.

Divine, feeling that immediate danger from bullets was past, raised his head

above the edge of the earthwork.

We have something to communicate, Mr. Ward," he called.

Spit it out, then; I'm a-listenin'," called back the mate.

Miss Harding, Mr. Theriere, Byrne, Miller, and Swenson have been captured and

killed by native head-hunters," said Divine.

Ward's eyes went wide, and he blew out his cheeks in surprise. Then his face

went black with an angry scowl.

You see what you done now, you blitherin' fools, you!" he cried, "with your funny

business? You gone an' killed the goose what laid the golden eggs. Thought you'd

get it all, didn't you? and now nobody won't get nothin', unless it is the halter.

Nice lot o' numbskulls you be, an' whimperin' 'round now expectin' of us to take

you back--well, I reckon not, not on your measly lives," and with that he raised

his revolver to fire again at Divine.

The society man toppled over backward into the pit behind the breastwork before

Ward had a chance to pull the trigger.

"Hol' on there mate!" cried Bony Sawyer; "there ain't no call now fer gettin'

excited. Wait until you hear all we gotta say. You can't blame us pore sailormen.

The Mucker