Fair play : $b a novelSouthworth, Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte
General
Fair play : $b a novel
Southworth, Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte
American fiction -- 19th century
“Master, the boys mean to leave that lubber here and elect Mate Mulligan
captain and me first mate. But, master, we will take you off, as you
have done the handsome by us in the matter of the keg of whisky; if you
don’t mind cruising round a bit with the certainty of a fight now and
then, and the chance of some day or other getting into port somewhere.”
“Thank you; but I am colonized here for the present, and do not wish to
leave just yet,” said Justin.
“Just as you please, master! Have you got any more of that good liquor
left?”
“Yes, there it is; help yourselves; you are quite welcome to the whisky,
tobacco, pipes, or anything else you may see here in my Robinson Crusoe
establishment,” said Justin.
“Now that is what I call handsome! Here, mates, lend a hand and help to
carry some of this liquor and ’bacco to the boats!” said the man, once
more going to the door and calling to his companions.
They all came in at his summons.
Justin noticed that the man whom Captain Spear had called Mulligan was
not among them. And thus he knew that Mulligan had no part in the
mutiny, and had been elected captain of the pirate ship in his absence,
without his knowledge, and possibly against his will.
The men touched their hats, civilly, to their host, and then began to
take up the articles pointed out, and to carry them off.
“Good-by, master! Sorry to leave so kind a host! Call again when we pass
this way! Meantime, wish you joy of the new comrade we have left you!”
said the ringleader of the mutiny, as with a bottle of whisky in each of
his pockets and one in each of his hands, he followed the last sailor
from the grotto.
Justin went to the door and watched them out of sight, and then he took
his telescope and climbed the mountain to the tableland on the summit
and watched them as they entered their boat and rowed toward the ship.
With the aid of his glass he saw them embark, unload their boat and draw
it up and secure it to the davits; and still he watched them while they
got up their anchor, spread their canvas to the breeze and made sail;
and still further he watched until the ship had sailed away from the
island and waned in the distance.
Then he hurried down the mountain side and into the grotto to look after
the pirate captain, his late guest, who was henceforth to be his
prisoner.
He found Captain Spear still in the heavy sleep of intoxication.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account