The Boy Chums Cruising in Florida Waters

sand and was preparing to fry a big mess of

want none ob you white chillens foolin' around an' spoilin' dese fish.

ight. "Why didn't you get more than one lantern, Walt?"

hanging right there on th

Charley announced. "Are

aybe some of us moved them, whe

the shack failed to re

d, quietly. "We had better look and

ver his purchases. "Nearly all o

s gazed at each

king with the launch," Charley said. "Chr

essed. "De fish was jes' naturally biti

do about it?" W

and be more careful in the future. Of course, it was one of those fishermen who did it, there was no one

future. We evidently have some tough characters for neighbors. Let's not mourn and get downhearted, th

ding their disappointment, they made merry over the crisp, tasty,

ble and read the story of Christ with the discouraged fishermen, after which he prayed earnestly and w

fling footsteps outside, and a bit of rustling whi

his eyes, he flung open the door and peeped outside. The retreating footsteps had died away, and

fastened the d

ked, noting the grim, se

ied with a meaning glance. "

o bed, was snoring peacefully on his bla

ink of that?" h

ent their heads over the

face flushed with anger. "It's an out

uested the Captain. "I can

er o

hyar. Get rid of that little nigger you've got with

White

ng Dutchman," he shouted, "that little darkey is better than a shipload of thievin

in may be black but he's white, clean white, inside. Think of the times he's risked his life

e I knew how terribly bad it would make him feel,-he is a sensitive little fellow, but what are we going to do? The fellow or fellows, w

ave this place, before we part with

ne and all, that Chris stays with us. And if they do hi

't like the idea of being forced out of a place by any one. I don't think much better of what Walt proposes either. We are no match for a hundred fishermen, and it is foolish to make threats when one can not carry them out. In the second place, if we quarrel with the f

ave your plan,

will occur to us, I am sure. There is always a way out of any difficulty if one only thinks hard enough. I am dead

t to get the sleep they longed for. From the other shacks came the voices of their occupants gradually increasing in number and volume. At first, it seemed as though a kind of celebration was in progress; for the

drunk or fast getting

t this was a dry town and that no liquor

d. "He says it's a mystery where it comes from. The town authorities it seems, keep a close watch for blind tiger

remarked Captain Westfield as a fresh

long as the din continued, so th

suddenly. "I wonder w

the sharp crack of a pistol. The report was

t has frightened and sobered up the rest,

"You'll stay here if I have to hold you. It's none of our

ry. Our little party lay for awhile listening but the silence re

en Walter raised up on his

asleep,

my life," his chum grunted. "Why

h," declared Walter, anxiously, "

've laid quiet here and took it rather than

y we are entertaining a few thousand of those fishermen's closest f

d their faces and bodies covered

t's go out on board the 'Dixie.' It will be pretty close qua

ill be all stolen

will think we are inside, and we will be back b

rept softly out of the shack clos

. As they came opposite the first one Charley, who was