Among the River Pirates

fresh coffee. He put the two cups on a little tin tray and carried

handing Toby a cup of the steaming beverage. “

roffered cup an

coward, takin’ on this w

is embarrassment, sat down on

know how kinda crazy an’ different you’d act after seem’ that.

ard ’bout it. If I’d told the mate right on the spot, he’d had ter keep me till the police come. Then what would happened ter you

’em think you was the one that

what the law is once yer git in its fist. If they can’t find nobody else they’ll pin it

have the cops thinkin’ you did it, when you didn’t! Gee, I’ll get along somehow, honest I will, Pop. I’ll get along better to know you did what was r

airy fist down o

he said vehemently. “But if yer promise yer Pop ter stay good an

op, I’m

got up and stalked into the cabin with the empty cu

he shoulders, “we’ll be a-gittin’ back ter the Apol

his father should not see the tears swimming in his eyes. “And, Pop, you’re kinda

e nodded

wanta know

dn’t hear him make a noise from the time yo

And like I told you, the

te said he dreamed he heard somebody runnin’ an’ then he heard a muffled kicker shoving off aft like

nny. But c’mon, we’ll take the chan

painted launch shoot alongside of the Minnie M. Baxter. As Skippy and his father lean

Skippy hissed. “

Y HISSED. “IT’S THE C

son’s trembling f

deep voice commanded f

Toby answer

up. Stay right

e A—Apollyon an’ tell them how it all really happened. Pop ran away on accounta me, but after we talk

“Now that’s interestin’. But I’d wait till the rest of

ck. Six men, he thought, with not a little fear. How weak would his father’s st

already snatched away from him. Now that the police confronted them he was terribly afraid and in

in his hoarse,

ype="