THE PLUME PIRATES 355 



The sight drove the Japanese frantic. A dozen 

 of them broke from their hiding-places and 

 charged. 



'^ Shoot at the ankle, son," remarked the Feather 

 Man, calmly, ''there's no need to hurt them too 

 much. ' ' 



Both pistols cracked and four men fell. The 

 rest flattened themselves on the ground. 



"You, Ned Thompson," called the Feather Man, 

 **tell those yellow friends of yours that I've got a 

 bead on the head of every man- Jack of them lying 

 on the ground. If I don't shoot, it's merely be- 

 cause I want to give them a chance. And if any 

 one else fires a shot, you can arrange for some 

 Japanese funerals, right quick!" 



Silence followed this remark and then a fusillade 

 of shots was heard behind the building. 



**When thieves fall out," remarked the Feather 

 Man, ''honest men come by their own." 



Presently, out from behind the building, came 

 Ned Thompson, disarmed, his hands bound, in the 

 grasp of a dozen Japanese. 



"Ned Thompson," said the Feather Man, "this 

 is the end of your rope. You shot Bull Adam, 

 there's little doubt of that, and you shot Guy Brad- 

 ley on the Egret rookery. You see that smoke on 



