The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1838-05-19
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED by ii. WEBB.
RG, COLUMBIA COUNTY, PA. SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1895

iHSJ ouu OOAHaiuO plotOh BllILSEeu dL Ills
head.
He was right" Inuttered twenty voic-
es, and as many knives started from their
sheaths.
AS the crippled snake in its angry pain,
SO did Bernardo turn on his rebellious gang.
His eye flashed fierce as the lightning's
blaze on eyes as fierce as his. Mad with
rage, yet fully aware of the spirits over
whom he held his wavering ascendency,the
willy chief searched for an instant the dark
faces around.
"Is there man." said he, with lofty We
hemence, "who has joined this daring mu-
tiny, that will say when your chief forgot
his duty! When has the sweeping storm
burst over us that guided not the helm!
When has the lightning lit upon the mid
night surge; that l trembled at its glare!
When has the fight dyed the sea with blood
that my sabre was not there! And who
was at my side in all this! There he lies;
the murdered Antonio, Who so fearlesely
sprung aloft when the hurricane rent the
futtering canvas! Who so true to cripple
the flying prize! Who was before him to
leap on the streaming deck! Who, when
hekneeling coward prayed for histrembling
life, so quick to stop his tongue as Antonio!
g Dead men Tell mn tales
A murrlur of appreciation was heard.
Bernatdo eyed Arnold with hellish joy.
:'And who," continued he sis his murder
rer! A stray cur that has swan off to US
with a rope about his neck. A weak fool,
who sleeps on his watch, and starts and
mutters of his father and his home, whose
womah'S tongue preached pity ito men like
you, when your knives are cutting the way
TO victory. He hes basely. killed. yoilr
brave companion, whose life was worth a
hundred such towards as he! What says
our law! "Life for life; blood for blood"
The stern words of the law were repeat
ed by all in tone that sllenced mercy.
Arnold heard his doom with scorn.
"Coward as have been called" said he
haughtily, 81 will not ask dogs for life
worth less than this dead jackall," spurning
the huge corse of Antonio. II ask for
death, but let it be on the decks of the en-
envy"
"The law, the law!--Blood for bloodr'
interrupted Bernardo.
The ominous sentence was whispered
again, like the hollow threat of the mid
night wind.
A shudder thrilled the frame of the DOOM
ed; for an instant in that dread moment, his
eye sought the bright, still sky-one bitter
tear stole down and trembled on his lip; he
thought of his far home, his childhood's
song, his mothers smile--but again def
ance mantled on his brow; dark and fearless
he looked on the seekers of his blood.
81 must die; but ere l go, I'll hurl the
lie back to the teeth of the damned one
that spoke it, said he, bending hateful
glance at the chief. ''I. becomes him well
to call me cur and coward, who came from
the womb squeaking curse on men; who
grew and fattened on his klndred's blood"
"Fool! do you beard ME herel" cried
the furious Bernardo, flashing pistol in
the face of the youth. The excited crew
closed between them, when Arnold drew
his bloodstained knife, and sprang up the
mainmast. "Whoever follows" shouted
he ''shall leap with me from the mast
head"
The fearful brawl was arrested by The
hurried cry of "a sail, sail, on the lar
board bow" In an instant, all was hustle.
Away to the west, dark streak on the sea
marked the coming wind. Just within its
edge, a large brig was seen bearing due
south under full sail.
"She will escape us by this cursed calm''
growled Bernardo. "What colorsl"
"American," returned the lookout.
"a prize, but not for u.s."
FTho 1o.1 Au.ao;o .,,o. ko..sI,, tI,xo,c,,