Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-11-14
ICONrINUED PROM OUR LAS

oCJ &C, &c
CONTINUED PROM OUR LAST.
All was now excitement. The alarm bell,
which was kept near by to strike on such occz-
sions, began TO peal forth its alarm, and from q
dock below. in a few moments, boat of the
Humane Society shot out guided by blue
light which was sent up by a watehman sta
toned on the cupOla above the dock
The unearthly wild glare of the light as il
rose with fiery train, high in the air, was shed
upon the bridge, river, and throngs of barges
and vessels beneath, lighting them up with the
glare of nOOn-day, but only for n moment But
IN this moment those who look ed down from the
bridge saw a boat, as it shot out from under
the arch adown which the form Of the suicide
had descended from the parapst, lay to an in
stant, and drag on board the body of a man.
He is safe '"
They've got him in -
w no can he be ," were the exclamations of
the watchmen and others While they were
yet speaking, the blue-lght descended far over
the water, and was suddenly exlinguished in
the black waves Of the Thames, leaving the
scene, 80 lately illumined and clearly visible,
once more wrapped in darkness
The Humane 8 barge, seeing that the strange
boat had rescued the man, retired to its berth
In the dock, and in few minutes all was ST.
lent a. before, save the light, pattering feet of
Evs-fOr 50 also was she called-as she hast
oned along the bridge on her way homeward
wondering why the good gentleman should wish
TO drown himself, and rejoicing that the boats
company had taken him safely out of the river.
We VIII now transfer the reader to an old
structure, partly stone and partly of old black
and decayed oak, which stands on the very
shore Of the Thames, half mile above London
bridge, on the right bank. 1t was one of the
few dwellings which remained of the days of
EllIabeth, and had been the residence of a no.
bic lord OF her court; and for that day il was
an edlfice of dignity and Importance But
houses have their histories, and their ups and
downs In life, as we'll as their owners and af-
ter passing through many queer experiences
and being put TO many base uses it had, at the
time OF our story got TO be a sort of river side
taproom, or boatmans inn
III was peculiarly fitted for such a use hay-
Ing Is second story built out like piazza far
over tbs water, so that q score of wherries and
other boats could run under and lie together
oensath Its shelter; while from the water up,
through the floor of the piazza, was a stairway.
giving access TO the main body of the house.
which had front on Thames Alley vile and
narrow lane, which threaded the mazes of old
houses that lined the river side
As the :" Sack by which name this ancient
Inn was khOwn-was equally accessible by the
street as oy the rlver-It had two sets Of visit
ors-the cabmen es well as the watermen The
house had bad name, and yillainous look
with It's DARK, stout sbu tiers most always closed
It's gloomy exterior. and the well-known char
acter OF Its hOst-as a returned convict "a well
as the ugly vlsages Of his guests, who lounged
ABOUT the door, 1t evidently deserved its repu-
tatlon- UPon II the police kept vigilant eyes
and probably from its doors had been taken to
prison more rogues Of every dye than from nny
other sink OF sin in the heart of London town
The inn was quiet. The landlord. for rea-
sons OF his own, had closed his doors half an
hour earlier than usual. Yet be had not put
out all his guests. Beneath the iron lamp, and
partly IN Its descending rays, sat n man whose
appearance was striking. lie was very large
IN ms breadth of shoulders and had heavy
looking square head, covered by short black
hair, streaked with gray. His features were
bold aud high, with eyes of singular steadiness
and IRE. His complexion was dark like the
sea-tan o, man who has been in foreign climes.
de bad outon arm, and wore the empty sleeve
OF IL nautical watch-coat thrust into the
breast Of it. His lips were compressed firmly
upon o sall pipe which he was smoking. not
plaoldly, but fercely. as if his thought. were
wild and excited. Upon the table by bis side
lay 'avy pistol, which he had just been ex-
aminln :, and placed there as if satisfied with
his scrutiny.
BY the fireplace, not far off, sat the host of
the sack" who, from a we'll known chapter
IN bis history, was known as Botany Bay
Paul, q sobriquet he affected to be proud Of
instead OF resenting. 1t intimated that he had
seen the world, and had had experience. - and
was an old bird, no longer to be caught with
cnan And although Paul was ever ready To
give advice and counsel to less experienced
rogues, and even to let conspiracies against the
peace ard veal Of society meet secretly beneath
MS ROOF, yet nc was careful never to go so far
as TO compromise himself. . lie had once seen
the Bengal tiger" was his invariable reply,
and ne did not care about going q second voy-
age across the sea to gaze upon his visage.
Paul was at ease IN the world laying up
money oy bis Inn for rainy day, and had
grown heshy aneath the chin and about the
abdomen, with good fare. He now sat by the
fireplace in a huge, oaken, .ilyIooking arm.
chair that he sHOre Jack Falstaff had often sat
IN, and . for that matter, and a less matter.
Prince Hal, too He was not smoking. for he
assevered that he had ne 'er a stomach for to-
baccO-but can Of ale rested upon his fat
knee, held firmly in his fat gripe. To bay.
seen Paul in this attitude, with his rubieund
face, one would never have suspected his Jacket
covered conyict's bad heart, and that, un-
erneath the hanging lock of hair which he
keptcarefully trained over his eyes was burned
deep into bis flesh a fiery letter R.
he sat and watched his One-armed guests
face out Of the corner Of his dull, blush ewes.
but seeming TO look into the embers Sudden
ly the One-armed man cast his eyes upon the
hands OF an old time clock, which was BEGIN
ming ITS warning rattle preparatory to striking
twelve.
So late,'' he exclaimed, before the FIRST
stroke OF the hammer upon the bell was given.
% Ii Is time he Was here. If he should turn
coward, and refuse the venture ~
- Not he-not he, Captain :" answered Paul,
with emphasis There's no fear In that
blood L know the stock we'll. It's a thick
dark night, and a man can't move 50 fast, you
know
Yes The very night for our yenture-"
Which is to make your fortune, a. well as
" desperate ventures desperate venture,
master, said the one armed man. rising, and
looking at Paul. . But l shall be we'll paid
- Risk nothing, gain nothing" said Paul.
placidly, - he half-emptied his mug. Friend
when L get my part of the spoils, intend to re-
tire, and live in the country, and lead q vir-
tuOus life. have a conscience Some men
think transported man must 60 to the devil
at the end-will ye mill ye. Let me once get
five thousand that's coming 70 me for my part