The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-01-21

1
both then lying on their oars until another fol
lowed. Ahead of ALL padding his own out
landish little canoe without a sound. went III,
} Sambo pilot, to take them safely outside tn,
rect. No hight was shown but once, and tina
was IN the commanding officers own hand.
lighted the dark lantern for him, and he tool
1t from me when he embarked. Thew had hin.
lights and such like with them, but kent them
selves as dark as Murder.
The expedition got away with wonderful
quietnees, and Christian George King soor
came back, dancing with JOY.
Yup, So-Jeer," says be to myself in a yer,
objectionable kind of commissions, "Christiar
George King sar berry glad. Pirates all BE-
blown a-pieces. Yepl Yupi"
My reply to that cannibal was, " Howeve,
glad you may be, hold your noise, aud DOM
dance jigs and slap your knees about it. for
can't abear TO see you do it."
was on duty then; we twelve who were
left being divided into four watches of three
each, three hours spell. I was relieved a,
twelve A little before that time, had chal
ienged, and Miss Maryon and Mrs. Belltott had
come in -'0
GOOD Davis" says Miss Maryon, "what is
the matter? Where is my brother ?"
her brother was. "'N ""eie
~ Heaven help him !" says she, claspipp
her hands and looking up-she was close i5
front OF me, and she looked most lovely to be
sure he is not sufficiently recovered, not
strong enough, for such strifel"
II you had seen him, Miss told her. az
l saw him when he volunteered, you would have
SHOWN tnat ms spirit is strong enough for any
sune. IL VIII bear his body, MISC, to wherever
duty calls him. 1t will always bear him 10 an
honorable life or brave death"
Heaven bless you /" says she. touching NV
arm. know it. Heaven bless YOU ~
mrs. beiltott surprised me by trembling and
saying nothing. They were still standing look.
ing towards the sea, and listening, after the re-.
Het nad come round. 1t continuing very dark.
1 asked to be allowed to take them back. Miss
Maryon thanked me, and she put her arm in
mine, and did take them back. | have now
got to make confession that will appear sin.
gular. After l had left them, | laid myself
down on my face on the beach, and cried. for
the hrst time since had frightened birds az a
boy at Snorridge Bottom, to think what a Door.
ignorant, low-placed, private soldier was
IL was only for half minute or 80. Aman
cant at all times be quite master of himself
and 1t was only for half minute or so. Then
l up and went to my hut, and turned into nv
hammock, and fell asleep with wet eyelashes,
ana sore, sore heart, just as had often done
when was child, and had been worse used
than usual
slept las q child under those circumstances
nI,sn'l very sound, and yet very sore at heart,
all through my sleep l was awoke bv the
words, " He is a determined man." / had
sprung cut of my hammock, and had seized nv
nreiock, and was standing on the ground saw
ing the words myself "He is a determined
man. But the curiosity of my state was, that
seemed to be repeating them after somebody.
ano 10 have been wonderfully startled by hear,
ing them.
AS soon as l came to myself, went out of
the hut, and away to where the guard was.
Charker challenged" Who goes there ?"
"A friend"
Not Gill" says he, as he sbou,dered hi.
piece.
Gill" says /.
why, what the deuce do you do ont of your
hammock" says he.
Eight says Charker "yes, yes-alf's
right enough here what should be wrong here !?
lts the boats that we want to know of. Except
tor ire flies twinkling about, and tie lonesome
spiashes OF great creatures as they drop into
the water, there's nothing going on here to ease
a mans mind from the boats"
The moon was above the sea. and had risen
| should cay, some half an hour. As Charker
spoke, with his face towards the sea, |. looking
iandward, suddenly laid my right hand on his
breast, and said
Don't move! Don't turn Don't raise
your voice You never saw Maltese face
here?"
No. What do you meanS" he asks,
staring at Ine.
Nor yet an English face, with one eve and
patch across the nose?"
mo. What ails you. What do YOU mean ?n
had seen both looking at us round the stem
OF cocoahut tree, where the moon struck
them. ! had seen that Sambo pilot, with one
hand laid on the stem of the tree, drawing them
back into the heavy shadow. had seen their
naked cutlasses twinkle and shine, like bits Of
the moonshine in the water that had got blown
ashore among the trees by the light wind.
had seen it all in a moment. And l saw in
moment las any man woull) that the signalled
move OF the pirates on the main land was
plot and feint; that the leak had been made
to disable the sloop; that the boats had been
tempted away, to leave the island unprotected :;
that the pirates had landed by some secret
way at the back; and that Christian George
King was double-dyed traitor, and a most
Internal villain
! considered, still all in one and the same
moment, that Charker was brave man, but not
quick with his head and that Sergeant Drooce,
with much better head, was close By. Ali
l said to Charker was, 81 am afraid we are
betrayed. Turn your back full to the moon.
light on the sea, ard cover the stem ofthe cocoa
nut tree, which will then be right before you,
at the height of o mans heart. Are you
right?"
8 am right" says Charker, turning instant.
y, and falling into the position with nerve
OF iron; and right ant left. Is it, CLIP"
A few seconds brought me to Sergeant
Drooce's hut. He was fast asleep, and, being
heavy sleeper, / had to lay my hand upon him
to rouse him. The instant touched him, he
came rolling out of his hammock, and upon
me, hike tiger. And tiger he was except
that he knew what he was up to, in his utmost
heat, as well as any man.
l had to struggle with him pretty hard to
bring him to his senses, painting all the while.
for he gave me brea:her,) Sergeant, am
Gill Davis Treacheryl Pirates On the Islandl"
The last words brought him round, and he
took his hands off. 81 have seen two of them
within this minute" said l. And 60 | told
him what had told Harry Charker.
His soldierly though tyrannical head was
clear in an inatant. He didn't waste one word,
even of surprise. "Ofder the puard.n saws he
"to draw IF quietly into the fort" They called
the enclosure have mentioned the fort, though
it was not much of that Then get you to the
fort as quick as you can, rouse up every sool
there, and fasten the gate. will bring in all
those who are up at the Signal Hill. If we are
surrounded before we can join you, you must
make sally, and cut US out, if you can. The
word among our men is, Women and chill
dren y"
He burst away, like fire going before the
wind over dry reeds. He reused up the seven
men who were of duty, and had them bursting