The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1863-11-03

Gtel Vt bfa y NeAiHN N'teFN nAA7t"N tt'N
hut-tley we're roughly intelrcgaling
The fisherman. Tie questions She
needed not 10 hear too distinctly %
understand answer Of Finn she
did catch, Tor il was spoken for her
ears as well as for tie soldiers who
had visited The cabin:
"A hundred pieces Of gold r. cried
the C-her. Truly, captain. sum
like that would be worth striving for.
Be- assured viii take good care of
the runaways II they fall into my
hands. A hundred pieces of gold! /!
Not soul shall escape shipwreck,
from this day forth, for 4 twelyemonth.
bat Nill bring 10 your quarters. A
hundred pieces Of gold But, cap
laiu, added Finn, with the characters
istic coolness OF Danish peasant
bot, captain, viii you enter my hum
I Ile cottage a moment for rtsl and re-
/ ireshmeni Z"
The mother ,huddered, let The IN
viialipn gi,en in bra, ado might be ac.
eepied 10 earnest. and then--she was
4 mother, aud The lives Of her child
rem were at .tlke--ior an instant She
lrsmbled at the possibility that her
host might intend to beirdy her. The
voice OF the captain, as he declined
the proiierrd ciyility and renewed his
promises TO the fisherman, reassured
her, a is tones died away in the lis
lance. In a moment more, Finn has
tily entered the cabin.
Lose not moment, madam" he
said. "The storm has abated--the
waves are more worthy Of trust than
man; and we must embark on the NJ
slant r
All the strength Of The mother re-
turned at this new exigenry, and
hushing her children into si'erc. by
sign, she followed Finn as he took
circuiIous path among the rocks known
only TO himself; and in few mo-
ments, without the exchange Of
word, they were embarked in th.
li,herman's skiif, tie fasts were ca
oil, the honest fisher worked at III,
oars with a will. and, in ten hours
the dawning light showed him the
coasts Of the Low Countries. Through
the night he had been guided by his
familiar pilots, the stars and lal or
was so much his habitual cust m in
his hard calling he had so often en-
dured il as matter Of course and o
habit--ihat, with such stake in sue
cess, lie did not once think Of fatigue.
Suddenly new and startling danger
caught bis eye.
Two armed boats were pursuing
him and notwiihs anding they were
crowded with soldiers, and awkward
anoat as a COW on sli!ts, they rapidly
gained on him. 1t was evident that
lhey had been Lying in wait near The
"oast. TO Intercept the very precious
burden which he carried. lie uttered
not word Of surprise.
Down. madam" he said, without
any appearance Of being Disconnected
" down in the bottom OF the boat, for
it very much needs ballast"
The mother. unconscious Of the |
reatening danger, obeled mechani-
enly. In the next instant, mnsket |
balls whistled past the ears Of the iu-
tlepid fsherman--had they sped an
instant before, the mother would have |
escaped the pcriIs o. the sen but TO
have been murdered by the hire
lngs.
Finn examined with his eye the |
Il d'stante yet between his boat and the
shore aud lie saw that il was impos-
sible to reach it before his pursuers |
would overtake him. He formed
sndden and desperate resolution-he
ceased 10 fv. lie turned his boats |
head toward his ppr>uefs, aud, making
"A trumpet with biz hands, shouted
Boats alloy What do YOU wish r
You are not alone" answered his |
pursuers, po-itiyty.
"Trnr," replied the fisherman, as
The bonts were now So near each 9TH
er that they could converse with less
effort. TrGe--I have good cargo |
o. fish for companions. You can pro-
vision yourselves with them If yon
wish; there was no need for you TO
fire upon me for that"
Advance =
Aye, aye| cried Finn, gaiIy, yet |
tremulously.
Il was proper and natural that a
poor fisherman should be awkward I
and alarm i before two boal-loads Of
soldiers. Tie coarse brutes enjoyed .
what they thought WAS tbel'epidation
and energy Of fear, and. a they stood .
up. their boats feeled under their
shouts Of laughter, as the f.herman's
skif, urged by bis nervous arms, shot
to4ard them.
A scream from the lul5ers A
splash! The awkward f.hrrs boat
has struck their bows. ani The ~ L.
ward soldiers iall over tie sunwale all Z
around into the sea. Nor Is there
less confusion among the other skill
load of soldiers. Their boat dipped
water irst over one side then over The
other, AZ tie soldiers swang their
arms, aud .wayei and f-il upon each
o,her. 10 vain attempts 10 succUr their
droNnipg brethren.
What -aaoher accident The
an ku ard and ighicned fisherman has
taken 4 sudden sweep. AID run into