The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1867-12-14

L
had served twenty-five years on board
an East lndiaman, and for the last ten year
had commanded the Belle, one of the finest
crafts that ever floated. | was an old sea
dog, and lived 30 long on salt water that
felt almost hatred for land.
90 the Goth Of October, 1924, received
orders to put myself in readiness 70 sail for
Cayenne. | VAS to transport seventy ave
soldiers and convict. | had orders to treat
this individual well. ana the letter had re-
ceived from the Directory inclosed another,
with huge red seal, which | was not to
open until between 2T and % degrees west
longitude; that q lust before We we're about
70 cross the line.
I The letter was a long package, 10 well en-
closed on every side that It was impossible
20 catch The slightest glimpse of its contents.
| an not naturally superst tious, but there
was something in the look Of the letter that
7 dad not altogether hike though | could give
40 reason why. However, l carrieS it into
the cabin, and stuck II under the glass of .
little cid shabby English clock which was
fastened above ny bead. Iwas busy fxinl
the letter under the clock, when whn s,.o,,,.,
come INTO my cabin but che convict and nj.
wife This was the first dav had 80
s'ther OF them, and may say NOR. nrs-
possessing couple never met. The vo.,.,
vas scarcely more than fifteen, aud A hs.a.
some a. picture; wlile the husband w..
an intelligent, magniHcentlY formed man, ou
whose features nature bad never written
william"
HIS crime, to be plain, was the misfortune
Of being a hundred years ahead Of nis age.
He ana others had attempted sot1etbing
which our government called treaso.' and
which il punished with death; it, therefore,
occasioned me considerable wonder that he
should be placed under my charge-but more
Of this Afterwards.
de had, as | said, bis wife hanging on his
arm. He was asmerry as bird I; she looked
like turtle dove cooing and nesting be-
meath his great wing.
Before month passed over our heads, |
looked uno" them as m own children. Bv-
cry morning used 70 ~-ii tham into the cabin.
The young fellow would sit writing ne INV
table, that is TO say at my chest, which was
my bed. lie would often help me at my
reckoning, and coon le armed to do better
than | could. l was amaEed at his ability.
His young wife would sit upon one Of the
round stools in my cabin workirS as her
needle.
One day we were au three sitting in this
way when | said
DO you know, my young ones, as it seems
TO me, ve msSe very pretty family pic
Iures Mind, | don't mean 20 ask questions,
but may be you have not much money to
pare. and you are, as | think, too handsome
to dig in the burning sun of Cayenne, like
many poor wretch before you. It's bad
country bad country, take my word Tor
n. who have roughed it through tempest.
wind and sunshine, till l have got the skin
of rhinoceros, might get along there hat
you am quite afraid of you. So il you
should chance to have bit of foolish friend
ship Tor your poor old captain Ill tell you
what III do. III get rid Of this old brig
she's not better than an old tub, after all (;
so III settle myself down there vita you, il
You like. You see / have not living soui
10 the world to care for, or that cares for
me. twant relations, want home, want
. family. should like to make my boms
with you, my pretty ones. What say sef'
They said nothing at all, but sat looking
at each other, then at me, ~ If they doubted
whether they understood what said.
At last the little bird threw her arms
around my neck and cried like baby.
But" shs said, suddenly psusing, you
haven't looked at the letter with The big red
SEAL
Hang itP' exclaimed, 'it had slipped
my mind entirely"
With a cold, dreadful sensation went 10
my chest 20 ., where we we're. / found
that we had several days remaining before
we should reach the proper longitude foE
openicg the letter.
"Well, there we stood, all three Of M
looking up at the letter - II il could havs
spoken to rs. As il happeneA the sun wa
shining full upon the face of the clock case
and fell upon the greet staring red seal a
the letter. I could not help hncying 4
looked something like big monster, q
ogrs's face, griHning from the middle OF th'
gre; Il looked horrid.
"Could not one iancy,r said I, to maxi
them laugh, its great big eyes were start
ing ont Of its head" 2rs1 :
"Ah, nv lSvs" said the wife, "it look
like bleoJ.r le
Pooh, pooh 70 said her hushand, takin,
her srm under his. /" it looka like . lsttsr Q
invitation 10 Q wedding. Gene, CONS, ieas
the lstter 4ione II is troubles ron %. Lst,
70 to our room and prepare Cor bed"
And Of they went. They went upon dsci
and len ms with the beast of ls1tsr. Z
rsmenhcr kept looking at it % suoks
my pipe 10 sssmed TO ix its great red y
!. upon mine, fasmnsted like the eye Of . 81
. pent k was red, vide, raw, staring III
J. .he maw Of fierce WOLF took my arsi
J. coat and hurg is oysr both clock md lstts
! and went upsn dsek to finish ny POE.
J. We were now in the vicinity ef the Car
? Do Vsrds ialAnds the Belle ws runnin
, bsfors fair wind at ths Eats of ten essiI
!. IN hour. ID vas splendid tropicsl night-
the stsrs large and shining, ths moon Fisiu
above the horizon 20 large rs sun Of silse
the line Of OCEAN parting ID, and long streau
Of barre shimmering light falling upon d
waves, which, % thsy broke, sparkled n
Jewels. sat upon she dsck, snoking =
y pips and lo.sing st them j
> Al was still exespt The foetfsll Of tn d
Ger Of the watch, - be psrsa ths deck, q
ingt - did upon the shados u Tie 20
stealing owe shs silent xotsrs. lal
loVe silence and er1er--I hatn An;se -