The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-03-01

CHAPTER III.
The morning after Elen's agency in
saving poor Nora from terrible doom, she
and George Brown renewed their converse
- ton in regard to the black boy who had
been found on board.
He is poor slave, who, last year ran
away from his master in New Orleans to
look for freedom in England But freedom,
Miss Ellen, gave him very little happiness
and still less bread and butter, SO having no
here on board; but our captain is q very hard
man and is determined tohave him logged.
Mr.. Davis, our mate, much against his
will, has ordered him to be tied up at nine
o'clock this morning. and though all of us
sailors intend to beg for him, Mr.. Davis
thinks our intercession will be of no avail
as the captain seems to be terribly in ear
nest.nA
.. "Well, George, will try to act as you
wish in this matter, but perhaps shall be
too afraid of the captains cross looks to be
able to speak in behalf of the negro; at all
events, will make the attempt, hoping the
captain will, as you say, be too gallant to
refuse the request of lady,"
Il am sure you will succeed, Miss Ellen,
and that to-day at least, the poor boys
back will be spared Q dressing" Seeing
the doctor on deck, Ellen went toward him,
placing herself under his protection and
begging him to accompany her forward
where the punishment was to take place.
George, in the meantime, had joined group
of sailors and seemed to be an uninterested
spectator of what was about-to take place.
The angry voice of the captain as he gave
his cruel orders, directed Ellen and the doc
tor toward the spot, where they found the
negro boy was being stripped of his coat
and shirt. He, was tall, intelligent look
ing youth of nearly twenty, but hisface had
become almost pallid with fright and his
active form writhed and trembled under the
hor1 dc of fhnc boil inn,
"My master nNger whipped me II Oh
let me off this time and I'll dosAny thing
you want me to. Please, captain, massa
captain, let me off this Gnael -
His voice trembled as he thus piteousiy
pleaded for pardon, while his eyes rolled
wildly round in search Of some friendly |
face. - > --=---=7 4
You lack rascal! y Numbered the cap
tain, "you came on board to steal, and al
ready y u have eaten more than you are
worth while slowed away there among the
barrels! % J-
"Only enough to get back home on, that's |
all captain indeed that's all! n5esss
"T Tie himup," roared the captain, land
be quick about It'll" For he perceived how
unpleasant the task was to the men and,
therefore, took a savage delight in forcing
its execution.
"Don't, don't, oh | for good mercy sake
don't tie my hands! Wait while, jes
little while longer!"
Ellen's sensitive heart could not resist
his earnest pleading, and while trembling
in every limb as though she herself were the
culprit, it seemed to her that the aid he so
vainly looked for must alone come through
her.
Hurry up that ladder, you young devil,
or I'll take hold of the cat-o-nine- tails my
self, and then woe to your carcassi"
The poor negroes face was terrible to be-
hold, blanched and pinched with fear of the
punishment before him, and yet dreading
the one, and hopeless of escaping the other,
the unfortunate negro turned to meet his
fate, when Ellen's heart grew strong and
her voice unfaltering, as she exclaimed: