The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-10-23
TALES OF THE BORDERS.
FORTUNES OF WILLIAM wIGHroN.
BY JOHN HOWELL.


CONTINUED
found him in the cabin, and the break
fast ready for me. We sat down, and began
ITO converse about the papers. Scarce was
the second cup filed out, when a voice
kcalled down the companion, "Csptain, the
kcutter !" Cameron leaped from the table,
land ran on deck. heard a loud noise OF
hcordage and hustle; but could not conceive
what it was, until the motion of the vessel
/ too plainly told that she was under way.
rose 10 haste to get upon deck; but the COW
er was secured knocked and called;
but no one paid any attention to my efforts
stood thus knocking and calling at the
stretch Of my voice, for half an hour, in
vain. | returned to my seat, and sat down,
overcome with anger and chagrin. Here
was again placed in disagreeable dilemma
evidently golnG far out to s'a, when
ought to be on my way to Glasgow to my
wedding. Ia the midst OF my rawlings,
heard first one shot. then another; but still
the ripple of the water and the noise over
head continued. was now convinced that
| was on board Of a smuggling lugger, and
that Cameron was either sole proprietor or
captain. | wished with all my heart that
the cutter might OveTtake and capture US,
( that | might be set ashore; but all nv
wishes were vain-we still held on our way
/ at a furious rate. As | heard no more
/ shots, knew that we rad left the cutter at
a greater distance. Again, therefore, strove
to gain hearing, but in vain: then strove
to force the hatch, but it resisted all my ef-
forts. | yielded myself at length to my
fate; for the way OF the vessel was not in
the least abated.
Towards night, | coul1 fDd, by the
I pitching OF the vessel and the increased
noise above, hat the wind had increased
fearfully, and that it blew a storm. Itwas
with difficulty that could keep my seat, so
much did she pitch During the whole
night aud following day, l was so sick that
| thought | would have died | bad 30
7 light; there was no human creature to give
me a mouthful Of water; and | could not
help myself even to rise from the floor Of
/ the cabin, on which had sunk. The agony
Of my mind was extreme: the day follow
ing was 70 have been chat Of my marriage;
4 | was at sea, and knew not where ! was. |
blamed myself for my easy, comply ing tenn
per; my misery increased; and, could |
have stood on my feet, | know not what
might have done in my despe ate situation.
Thus | spent second night; and the day
which had thought was to shine on my
happiness, dawned on my misery.
Towards the afternoon, the motion Of the
vessel ceased, and leard the anchor drop.
Immediately the hatch was opeLed, and
Cameron came to NE. ! rose in anger. so
great that / coul not give il utterance. Had
I not been 50 weak from sickness, | would
have flown aud stTangled him. lie made a
thousand apologies for what had happened.
| saw that his concern was real; my anger
subsidized INTO melancholy, and my first ut
tersnce was employed to inquire where We
were.
~ am sorry to say,' replied he, " that |
cannot but feel really grieved to inform you
that we are at present few legues of
Flushing"
GOOD God y | exclaimed, as | buried
my face in nv hands, while actually wept
for shame 81 am utterly un1one What
will nv beloved Eliza say9 How shall |
ever appear again before her and her
friends? Even now, perhaps, she is dress
ing to be my wife, or weeping in the arms
Of her bridesmaid. The thought will DIVE
lre mad For Gods sake, Cameron, get
under way, and land me again either al
Greenock or where you first took me up, or
| am utterly undone. Do this, and | will
forget all | have suffered and am suffering"
IL would, upon my soul, he eaid, "were
it in my power, though ! should die in a
jail; but while this gale lasts, it were folly
to attempt it. Besides, am not sole pro-
prIetor of the lugger-I am only captain.
Nv crew are sharers in the cargo: | would
not get their consent. The thought Of the
evil was uninten :ionslly doing you, gave
me more concern than tine fear of capture
Had tue storm not come on, would have
ri.ked all to have landed you somewhere in
Scotland; but it was SO severe, and blowing
from the land, that there was no use to at
tempt it. | hope, however, the weather
will now moderate, and the wind shit,
when will run you back, or procure you a
passage in the first craft that leaves for
Scotland"
made no answer to him, was so ab-
soIbed in my own reflections. walked the
deck like one distracted, praying for g
change in the weather. For three days il
blew, with less or more violence, from the
same point-during which time | scarcely
ever ate or drank, and never went to bed
On the forenoon Of Monday, the wind shift
ed I went Immediately ashore IN the boat
aud found a brig getting under way fol
Leitb. stepped on board, ami took fare
well Of Captain Cameron, whom ! never saV
again, and wish had never seen him in my
life
After a tedious passage Of nine days
during which we had bsffi ng WINS ant
i. calms. We reached Leith Roats about sever
il the evening. 1t vas Iow water, and the
brig could not enter the harbour for severa
hours. was put ashore in the boat, an'
FASTENED up to the Black Bull Inn, in or
der to secure seat in the mail Tor Glas
cow. which was to start in few minutes
As came up Leith Walk, my feelings be
came Of mixed nature. / though' 0
Widow Mel aud the murder, as ! locke
n over at the Cllton then my mind rev rte
= to my bride. got into the coach, ana wa
soon on the way TO Glasgow. la'd mysei
} back in a corner, and kept a stubborn 81
: lence. could not endure to enter into con
o yersation with my fellow travellers
scarce heard Them speak-my mihd was