Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1869-09-15

GULL ONCIl " OnC oANtA oLONASA oho
into the boat. They then pulled on after
Ally, who had distanced the men while they
were in the water, but who could not COM
pete with the boat. Arriving at an old
sunken schooner, a long way from the shore,
the boy climbed upon the topmast, and
looked back at Hiley, who was rapidly. ap-
preaching. The captain felt sure OF his
prey, and was telling his men how to seize
the boy, when Ally suddenly fell from, the
topmast, as if shot, and Immediately sunk
Thunder and lightning" cried Hiley,
- he's gone!"
/" tone p echoed all the men in chorus.
ayes, gone :" and Hiley sprang to his
feet, bending forward, 81 saw him 60 he
fell back iute the water, and went down
like a bullet, without the least cry. Pull
for your lives!
The eyes of the scheming villain lit up
strangely, almost savagely.
And such being the fact, men, " added
he, q" re may as well give up the search"
The men resumed their oars, the Captain
the tiller, and the boat returned in silence to
the brig, tcith Ally clinginS qnieiy 10 che
stern-his head just far enough out of the
water to enable him to breathe-and there
no continued 10 stay until the boat returned
to the brig.
And then, the boat being left in the water,
at the stern of the brig, it occurred to Ally
to unfasten the boat from its painter, let it
drift down stream some distance, then climb
into it, and row away for Norfolk, which he
at once did.
For a minute or two the boat continued 30
speed away in the darkneas.
And then Ally climbed out of the water
into it, with a long sigh Of relief, and seized
a pair of oars resolutely.
Croaching out of sight in the bottom of
the boat, he began rowing shorewards-but
softly, for he was still near the brig, aud the
night was SO calm he feared his enemies
: would hear him.
There was only too much occasion, as it
proved, for this caution.
The boat had not been gone two minutes
from the brig, when Captain Hiley, wishing
te 90 ashore to sec Colonel Nichols, made his
way aft, and discovering its disappearance
at once sent a couple of men after It in an
e other boat.
e Ally seeing that he must again take to the
water, took the care along with him, and
went drifting seward, with nothing but a
pair of oars to support him.
The night had now fully set in and the
, tide ran fast. Cramped and chilled by his
; long continuance in the water, the boy was
whirled along, growing weaker every moment.
but Just as hope YVES at its ebb, he sud
I HtnlF Denciu u sail DcnlnO Dim, rapidly ap-
! preaching, under the force of freshening
= breeze.
/ A brig. certain :" he groaned. after a
long look 1t the nearing cloud of canvas.
d" Ii must be old Hiley's The wind having
! come again, he is off for the Pacific ocean -
: He regarded the brig. as it came nearer
asking himself if he should hail her.
/ a." Let her be what she may" he muttered
- friend or foe, | must hail her My strength
e - - -. III -- r. "
oars and drown Fortunately the brig is
/ coming straight towards me. l will hail
! her -
lie waited till the brig was near him, and
; then carried his resolve into execution. His
feeble call wa- heard and answered. the brig
} hove 70, a boat was lowered. and he was Ia
: ken aboard the stranger. The boy had only
strength enough 20 learn that the brig was
, was not Hiley's, and then he tainted.
CHATTER III.
MORE vILLAINY.
Captain Hiley, verify believing that Ally
: was drowned, went ashore 10 inform Colonel
Nichols Of the fact. He found the Colonel
jrst coming from Mrs. Testers cottage.
where he had gone an hour before. and stun
ned Amy by informing her that Ally Bell
her lover and hero, was being carried of 10
sea in the Qlaokstcp, and that she would
never see him again.
The Colonel heard Hiley's story about
Ally's disappearance with breathless interest,
as they walked along the beach after which
the two villains congratulated themselves up
; on the boys being thus completely taken
/, out Of their path.
While discussing the matter, they heard
the sounds of oars, and sop saw-a. boat
approaching the shore oPPo4se a ootSte be
longing to an old retired sailor named Nicho-
InA fh.NNrAa v-knah wma renmN - A. E. z
Mrs, Testers garden. In the boat was a
man. and along with him was a female, sob
bing cOnvulsively- Colonel Nichols. with
surprise and alarm, recognized the voice Of
the weeper as that Of Amy Lester. She and
her companion left the boat and entered the
cottage, from the windows of which a light
soon shone. Colonel Nichols and Captain
Hiley crept beneath a window, to spy and
listen. They soon learned that Collins had
rowed Amy off to the brig in search of Ally,
and that she had there heard of his attempt
70 escape and his consequent death by drown
ing.
Amy was vehement in her denunciations
Of Colonel Nichols, and declared that if Ally
was really dead, she would raise the whole
country against his uncle who had composed
his death
On attempting to rise to 90 home. Amy
found she was too weak 10 walk, and sent
Collins for her mother to come to her. AS
soon as the old sailor left the cottage. Col
onel Nichols proposed to Hiley that he should
carry Amy off instead of Ally, and leave her
on a plantation of his on the coast, down bv
Cape Henry, 50 as to silence her dangerous
tongue, and also to give him a hold on her
mother. The Captain agreed to this. and
they entered the cottage, coming upon Amy
so suddenly that, in her weak state, she was
so completely overcome that she tainted
away.
$50 much the better ~ said Nichols, stoop-
ing and gathering her in his arms. " Now
lead way to your boat, Hiley. On our way.
you must overset Collins boat, to make him
think she did 1t herself in a wild mood"
lie hurried out of the cottage bearing his
frail burden. Hiley followed hastily, and
the two made their way to the spot where
Collins boat lay 1t was but the work of a
moment for Hiley to push off the little craft
and overset it.
There, they'll think the girl got wild
with grief and was drowned in an attempt to
search for Ally again - said the Colonel ex-
ultantly, tossing Amy's white apron upon the
beach That apron will fix the matter be-
yond a doubt The wind is rising HiIley.
You had better take advantage of it,
The two hurried to the waiting boat. Hill
ey laid the unconscious Amy in the bottom
and then seized the oars and r0wcd rapidly
towards the brig.
Nichols full of exultation, looked after
the boat until it was lost 40 view.
My first plan was successful - he NUT
tered. Ally is dead | am a rioh man :
And my second plan promises a like success
When Margaret Testers heart is nearly bro
ken at Amy's loss, | will offer to restore her
child on condition that she will marry me
The day of my full triumph is near
He looked with O~lOatinp ewes seauard px-
ulting in his evil success, until at last, nearly
an hour later, the sails ofth QuickStep filed
and the brig moved swiftly toward the sea,
taking with her Margaret lester,s nnIv com.