The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-11-17


and trinkets. These / quickly eased
him of, as he'd never want 'em, but to
make sure, hit m good slap over the
head, Just to see whether life was in IN
or no. Here general grin went
round. Well, | was just goin away,
when | seed diamond ring on his
finger, and the finger being swelled with
the water, | cuts it off and walks off
with my goods. i hadn't gone far when
little Jimmy runs after, crying Dad,
dad, hit 'um again, dad he grin'th, he
grin'th.' | turned back, and sure
enough that rascally French thief
whether it was drawing the blood or
not, ] don't know-but he was moving
his arm about, and opening his eyes as
if he were bent on taking the bread out
Of my mouth. This made me mad, fol-
these Frenchmen are spiteful set, and
hate Englishmen as they hate the devil,
so | makes no more ado, but hits i'm
a lick with the tail of rudder laying
close by, and I'll warrant me he'll never
come to ask for my goods" The mis-
creant chuckled over the horrid recital
with all the dissatisfaction that one
might feel at the recollection of q vir-
tuous action while his companions, to
whom the story was familiar, felt no
other sensations of uneasiness at its re-
capitulation, than from the recollection
that they had not been able to do the
same thing. Knox was evidently the
villain par excellence. saw others
around me whose countenance would
have hung them at any bar in England,
but none ventured to boast SO openly Of
crime. Knox was the only avowed pro
fessor Of villainy, and seemed to glory
in his right of prominence. | have
travelled somewhat, and met rutfians Of
every grade, but never before did ! have
the fortune to hear depravity of such a
character so freely confessed. 4" Well,
Knox," said Gray, after pause, $50
you have seen Hobart how's poor
Bill p Knox placed his finger signifi.
cantly on his cheek. " How" said the
other, dead?" dead as a fish, re-
turned Knox. You know ! was in it,
and hard fight we had. Poor Bill had
three balls in him; he died the same
night" A universal expression of SYM
pathy followed this announcement,
and various were the questions put
as to the details Of his death.
1t appears that he was killed in
an engagement with revenue cutter.
He was as likely lad as ever run car
CO." said Thomas. "Where did you
bury him Alongside of the guager, |
'spose," said Gray, who ventured a mali
cious glance, though apparently half
doubtful Of the consequences. | never
saw so speedily change as that mark
produced in Knox. In an instant his
brow became as black as the storm that
waa raging without.
"What have you to do with that, you
meddling, conceited fool?' said he, a. he
fixed his black eyes, almost concealed
by their overhanging brows, on the OBJ
ject Of his wrath.
"Now, mark me, Master Gray, play
off no more of your jokes on me. This
is not the first time | have warned you,
but it will be the last" | learned after
ward that the guager alluded to was
Knox's half-brother, who was supposed
to have met with his death by the hands
of his relation, his body being flung
down a shaft near the sea. What con-
frmed the suspicion was that he had
frightful dreams about hi brother, and
would tremble like a child if left alone
at night Be that as it might, however,
a fierce alteration was now proceeding
between Knox and friend Of Grays
who had replied to the others threats,
and serious consequences might have
ensued had not the attention Of all been
diverted by loud knocking at the
outer door. This seemed so unusual an
occurrence that the host hesitated to
unbar the door, for never was a stranger
known to arrive there at such an hour
and on such a night too, for the rain was
still pouring in torrents. The knocking
continued, and although we We're too
many to fear anything like personal
danger, still | could see an evident
unasiness spreading throughout the
party. The knocking was now fercer
than ever, and the host was compelled
to unbolt and unbar. As the door opened,
in stalked tall, weather beaten looking
man, enveloped in huge, shaggy great
coat, and broad oil-skin hat on his
head.
"What do you mean by this? 2" he
said, dashing his hat upon the floor, and
shaking the rain from his coat like
huge water dog" keeping traveller
outside your house on such mighty
As he spoke was heard heavy, boom
ing sound from the sea. A wrack, a
wrack," shouted Knox, and instantly a
dozen fellows were up and ready to rush
like bloodhounds on their prey. "Keep
your places you FOOLS" cried the stran-
ger; IF she goes ashore it will be many
miles away from here, with the wind in
this quarter I've heard the guns some
time, but she has good offin yet, and she
may manage to keep off. I'd lay my
life she is a foreign craft they are
always in such hurry to sing out"
The company had now seated them
selves, and resumed their pipes. They
likewise took the liberty of scanning
the new arrival. There was nothing in
his appearance very remarkable beyond
the fact Of his being tall, muscular
man, having short, black hair, and ina
mense bushy whiskers, meeting under
his chin, together with large, black eyes.
Altogether, his countenance was not an
unpleasant one. He did not apologize
for his intrusion, but called at once for
his pipe and his glass.
odd you come from the Portreath