The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-08-15
THE SEALED INSTRUCTIONS.

"
an East lndlaman, and 1or the last ten
years had commanded the Belle, one Of
the finest crafts that ever floated. was an
old sea dog, and had dwelt so long on
salt water that felt almost a hatred for
the land ANY,
On the Goth Of October, 1924 receiv'
ed orders to put myself in readiness to
sail for Cayenne | was to transport
seventy five soldiers and convict I
had orders to treat this individual we'll,
and the letter I had received from the
directory inclosed another, with huge
red seal, which | was not TO open until
between 81 and % degrees west longi-
tude that is, Just before we were about to
cross the line.
The letter was long packet, SO well
closed on every side that it was impossi-
bic to catch the slightest glimpse of its
contents. [ am not naturally superstitious,
but there was something in the look of
the letter [ did not altogether like, though
[ could give no reason why. However,
carried it into the cabin, and stuck it
under the glass OF little English clock,
which was fastened above my head.
was busy fixing the letter under the clock,
when who should come into my cabin but
the convict and his wife This was the
first time had seen either Of them. and
I may say that more prepossessing couple
[ never met. The woman was scarcely
more than fifteen, and as handsome as a
picture, while the husband was an intel
Ggent, magnifcently- formed man, on
whose face nature had never written evil
liam"
His crime to be plain, was the misfor~
tune of being a. hundred years ahead of
his age. He and others had attempted
something which our government called
treason, and which is punished with death
It therefore eccasioned me considerable
wonder that he should be placed under
my charge; but more Of this afterward
He had, as l said, his wife hanging on
his arm She was as merry as q bird /;
she looked like turtle dove cooling and
nestling beneath his great wing
Before month had passed over our
heads, looked upon them as my own
children. Every morning used to call
them into my own cabin. The young fell
low sat writing at my table,-that is to
say, at my chest, which was my table. He
would often help me at reckoning, and
soon learned to do better than I could.
wife would sit upon one Of the round
stools in my cabiu, working at her needle
One day we were all three sitting in
this way, when I said:
! "Do you know, my young ones, as it
seems to me, we make a very pretty fami.
ly picture? Mind, don't mean to ask
questions, but may be you have not much,
money to spare, and you are both of you
as I think, too handsome to die in the
burning sun of Cayenne. like many
peor wretch before you. It's bad coun-
try-a bad country, take my word for it.
I, who have roughed it through tempest
and sunshine, till, I've the skin of rhi.
noceros, might get along there; but you
L am afraid for you. So if you should
chance TO have bit of foolish friendship
for ysur poor old captain, I'll tell you
what I'll do. I'll get rid of this old brig !;
she's not much better than an old tub,
after all so I'll settle myself down there
with you, if you like. You see l have
not living soul in the world to care for,
or that cares for me. want relations,
want home, want family. [ should
? like to make my home with you, nay pref
ty young ones What say you ?"
They said nothing at all, but sat look.
ing, first at each other, and then at me, as
If they doubted whether they understood
what said.
At last the little bird threw her arms
around my neck and cried like baby.
"But," said she, suddenly pausing, "you
haven't looked at the letter with the big
red SEAL"
"Hang it !' exclaimed, cit had slipped
my mind entirely"
With cold, dreadful sensation I went
to my chest to see where we were. I
found that we had several days remaining
before we should reach the proper longi
tude for opening the letter.
Well, there we stood, all three of US,
e looking up at the letter as if it could
have spoken to us. AS it happened, the
sun was shining upon the face of the clock
case, and fell upon the great glaring red
+ seal of the letter. could not help fancy
ing it looked something like big mon.
}, ster, an ogre's face, grinning from the
middle of the fire it looked horrid.
e "Could not one fancy" said to make
them laugh, "its great big eyes were star
ing out of it's mead ?"
"Ah, my love, said the wife, sit looks
like blood"
"Pooh, pooh said her husband, taking
her arm under his, cit looks like a letter
of invitation to wedding Come, como,
leave the letter alone if it troubles you so.
Let's go to our room and prepare for bed"
And off they went. They went upon
deck, and left me with that beast Of g
letter. I remember that I kept looking
}, at it as smoked my pipe it seemed to
n fix its great red eye upon mine, fas,
cinating like the eye of serpent. 1t
> was red, wide, raw, staring like the nav
of fierce wolf I took my great coat
: and hung it over both clock and letter,
! and went nnnn deck to finish nv pipe.