Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-06-23
CAPTAIN FONTAINBLEAU.

CAPTAIN FONTAINBLEAU.
How He Executed Death Order of the
French Directory.
I had served 25 years on board an
East Indiaman, and for the last ten
hears had commanded the Belle, one OF
the finest crafts that eyer foated. /
was an old sea-dog, and had dwelt sc
long on salt water that I felt almost 9
hatred for the land.
On the Goth of October, 1871, I re.
ceived orders to put myself in readiness
to sail for Cayenne. I was to transport
rs soldiers and a convict. / had orders
to use this individual we'll, and the
letter ] received from the directory,
closed letter with huge red seal,
which I was not to open until between
q and % degrees, west longitude, 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-
BILE to catch the slightest glimpse of its
contents. [ am not naturally supersti-
tious, but there was something in the
look of the letter that I did not alto
gether like, though I could give no rea-
son why. However, / carried it into
the cabin and stuck it under the glass
of little shabby English clock, which
was fastened above my head. I was
busy In fixing the letter under the clock,
when who should come into the cabin
but the convict and his wife This was
the first time I had seen either of them,
and may say that more progressing
couple [ never met. The woman was
scarcely more than Is, and as handsome
as picture, while the husband was an
intelligent, magnifcently-formed man,
on whose features nature had never
written Sc Villain"
His crime, to be plain, was the mis-
fortune of being 100 years ahead of
his age. He and others had attempted
something our government called trea-
son; and which is punished with death.
Therefore, 1t occasioned me considera-
BILE wonder that he should be under my
charge; but more of this afterward
He had, said, his wife hanging on
his arm. She was merry as bird; she
looked like turtle dove cooling and
nestled beneath his great wing.
Before month had passed over our
heads looked upon them as my own
children. Every morning used to call
them both to my cabin. The young fell
low would sit writing at my table-that
is to say, at my chest, which was my bed.
He would often help me at reckoning,
ard soon learned to do better than /
could. I was often amazed at his
ability. His young wife would sit
upon one of the round stools in nv
cabin, working at her needle.
One day We were all sitting in this
way, when said:
''Do you know, my young ones, as ii
seems to me, we make very pretty
family picture? Mind, I don't mean
to ask questions, but may be you have
not much money to spare, and you are,
both Of You, as think, too handsome to
dig In the burning sun of Cayenne, like
many poor wretch before You. It is a
bad country-a bad country, take my
word for It. I, who have roughed i
through tempest and sunshine till
have the skin of a rhinoceros, might get
along there; but you-I am afraid for
you. So, if you should chance to have
bit of foolish friendship for your poor
old captain, I'll tell you what ri 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 with you, il
you like. You see I have not living
soul in the world to care for, or that
cares for me. want relatives, I want
a family. I should like to have my
home with you, my pretty 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 under
TODD what I said.
At last the little bird threw her srms
around my neck and cried like a baby.
But suddenly pausing, s'you haven't
looked at the letter with the big red
SELL"
Hang it" l exclaimed, cit had slip,
ped my mind entirely"
With cool, dreadful sensation went
to my chest to see where we were; ]
found that we had seyera; days remain
ing before we reach the proper latitude
for opening the letter.
Well, there we stood, all three of u.s.
looking up at the letter as if it could
have spoken to us. AS it happened the
sun was full upon the face Of the clock
case, and fell upon the great red seal Of
the letter. I could fancy that it looked
something like a big monster, an ogre'a
face, grinning from The middle of the
fire; il looked horrid.