Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-06-26

oyer-alls and dOn huOM - !, !
The sailors called it q" The old glory nole.
and guess that was a good name ior II.
Into this bedlam Dick crept' shutting
the door after him. The door was MAUI
in A sort of panel, so if you did not looA
closely you would not be apt 10 see ~.
Keeping large piece of canvas reauy 70
throw over him if he heard any one c9 rL
inc. he sat and listened and watched. Inc
confusion at first overhead was very great
but soon ceased, and Dick longed to know
how his dear friends were getting on De
feared the worst had happened to them'
but he hardly dared to breathe lest ne
should be discovered. Twice he heara
footsteps so near to his hiding place tnat
he hastily drew the old canvass over nm;
but :" the old glory hole they didn't llhu
at all. At last Dick heard loud pounding
where he knew the wine casks were stored
and then II great carousing followed, when
was kent ND for long while, but at length
lone sound after another ceased, until all
was quiet. For some time even then
Dick hardly dared to move. AT last ne
could stand it no longer. and in his stock
inc feet he crept up the stairs, ana saw
what he supposed he would see, the pirates
all sleeping a drunken sleep, MS they hau
found the wine, and had drank OF it until
they knew nothing more wish neea
not tell you what else Dick saw, but TINS
is true story, and must tell it as 1t was
His dear, kind friends had all been Killed.
and were lying stiff and cold upon the
deck.
And now you shall hear what our brave
Dick did. The vesselwith no one to guide IT.
had gradually drifted in TO within about
two miles of the Spanish shore. D!cb
gave one look of agony at his friends, anu
then sprang to the side of the vessel. lie
looked anxiously at the distance between
himself and the shore, and then said, g
CAN do it, KNOW can. If stay here
they will kill Inc when they wake up, an'
if can only reach the shore perhaps th'
people will come of and get those wicke'
men and have them punished, and then
can save my uncle vessel, beside, AM
= I'm sure if die had great deal rathe
die in the water than to have them XII
me. III try it, I'll try it!'
And now Dicks knowledge of swim
ming was, perhaps. to save his life Wit
one little prayer to his Heay emily Father t
help him he took off everything tina
could weigh him down, and with on
brave plunge he was in the water.
IN The sea was calm, and the water warn
n. He has told this story many times in hi
life since. He said Every stroke thu
st brought me nearer shore gave me ne'
er strength" lie took quick and powerfl
lie strokes until he would get a little tire'
OF when he would turn over on his back an
Y. font while. Then he would swim anotl
err distance on one side, with one arm an
ad one leg, and so varying his stroke, an
de resting on his back occasionally, he mac
H. steady and rapid progress until, at last {
tn weak and tired that he could hardly Star
he reached the shore, and with good cou
ok age still, though exhausted, he climht
Il slowly and painfully the rocky shore
lid the hut of fisherman that he could plai
y see on the top of the bluff.
NO NV story is about done. The bra'
er deed was accomplished, and as soon rs Il
Ter old fisherman had made Dick comfortabl
nd he went for some one who could unde
les stand his story, for of course he could n
'as speak IA word of Spanish. The right o.
was found. and as soon AS the dreadf
rly story was known, the authorities of t
ers town sent two boat loads of sailors a
ew soldiers, who set off with will to t
a vessel.
Vn, They boarded it as noislessly as posst
es, and found the wicked pirates still in the
icy drunken sleep. They were at once hca'
ly ironed and the vessel carried safely
at to port, where the wicked pirates n
zen with the punishment they SO richly desel
H." ed for their dreadful crimes.
o. In pretty little Spanish grave-ya
the bodies of Dicks friends and comps
lch ions found Il quiet resting place. L
owners of the vessel rewarded Dick har
ose somely for his bravery, and although
had had so sad an experience on his fl
ON voyage, still he has " followed the sea-
ever since, until within few years.
ext is now about eighty-four years old, and
lex you should happen to 60 to the town
i'm the cape where he now lives, and sho
ext tell this story in the presence of some
lust the "old folks" you would hear them s
"Why bless you, child, yes, that's one
de- old Dick Thornton's scrapes, when he v
ose II boy; come, and III introduce him
lid you. Col Rule.