The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-05-12

+
"All ready?" said he. in hoarse
whisper.
All ready, was the whispered reply.
Then here we 90 %
With cat-like tread they stole away in
the darkness.
Narclssus would have called out his
tongue Glove to the roof of his mouth.
lie would have risen /; his head seemed
! glued to his pillow. A cold perspira-
uon broke out upon him. He had real
lied the fact that the Snowman and his
comrades We're pirates.
The minutes passed on. They seemed
hours to him. Then he heard an sout-
s,srK sths trampling feet ON fff6' decT
over his head; the short bark of pistols:
muttered curses; groans; then there was
a wild yell of triumph; the sound of con-
versation; then he heard at intervals
the noise of heavy bodies dropping into
the water" Splash Splash Splash r.
1t was altogether too romantic. Mar
clssus tainted away.
When he came to his senses he had
experienced a complete revulsion of feel
ing. The ocean to him was distastefuL
! bling brooks. He would have exchanged
!
that ever ran. His fevered fancy car
ried him to the meadows around his
native city he thought of the flowers
there; of the smiling grain and
What was that ? 1t sounded like
cannon shot.
There was a cracking sound. The
side of the vessel seemed to be bursting
in. The planks and splinters flew, and
from the midst there emerged a round
shot-a jolly, pudgy round-shot, which
came wildly skipping along the deck
toward him. As 1t neared hIm 1t made a
/ final bound, and imbedded itself in the
wood right over his head.
Again Narcissus lost his senses. He
liked romance, but he was getting too
much of it at one time.
When Narcissus recovered conscious
ness he found himself lying upon the
deck of the brig. There were irons upon
his hands, irons upon his feet. On either
side of him squatted a swarthy sailor,
each with cutlass, and each watching
him with the most hattering attention
Narcissus turned his head. Behind
him lay his friend, the Snowman, IN the
same predicament as himself. Ranged
the Snowman, all ironed and guarded.
Lying near the brig was a large man-of-
war with the Spanish flag flying.
Sir, said Narcissts, addressing the
Snowman, " can you tell me what all
this means %
Halo r was the reply. Why,
there's the little land lubber.
I'd forgot you completely. Certainly
I'H take great pleasure in telling You all
aboutit II. DO you see the yards OF that
ship ?" 4
"what are the yards ?" said NarOr
'''' aHaI Ha1'iis hs Well, you see those ,des
that run across the masts ?"
"Yes."
%Do you see a man astriJ/of one of
them at the end ?"
"Yes."
=" DO you know what b'is doing?"
Hes fixing a ropl"
GA rope Whatfor 2?
70 hang US.
"To has hang US To hang
you, you noeah.
" Nous.
Wny-why-wh do You mean ?
You ire a pirate I am a poet. Ny
nams is Brown-Nareissus Brown; and
L i've"
oh. well. tell them so. then. There's
ar officer"
Assuming an air of dignity tempered
with submission, Narcissus addressed the
officer, detailing the story of how he came
to be aboard the brig. The officer inter
rupted him CURLY, in Spanish, by giving
an order TO one of the sailors.
"Well, said the Snowman, edo you
know what he said ,"
"No."
"He said, Gag that cur.
"Then he didn't understand what I
said ?"
"Not a word. Neither he nor any of
theothers speak anything but Spanish
But you can speak their language? ?"
"Fluently."
"Well, then, tell him, you. that"
"My dear boy. do you remember
when we came out IN the boat together
You told me L talked 100 much. Now
will be silent. Really, you should have
been more civil. But then you are go
ing to be hanged IN ten minutes, ana IL
will teach you manners
Narcicsl1s was about to reply, but at
that moment the sailor had prepared the
gag, and his mouth was stopped.
cts no more than right" continued
the Snowman, that You should know
yvbv you're going to be hanged, so I'll
tell YOU. I've been a pirate for twenty /
wears. and never been unlucky. This is
my first mishap-Pm afraid, though, it'll
be nv last. Well, about six months
ago boarded Spanish merchantman
from Peru, and. of course, / had to make
,r-oII~ fha raloDE TIUfOrf-
unately ring that the Captain had took
NV fancy, and I've worn it ever since.
Well. this meddlesome fellow boarded
me Yesterday, and would have got off
had it not been for the
cursed ring. The Captain of the mer
chantman had been friend of this ofi-
Ger. who had given it to him. His sus-
picions being excited, he examined the
ships papers, and thus found out my
last little game. That, though, you
know all about. SO he's going to hang
us all. / would have been sorrier for
YOU, my boy, if you had been little
more CIVIL
1t was morally and physically impos-
sible for Narcissus to reply; he was,
therefore, silent.
His ewes wandered over the scene.
THE sea was smooth as glass. the sky
blue and cloudless. The white clothing
of the swarthy Spaniards contrasted Wv
idly with their brown skins. The state
" ship-of-war, with the gorgeous folds
II the Spanish standard floating over
her. was a pleasing sight to gaze upon.
But Narcissus needed not all this. Po I
etrv had fed from him. He could see
but one thing-the seaman on the yard; |
he could think of but one thing-the
rope which was so soon TO enclrcle his
neck.
The doomed men were taken aboard |
of the man -of-war. One by one the pi-
rates were slowly strangled at the yard 7
arm. There remained only Narcissus /
and the Snowman.
{" After you," said the latter with a I
q -. ALL crrir Yn11 ore vnunnar than 1