The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-02-24

arranged this matter to their own satisfac-
ton, if not to ours, we were told to sit
down and enjoy ourselves with what ap-
petite we could muster.
The smell of the roast lamb and the
freshly baked meal-cakes, however, soon
aroused pleasant sensations, and dlmmed
for a time the memory of our griefs ; more
especially as, under the apparent certainty
of obtaining his booty, the chief con-
descended to be quite patronizing toward
us, carving the joints himself for us, and
delicately handing on the point Of a dagger
our several portions. After we had salts
fed our hunger with more solid viands, we
were regaled with dried fruits as dessert !;
and large jar of a peculiar sherry-colored
but bad-tasting wine of resinous flavor
which Themistocles described as the COM
mon wine of the country-was brought In
and set down in the midst of us. This we
told them we could not drink; and the
chief very generously ordered us couple
of bottles from his own particular store,
doubtless the proceeds of a raid upon some
well-to-do householder.
Will johnson, after time, managed to
ingratiate himself in the favor of our shagg-
gy host and his friends by his genial hap
py manner and frank bearing, favoring the
company with many remarks, which,
translated by Themistocles, evidently
pleased them. When, too, by slight-of-
hand-in which he was an adept-he per
formed some simple tricks, and gave them
music-hall song with rollicking chorus,
and wound up with hornpipe, accom-
panied by the captain with pocket comb
and piece of paper, the general enthusl-
asm knew no bounds, and the beetle-brow-
ed vagabonds laughed till the tears rolled
down their cheeks.
Will now became on such excellent
terms with them all that he proceeded to
take some freedoms with them and when
he snatched the horn from the cup-bearer,
and installed himself in that officials place,
ladling the wine out of the wide-mouthed
jar and handing it round to the company,
his triumph was complete.
"For heavens sake!' said he, as he
passed us, "don't take any of this stuff,
and don't drink much of your own"
"Never fear," said jenkins, making a
wry face, zone taste is sufficient
And SO Will went round with the cup,
making comical remark to this one, and
a grimace at that, until the chief-evident-
ly fearing from their hilarity that they
were taking too much-ordered them to
desist from drinking and return to their
several duties.
Meanwhile we were sent back into our
dungeon, with sentinel stationed at the
opening.
"Not a word" whispered Will, as we
settled down in our prison. "Here's some
thing, captain" he continued, "that be-
longs to you"
"Why," said the captain, in reply, as
Will handed him the article mentioned ;
''this is stopper out of my medicine
chest
"To be sure it is Jack, returned Will
"and l must apologize for the liberty Of
taking your laudanum phial; but my back
tooth was so painful on board the ship last
night that I got up and took it, and luckily
forgot to return it this morning You must
debit me with the bottle and its contents
for I dropped them both into the vaga
bonds winejar!
What" we all exclaimed in breath
CHOW, stop your clappers p continued
the supercargo-"Jack, you know I'm moi
bad at slight-of-hand tricks. Well, in the
first place, having contrived to secrete the
bottle while the blackguards were relieving
me of my valuables, and then having at
tanned the position of waiter: what wa'
easier than to wriggle the bottle down my
sleeve, whip out the stopper, and drop the
lot into their swipes giving the bottle
crack and stirring the laudanum up every
time dipped the horn into it?'
"Bravo, Will" cried the captain, seiz
ing his hand and giving it hearty shake
sEIf that's the case, we're safe; for the
blackfaced rascals won't wake up for ;
dozen hours I'll be bound. There! oul
guard has dropped off already!'
And sure enough, the drowsy rufiar
had planted himself right across the open
ing and was snoring loudly.
"Now for it p cried the impetuous Jacl
jenkins, rising.
"Hold hard p said Will. 9Let then
get well off"
So, settling ourselves down for half al
hour, we talked the matter over AT tn'
end of this time we sent the trembling
Themistocies to see how things were out
side and after peeping over the prostrat'
sentinel he gave us to understand that al
were sleeping except three, and they were
retiring to the farther end Of the ravine
and would in a minute be out of sight.
"Capitalr' said VIII, with suppressed
excitement ''Now, each take pistol ant
cutlass from the fellows, and follow me.
One after another we stepped across th'
sleeping brigand at the enterance, VIII
relieving him of his pistol, dirk and blum
derbuss, while the captain and I stood b,
ready to give him his quietus at thu
slightest sign of his waking. Then thu
four of us, gliding like ghosts, assisted our