Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1883-01-19

limits, faster and bOlder it rushed
down the beautiful Patapsco, anc
struck fearlessly down t at mig hty in
land sea which our modest geograph
ers have named the Chesapeake Bay
All! who can describe that fearful
midnight voyage? The little steamer
built mainly with thr. view to=-speed
rushing with almost lightning swift
ness through the heavy troubled
waters. Over head the sad sighiag Of
the night wind amid the tauter. pc,
and slender spars. The single lantern
that cast its dim. weiId, ftful light
over the low decss, bringing into view
the few dusky, ehostly forms Of the
crew as they attend, i their seE arate
duIies-the low throbbing of the en-
CINE as it drove the little craft mad ",
desperately on, must all be left TO the
Imagination.
Beneath the hatches. hid there t"
avoid the suspicion of any passing
vessel. dozen fiece bearded men were
crouched, armed 10 the teeth they
we're, each man very walking ar.
senal"-for Capt. Bill! kn.w net but
he might have bloody work to do, and
was determined not TO fail-and cared
little whether they went or what deed
Of lawlessness and ime they were re-
quired to d., if it only brought them
excitement and spoils. Men they were,
who had braved death or the peniten-
tiary u hundred times, and did not
care. Men who in our bloody civil war
had followed the gra, clad soldiers in
their desperate, deadly charge up
Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg where
n6e flower of the North had gathered
houssnds aud placing their wives
little ones behind them, had faced
ic,orious Iegions # Lee. deter
to drive them from their thresh
perish in the attem pi- and " ho,
ed back bleeding and wounded.
n.ver Conquer, d, had sullenly re
only when il was proved that
ly power couf break down
as. bar pad been
he's. Il ii nis :xia rfashe RS
kWStI uotSCutuSu -
ery ~ste, who ~ & shat
/ susss ..tspt Lee, had helpeto battle
.lowlyloq1y determined Grspt, as he
belssa : te--...s ssar-rd rkdpd the
life -ble s1ak aTai6sd the
liaIic leader, but with the proud ban
ner of MY Maryland" waving ever
nearest the stars aud bars, fought by
him, until The last sad day at Apo
matox, rhen longer re.Ist.nce would
have y p murder.
NJ who. no matter what thy had
went into that struggle, had come out
Of i, hardened and corrupted, ripe for
any lswless deeds and Who, weary OF
had hailed with delight the
offer of Capt. Bill, and gladly swore
to do the thing he wanted done no
matter who opposed them.
Nen who now, though about to bid
defiance to the laws not only of acoun-
or a State but of a mighty nation,
laughed and iested together as if that
journey was one OF innocent
Within the cabin sat the beautiful
Miss Lyles, her young heart racked by
terrible doubts and fears-fearful lest
that wild almost hopeless journey
should be frui,less-doubtful neither
the end to be obtained justified such
means.
Imagine her situation.
A helpless female wholly in the
power of band Of men who would
scruple to do nothing that was wicked
chosen indeed for their very unscru,
pulousness, and who at sny time might
rush upon her, de.roil ler of her
money AID Of that which was dearer,
then cast her bleed ing and dlshonored
into the bay and no .ne ever know.
The acknowl.d leader OF aud prime
mover in an expedition that had for
Its object the tendency from justice
her legal ,.rey And all for what =
Because she loved him.
oh Harry, my darling. If | can
only saw YOU If can only save YOU.
And ever from her tortured heart
went up the prayer-and who should
dare call it blasphemy: My God,
Nv God. though my Intentions are
criminal, help me in my crime"
Pacing the d'ck with rapid, imra
ti-nt steps Capt. Bill, too, was think
ing.
What is to be the result Of this !:
With so many chances against us.
Would it not be easier to throw her
into the bay, and take at once tie lit
tie black satchel she has, and which l
know contains her fortune? No one
will ever know it, for it is supposed
she has left for Europe long ago. One
word to the mcn and the deed would
be done in minute. But no she is
the only woman | ever felt afraid of,
and will protect her, come what may.
| will do my utmost to save her lover,
if fail, will take her to some foreign
country and | will make her happy,
and she shall make me gool.'
Once he had stopped to ask the
grim Captain at the wheel, if he knew
he way? and the man had answered
laughingly.
"Oh yes, no danger OF my getting
lost"
Well he might know it, for mary a
dark night during the war he had
piIoted that self same craft through
the shallow tributaries of the bay
seeking cargo of contrsband goods
for the blockaded Conlederscy; and he
bad not forgotten.
"Can you make the journey in time:?'
asked Capt. Bill.
"lf nothing happens to stop us,
kwas the reply, and the tail form re