Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-11-30
MR.. NELSON'S Will.
BY a. RIDER HAGGARD.

name was Thomas, Il guess that you and
the youngster will be about ready to va
cate these apartments; SO, if you please, I
will send you off to the ship, the Harpoon
that's her name-of Norfolk, in the
United States. You viii find her well
favored with oil, for we are about full to
the hutches; but, perhaps, under the cir
cumstances, you will not mind that. Any
way, my Missus, who is aboard-having
come the cruise for her health-and who
is an Englishwoman, like you, will do all
she can to make you comfortable. And /
tell you what it is, Miss, if ! was in any
way pious, should just thank the Al
mighty that happened to see that there
bit Of flag with my spyglass as l was
sailing along the coast at sun-up this
morning, for / had no intention of putting
IA at this creek, but at one twenty miles
along. And now, Miss, if you will 90
aboard, some Of US will stop and just tuck
up the dead gentleman as well as we can"
Augusta thanked him from her heart,
and, going into the hut, got her hat and
the roll of sovereigns which had been Mr..
Nelson's, but which he had told her to
take, leaving the blankets to be brought
by the men.
Then two Of the sailors got into the little
boat belonging to the Kangaroo in which
Augusta had escaped, and rowed her and
Dick away from that hateful shore to
where the whaler-a fOre-and-aft schooner
was lying at anchor. AS they drew near
she saw the rest Of the crew Of the Har-
pooh, among whom was a woman, watch
ing their advent from the deck, who,
when she got her foot upon the companion
ladder, one and all set up a hearty cheer.
In another moment she was ON deck
which, notwithstanding its abominable
smell Of oil, seemed to her the fairest and
most delightful place that her eyes had
ever rested on-and being almost Rugged
by Mrs Thomas, plcasantlooking wo-
man Of about thirty, the daughter of a
Suffolk farmer who had emigrated to the
States. And then, Of course, she had to
tell her story all over again. after which
she was led Off TO the cabin occupied by
the Captain and his wife land which
thenccfOrth was occupied by Augusta,
Mrs Thomas, and little Dick, } the Captain
shaking down where he could. And here,
for the first time for nearly n week, she
was able to wash and dress herself proper
". And oh, the luxury of i'll Nobody
knows what the delights of clean linen
really mean till he or she has had TO dis
pense with IL under circumstances of pri-
walton; nor have they the slightest idea of
what difference to ones well-bcing and
comfort Is made by the possession or non
possession of IN article 50 common as D
comb. Whilst Augusta was still combing
out her hair with signs of delight, Mrs.
ThOnGs knocked mt the door and was adj.
mittcd
"My, Miss, what beautiful hair you
have, now that it is combcd outp she said
in admiration; "and arms, tGo-I never
upon your ahoudcrs2"
Then Augusta had to tell the tale of the
tattooing, which, by the way, it struck
her. it was wise to do seeing that she thus
secured witness to the fact that she wa.
already tattoocd on leaving Kerguelen
Land, and That tine operation had been of
such recent iulliction that the flesh was
still inilamod with IL. This was the more
necessary rs the tattooiug was undated.
Mrs Thomas listened to the story with
her mouth open lost between admiration
at Auwusta's courage and regret that her
beautiful white shoulders should have
been ruined in that fashion.
"Wcll, the least that he" (alluding to
Eusacc) Can do is 10 marry YOU after you
have spoiled yourself in that fashion for
his benefit, said the practical Mrs. Thorn
-
''NOnsenscl Mrs Thomas" said Angus
Tn, blushing till the tattoo marks on her
shoulders looked like blue lines in sea of
crimson, and stamping her foot with such
energy that her hostess jumped.
There was no reason why she should
give an innocent remark such warm re-
ccpton; but then, rs the reader will no
doubt have observed, the reluctance that
some young women show TO talking of the
tf nj "a IN
they happen to have set their hearts on, is
only cqualed by tho alacrity with which
they marry him when the time comes.
Having set Dick and Augusta down to n
breakfast of porridge and coffee, which
both Of them Thought delicious, though
tho fare was really rather coarse, Mrs.
Thomas, being unable to restrain her cur
iosity, ruwcd off to the land to see the huts
and also Mr. Nelson's romans, which,
though not II pleasant sight, were I'M
doubtcdly IN interesting one. With her,
too, went most of the crew, bent upon the
Same GRAND, aud also ON obtaining water,
of which the lIarpoon was short.
As soon us she was left alone, Augusta
went back TO the cabin, taking Dick with
her, aud lay down on the berth with feel
ing Of safety and thankfulncss to which
She had long boon stranger, where very
soon she fell sound asleep.
CHAPTER II.-EoUTUANIPToN QUAY.
When Augusta opened her eyes again
she became conscious Of n violent rolling
motion that she could not mistake They
were Mt sea.
She got up smoothed her hair, and went
on deck. to find that she had slept for
many hours for the sun was setting. She
went aft to where Mrs Thomas was sit
ting near the wheel with little Dick beside
her, and after greeting them turned to
watch tho sunset The sight was a beau
tiful one enough, for the great waves
driven by the westerly wind, which in
these attitudes IS nearly always blowing
half gale, werc rushing past them wild
and free, and the sharp spray of their
foamiug Crcsts struck upon her forehead
like II whip. The sun was setting. and tho
arrows of the dying light flew fast and far
across the BillOwy bosom of the deep. Fast
and far they flew from the stormy glory
in the west, lighting up the pale surfaces
of cloud, aud tinging the gray waters of
that majestic sea with lurid hue of blood.
Thov kissed the bellyug sails, and seemed
to rest upon the vessels lofty trucks, and
then travelled on and away and away.
through the great CmpyICan of space till
tH'N htoke ana vanished upon the hori-
gon's rounded edge. There behind them
miles benin kcrguclcu Land reared
its hcrce cliffs against the twilight sky
Clear and dcsolate they lowered in an I'M
utterahlo solitude, and ON the snowy sur
faces the sunbeams beat coldIy as the
warm breath Of some human passion beat
ing on Aphr2dte's marble breast.
Augusta gazcd upon those drcar cliffs
that had 81 nearly proved her monumental
pile, and shuddrrcd. II was as a hideous
dream
Aud then the dark and creeping shadows
of tho night throw their wells around and
over them, and they vanished They were
swallowed up in hlackncss, and she lost
sight of them and the great seas that for.
over heat and churn about their stony
feet; nor except in dreams, did she again
set her eyes upon their moaSurcless soli-
tudc.
The Night arose In strength and shook
golden dew OF stars from the treSses of
her streaming clouds, till the wonderful
deep heavens sparklcd with myriad of
gemmy points. The west wind going on
his way sung his wild chant amongst the
cordage. and rushed among the sails az
with rush of wings. The ship Ieaut over
like Il maiden shrinking from kiss, then,
shivering, fled away; leapiug from bilIow
to billow rs they rose, and tossed their
white arms about her, fain to drag her