Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-05-11

ooSoip, shhiuS OlCh dsm w
steady his uneven steps, ne walked to the
door OF the slehouse.
As soon IS he was over the threshold,
ten strong arms rad seized ard bound
him; and IN two minutes more, with his
limbs trussed one TO smother, and good
gag ia his mouth, he had been tEmbied
neck ard crop into ne:ghooripg hay
barn. Presently his Nan Tom, similarly
secured, WAS tossed beside him, snd HE
pair were lefa to their uucoutn reflections
for the night.
And now, - the time for coDceelment
had gone by, Lord Foxhsm's followers
were summoned by a preconcerted signal
and the party, boldly taking possession
Of SIS many boats as their numbers re-
quired, boldly pulled in flotills for the
light IN the lee rigging Of the ship Long
before the last man had climbed to the
deck Of the Good Hope the sound OF fu-
rious shouting from the shore showed
that psrt st least OF the seamen had
discovered the loss of their skiffs.
But il was now too late, whether for
recovery or revenge. Out of some forty
fighting men now mustered il the stolen
ship, eight had been TO ses and could
play the psrt CT mariners. With the aid
0f these slice OF sail wss got upon her.
The cable was cut. Lawless, facilitating
on his feet, and still shouting the chorus
Of sea Ballads, took the long tiller in his
HANDS and the GOOD Hope began to fit
forward into the darkness of the night
and 80 fsce the great waves beyond tn
hcrbor bar.
Richard took his place beside TIE
weather rigging. Except for the ships
own lantern, and for some lights in
Shoreby town, that were already fading
10 leeward, the whole world Cf air WAS as
black IS in pit. Only from time to
time, az the Good Hope swooped dizzily
crest would break grest cataract OF
snowy foam would leep in one instant
into beiug-nnd, in IN instant more,
would stream into the wake and vanish
Many Of the men lay holding on aud
praying slouQ; many more were sick,
and had crept iato the bottom, where
they sprawled among the cargo.
And wnat with the extreme VIC
lence of the motion, snd the continued
drunken bravado of Lawless, still shout
ing ard singing al the helm, the stoutest
heart On board msy have nourished 8
shrewd misgiviag IS TO the result.
But for that while, st least, these fears
were all misplaced. LsWless, IS II
guided by an instinct, steered the ship
across the breakers, struck the lee of &
great sand bank, where they sailed
smoothly for while IN smooth water,
and presently after laid her alongside q
rude, stone pier, where she WAS hastily
made fast, and lay 6ucking and grinding
in the dark.
CHAPTER v.
THE GOOD HOPE CONTINUED
The pier WAS not far distant from the
house in which Joanna lay; it now only
remained to get the men On shore, to
surround the house with strong party,
burst in the door and carry Of the cap
tive. They might then regard them
selves as done with the Good Hope; it
had replaced them on the rear OF their
enemies; and the retreat, whether they
should succeed or fail in the main enter
prise, would be directed with a greater
measure OF hope in the direction OF the
forest and my Lord Foxham's reserve.
To get the men on shore, however, was
no easy task; many had been sick, all
were pierced with cold; the promiscutty
sid disorder on board had shaken
their discipline; the movement
of the ship and the darkness CT the
night had cowed their spirits. They made
rush upon the pier; nay lord, with his
sword drawn or his own retainere, must
throw himself in front; and this impulse
Of rabbleu emit was not restrained without
certain clamor OF voices, highly 10 De
regretted in the case.
When some degree OF order had been
restored, Dick, with g few chosen men,
set forth in advance. The darkness on
shore, by contrast with the flashing OF the
surf, eppesred before him like solid
body; and the bowling and whistling ol
the gale drowned auy lesser noise.
He had scarce reached the end OF the
pier, however, when there fell lu!l OF
the wind; and in this he seemed to hesr
on shore the hollow footing cf horses ard
the cl.sh OF arms. Checking his immed d.
ate followers he passed forward step OF
two alone, even setting foot upon the down
and here he made sure he could detect the
shape Of men std horses moving. a
strong encouragement sssalled him. Ii
their enemies were really % the watch, II
they had beleaguered me shorewsrd end
taken in 6 posture Of very poor defence
the sea behind, tie men jos:ied IN tie
dsrk upon;a narrow causewsy. He g&ve
& cautious whistle, the signal previously
agreed upon.
It proved to be signal far m3r5 than
lie desired. Instantly there fell, through
the black night, shower Of ARROWS zen!
at q venture; and so close were the nan
audited on the pier tha! more than one
was hit, and the arrows were answered
with cries of both fear and pain. In this
first discharge, Lord Foxham WAS struck
down; Hawksley had him carried on
board sgsin a. once; and his mer, during
the brief remainder Of the skirmish,
fought (when they fought st alp without
guidance. Thst Was perhaps the CHS
cause Of the disaster which made haste
to follow.
At the shore end Of the pier, for per-
hsps minute, Dick held bis own with
handful; one or two were wounded upon
either side; steel crossed steel; nor had
there been the least signal of advantage,
when in the twinkling Of an eye the tide
turned against the party from the ship.
Some one cried out that all was lost; the
men were in the very humor to lend an
ear to q discomfortable counsel; the CRY
was taken up. Con board, boys, for your
Hves!" cried another. A third, with the
true instinct OF the coward, raised that
inevitable report on all retreats: 1--WE sre
betrsyedln And in 8 moment the whole
mass Of men went surgi1g and lostlipg
backward down the pier, turning their
deferceIaas hacks on their pursuerS and