Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-04-15
CHAPTER XIV.
THE PIRATES STORY.

LIGHTED my pipe and sat smoking, think
log he would presently awake; but his
slumber was as deep az the stiffness | had
thawed him out of had been, and he lay
so motionless that, but for his snoring and
harsh breathing. / should have believed
him lapse6 into his former lifelessuess.
At 8 o'clock the fire was very low. Ma
ture was working ont her own way with
this Frenchman, aud / determined to let
him sleep where he vas, and take my
chance OF the night.
The gale made a great roaring. The
ships stern lay open to the gorge, and
and but for her siesdines7 / might have
supposed myself at sea. l snugged me
down amid the coats and cloaks in my cot,
and. constantly holding my eyes closed,
ultimately fell asleep.
1t was a little after Z when / awoke. /
lighted the lantern, but upon entering the
passage that lead to the cabin l observed
by my own p~ousture that the schooner had
not only heelsd mere 10 larbosrd, but was
farther down by the stern" to the extent
of several feet, Indeed, the angle Of in
clination was now considerable enough 10
bring my shoulder lin the PASSAGE close
against the starboard side when ! stood
erect. The noise of the gale wac still il
the air, and the booming and the boiling
of the sea was uneommonly loud. / walk
el straight TO the cook room, and, putting
the lantern to the Frenchman, perceived
that he vas still in 3 heavy slesp, and that
he had lain through the nigh precisely IN
the attitude 10 which | hsd left him. His
face was so mrfled that little more than
his long hawks bill moss was discernible.
IL was ireezingly cold, and l made haste
to light the ire. There was still coal
enough in the corner to last for the day,
and before long the furnace wa burning
chesriully. ! went to work to make some
broth and fry som ham, and melt a little
block Of ruby colorsd wine; and while
thus occupied, turning my head a moment
20 look ut the Frs9camau, l found him
half started up, staring ictently at me.
This sudden conffontmert threw me into
such confusion that / could not speak. He
moved his head from side to side, taking
3 view Of the scene, with an expression OF
the most inimitsbls astoniShment painted
upon his counteoalca. He then brought
the flat OF his hand with a dramatic blow
10 his forehead, the scar on which showed
black as ink to the fire GLOW, AID Eat erect.
"Wh,re have l besn?" he exclaimed in
French,
"Sir," said I, speaking with the utmost
difficulty. AZ do not understand Your lat
gusge. I am English. You speak my
tongue. Will you address me in it?"
':Euslisbr" he exclaimed in English,
dropping his head on oae side, and peering
at nae Sith al incredible air OF anaz emant
How came you here You are not OF car
company? Let me sse''- Here he strug-
gled with recollection, continuing to stare
at ne from under his shaggy eyebrows az
if l was some frightful vision.
II am a shipwrecSed British mariner" y
said / ''aud have been cast away upon
this ice, WHARF l found yOur schooner
Hal ne interrupted, with prodig;ous
vehemence, certainly: We are fcczea up
Il remember. That sleep should serve
nv memory SOP He mlde as If to rise,
but 50, again. The cold is numbing; it
would weaken 4 lien. Give me a hot
drink. SIR"
filled 6 pannikin with the melted wine
which be swallowed thirstily.
"MOre!" cried he. II seem TO want
life"
Agaia l filed the pannikin.
"GOcdu' said he, fetching a sigh, as he
returned the vessel; sou are very oblig-
lug, sir. Il you have food there we will
ea; together"
! give the substance If his speech, but
not his delivery Of it; nor is it necessary
that I should interp,late my rendering
with the French words ne used,
The broth bsing boiled, l gave him a
good bowl OF it along with Il plate Of bacon
and tongue, some biscuit aud a pannikin
Of hot brandy and water, all which things
| put upon his knees as he sst upon the
mattress; and TO it be fell, making a rare
meal. Yet all the while he ate hs acted
like q man bewitched, as well he might,
staring at me and looking round and round
him, and then dropping his knife TO strike
his brow, as # By that kind of blow he
would quicken the activity OF memory
there.
There is something wrong" said he,
presently. 'Wbat is il, sir? This IS the
cook room. How does it happen that an
lying here?"
l told him exactly how it was, adding
| that il il had not been for HE posture,
which obliged me TO tbaw il order to carry
him, he would now be on deck with the
Others. awaiting the best funeral could
give him.
Who sre tue Others" asked he.
~ know not,n said /. There were
four in all, counting yourself; n sits fro,
zen to death on the rocks. / met him first,
and took lis watch from his pocket that
might tell the time
He took the watch in his hands, and
asked me to bring the lantern close.
Hal cried he, this is Mendozl's-
the captains. / remember; he took il ior
the sake of this letter upon it. He lies
dead on the rocks? We missed hin, bu;
did rot know where &c had gone" Then
raising his hand AID impulsively starting
upon the mattress, he cried, while ne tapped
his forehssd, 1T has come back! Ih4ve
il. Giuseppe TrentaDoye and l were III
the cabin; he had fallen blind with the
glare of the ice-if that was it. We con-
fronted each other. Gas sudden be scream
ed out l had put my face into my arms
AID felt myself dying. His cry aroused
me. / looked up and saw him leaning
back from the table with els eyes fixed and
horror in his countersncs. l vas too fee
bic to speak-too languid 10 rise. / watched
him q while, and then the droSiuess stole
over NE again, and my head sank AID J
remembered no more"
He ~sbuddered, and extended the pauni'
kin for more liquor. l filled it with two
thirds of brandy and the rest water, AND
ne suppsd it down as if it had been q thin
Dletul Of wine.
BY TIE molly cross" cried he, 'but thi'
is very wonderful, though! How Nng have
you been here, siI?"
"rhree days"
Three days. aud l have been 10 3 stu
por all that time-neger moving, never
breathjpg?'
"You will have been a stupor longer
than that, l expect" said !.
What is this month"; he cried.
"July," l replied.
"July-July!' he muttered. 'ImpoS'
sibls! Let me see"-he began 10 count or
his iugsrs-'we fell in with the ice and
got locked in November. We had SIX
months of it; l rscollect no more. Six
months Of il. sir: ami supoos the stupoI