Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-05-27
CHAPTER XXI.

out 10 sea again.
CHAPTER XXXI.
THE END.
/ should require to write to the length OF
this book over again TO do full. justice by
description to the difficulties and anxietles
of the days that now followed. Hit had
not been thick weather all the time do
not know how / should have Jared, am
sure. was between two fires so to say: On
the one side the French cruisers and prlva-
tsers, and on the other side the ships Of
my own country, and particularly the rev.
enue cutters and the sloops and the like
cruising after the smugg lers. As l knew
that my relative could not be with me
under four days, steered out Of sight OF
land into the middle of the channel, be-
tween Beachy Head and the Seine coast,
and there lodged about under very small
canvas, heartily grateful for the has that
shIouded the sea to within mile OF me.
scarcely closed my eyes IN sleep, ard
though my worries were now Of very
different kind from those which had rack
ed me on the ice, they were, in their way,
TO the full as tormenting. Every sail
that doomed in the dinginess filled me
with alarm. Several ships passed me
close, and could scarce breathe till they
were out of sight. Indeed, lay skulking
ont upon that sea as if / were some COM
mon thief broke loose from Jail. How
ever, it pleased heaven that should man
age to keep out of sight of those whom /
most strenuously desired not to see; and
the afternoon of the fourth day found the
Bcca lying of Beachy Head, and L peerin2
over the rail with haggard face at the
dark shadow of the land.
1t has been blowing and showing all
day. The seas ran short and spItefnlly. 1t
was dismal December afternoon, and the
more sensibly disgusting TO Us who were
fresh from several weeks of the balm and
glory of the tropics. And yet | would not
have exchanged il for clear, fine day for
all that | was like to be worth.
It was the most reasonable thing in the
world that vessel should be hove to IN
such somber weather; and so was under
no concern that our posture in this respect
would excite suspicion, should We be des-
cribed. The hours stole away one by one.
Now and again a little coaster would
pass, some hoy bound west, sloop
for the Thames, q lugger on some
unguessable mission-sll small ships,
oozing dark and damp out Of the snow and
mist and passing silently. kept the
land close aboard to be out Of the way OF
the bigger craft and kept the vessel in the
wind till it was necessary to reach to our
station. The three Of Us were mighty
pensiye and eager, staring necessarily
with all our eyes; but it looked as II we
were not to expect anything that day
when the night put its darkness into the
weather. Then, as / foresaw serious
danger if the wind shifted into the
south, and as ! could not obtain glimpse
of q shore light, / resolved to bring up and
ride till dawn. Long ago we had got the
schooner's old anchors at the catheads and
the cables bent; 80, lowering the mainsail
sad hauling down the stay foresail, we lei
fall the starboard anchor, and the ship
came to q stand. put the lead over the
side that we might know if she dragged,
hung q lantern on the forestry and one on
either quarter, that our presence might be
marked by my relative should he put out
in quest of us, and went below, leaving
Cromwell to keep the lookout
/ was extremely fretful ana anxious,
and had no patience to talk with Billy
Pitt. There are too many risks, too many
vague chances in this exploit to render
contemplation of it tolersble. Suppose
my relative should be dead? Suppose
Wilkinson should be robbed of his money:
fall to the cutting Of capers as q sailor
newly delivered to the pleasures of the
land with ten guiness in his pocket? get
locked up for breaking the peace? blab Of
us in his cups, and start the customs on
our trail? There was no end to such con-
lectures; and / made myself 80 melan-
choly that was fool enough to think that
the treasure WAS no better than curse,
and that on the whole was better off on
the ice than here with the anchor in EGG
lish ground, and my native soil within
gunshot.
l was up and about till midnight; and
then, being in the cabin and exhausted, i
fell asleep acreSs the table, and in that pos
ture lay as one dead. Some one dragging
at my arm with very little tenderness,
awoke me. l was in the midst of dream
of the schooner having been boarded by q
party Of French priysteersmen, with Tas-
sard at their head, and the roughness with
with which / was aroused was exactly cal
culated to extend into my waking the hor-
TOR and grief Of my sleep.
instantly sprang to my feet, and saw
Washington Cromwell.
"Massa Rodney" he bawled, "Massa
Rodney, de gents 'longsids-him an Will
kinson-yaas, by de good Lord, dey'se
both dere! Dey hail me. an i answer an
say, Who are you?' and dey say, Are
you de Boca?' We am say, and dey
say"-
had stood stupidity staring at him; but
my full understanding coming to me on q
sudden, jumped to the ladder and darted
on deck. heard voices over the starboard
side aud ran there. II was not so dark
but that could see the outline Of q Deal
lugger. While / was peeripg the voice Of
my man Wilkinson cried out: ION deck,
therel Cromwell-Billy-where's Mr..
ROduey?'
"Here amp cried 1.
''My God, Paulp exclaimed the voice of
AIr. Mason, "this encounter is fortunate
indeed.
shouted to the negroes to show light,
and in few minutes Mr.. Mason, Wilkin-
son and q couple Of Deal hoAtmen came
over the side. Igrasped my relative by
both hands. had not seen him for four
years.
This is good Of you, indsed" I cried.
''But you must be persisted with the cold
of that open boat Come below at once
come, Wilkinson, and you men-there's
a Ere in the cook room aud drink to warm
as" and down bundled in the widest
confusion of excitement, followed By Ma
son and the others.
Ny relstive was warmly clad, and did
not seem to saffer from the cold. he took
me by the hand snd brought me to the
Ia,,k .rr, liohk and afoo1 viaUinO ma