Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-03-22


business
"What is to be donef
"Tell me your lading," said he
gave it to him as accurately as I could
"Why, he exclaimed, ga single boat would
take long time TO discharge ye; observe the
pcris-several boats would mean a large
number of men; they would eat you up;
they would demand so much you would have
nothing left. And suppose they opened the
chests. No, your scheme is worthless"
whats to do, then. in Gods namep
"lll tell your he exclaimed, smiling with
the complacency Of man who is master OF q
great fancy II shall sail to Dover at once.
lis now quarter past 4. Give me twelve
hours to make Dover; | shall post straight to
London and be there by early morning Now,
Paul, attend you to this Today is Wednes-
day; by tomorrow night you must contrive
to bring your ship to an anchor off Barking
Level
"The Thamesl" cried.
He nodded.
looked at him anxiopsly. He leaned to
me, putting his hand on my leg.
81 own lighter said he. "She will he
alongside of you at dusk. l have people of
my own whom | can trust. The lighter will
empty your hold and convey the lading to a
ship chartered by me, arrived from the Black
sea on Sunday and lying in the pool. The
stuff can he sold from that ship as it is
But the chestS-the chests, Mason!n
"They shall be lowered into another boat
and taken ashore and put into a wagon that
will be in waiting-I in it-and driven tony
home"
l clapped him on the shoulder in trans
port.
"Nobly schemed, indeed" cried. "But
nave we nothing to fear from the customs
peoplef'
emo nos low down the river and at dark.
You bring up for convenience, dye see, Mind
it is dark when You anchor 4 lighter and
boat shall be awaiting you 1t is down the
river, you know, that all the Jumpers drop
with the lighters they go adrift in from ships
sides There's more safety in smuggling over
Thames mud than on this coast shngle. One
thought more: You say that Wilkinson be-
lieves the chests hold small armsm
eyes"
"Then account to him for sending the
chests away separately by saying that have
found purchaser, and that they are going
to him direct. You have your cue--you see
all!'
"Anp
"Let me hurry, then, Paul. That brandy
should fetch you half Il guinea pint. You
are in luck's way, Paul. See that you bring
your ship along safely. Till tomorrow
night!n
He clasped and wrung my hand, and ran
into the cabin.
"Now, lads, off with usr' he cried. "Of
to Dover Put me ashore there smartly, and
you shall find your account. Off now-tine
presses'
Five minutes afterward the boat was gone.
When fortune falls in love with man she
makes him bounteous mistress. Every
thing fell out as l could have desired. We
got our anchor at 8, and by daybreak We're
OFF Hastings, jogging quietly along toward
London river, the weather conveniently OBJ
scure, the wind south, and forty hours before
us to do the run in. exactly explained my
relatives scheme to Wilkinson and the others,
who declared themselves perfectly satifled,
Wilkinson adding that though he had not
objected to the Deal smuggling project he
throughout considered the risk too heavy
to adventure. told them that Mr.. Mason
believed he could Immediately find pur-
chaser for the small arms, in which case
they would have to be sent privately ashore:
and to give a proper color to this rllse |
made them pack away all the remaining
weapons in the arms room and carry them
to the run, ready to be taken with the other
chests.
Once fairly round the Forelands, half my
anxieties fell from me. There was no longer
the French cruiser or privateer to be feared: ;
and however wonderingly the people of my
own country's vessels might stare at the UNI
common figure of my schooner they could
find no excuse to board u.s. Besides as |
have said, l was greatly helped by the
weather, which, continuing hazy, though
happily never so thick as to oblige me to
stop, delivered me to the sight only of such
vessels as passed close, and offered me only
as a mere smudge to tho shore.
We arrived OFF Barking Level at : O'Clock
on the Thursday evening, and dropped an
Choir close to a lighter that lay there with
large boat hanging by her. It was then very
dark The first person to come ON board was
Mason. He was followed by several men.
one of whom he introduced to me as his head
clerk, who he said would see to the unload
ing of tho schooner and to the transshipment
of the goods to the ship in the Pool. He in
formed me that there was a covered van
waiting on shore; and telling Wilkinson that
the small arms had been disposed of, and
that Mr. Mason would hand over the pro-
ceeds on our calling at his office, | went with
party of my relatives men into the run,
and presently had the whole of the chests in
the boat. Mason went with her
Then, as she disappeared in the darkness,
but not till then, did | draw the first easy
breath had fetched since the hour of the col
lision Of the Laughing Mary with the iceberg.
a sob shook me; had gone through much !;
many wonderful things had happened to me
I had been delivered from such perils that tho
mere recollection of them will stir my hair
though tits years since; my first duty knew,
and | discharged it by withdrawing to my
cabin, and kneeling with humble and CRATE
full heart before the throne of that being to
whom / owed everything.
POSTSCRIPT.
Here concludes the remarkable narrative
of Mr. Paul Rodney, Ii is TO be wished that