The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-04-17
CHAPTER II.

On the morning of Dec. l, 1903, the Old
Noll, privateer, ten guns, seventy men,
Commander Briggs, sailed into Dartmouth
harbor, bringing in tow three French ves-
sells. Considering that she had been re-
ported sunk off Saint Kits, with all hands,
and the name of Briggs had been ex-
plunged from the list of the living, her ar
rival caused no little excitement and re-
joicing.
Most famous of the privateers was the
Old Noll most famous and fortunate of
captains was her commander. She had
been out six weeks, and during that time
had fought eleven pitched battles, had
sunk the famous French privateers, the
Susanna of Calais and the Grande Turk
of st. Malo. and had taken twenty-three
prizes, of which she had sunk, burned or
taken ransom for all but the three she
now brought with her. She anchored in
mid-channel amid salvoes of artillery and
| loud cheering, and ten minutes later a
small gig put off from her, out Of which
leaped on to the quay a smartly built,
brown-faced young fellow, in whom it
would have been hard to trace any re-
semblance to the poor little school-boy We
left at Tusculum house thirteen years ago.
He hurried through the crowd who
wanted to shake hands and congratulate
him-his password being 'fitty prisoners
below deck" k"-passed up the main street
by the Buttery walk, turned into the
agents Office, and found that his prisoners
would have to 90 on to Totnes lookup, as
there was not an empty cellar in
Dartmouth.
He returned at the same pace, jumped
into the gig, and in half an hours time
from the moment OF dropping anchor,
fifty as desperate and ugly-looking villains
as ever slung yard or stoppered topsail-
sheet were on their way to Totnes lookup
under heavy guard.
Little did Samuel Briggs think that all
these movements of his were being
watched by the keen, although fishy and
bloodshot eye of his dear cousin Nautilus,
who had, of course, heard the news OF the
resurrection of the Old Noll and her cap
tain, and had gone out to verify what to
him, for most particular reasons of his
own, were very unwelcome tidings.
Course him." he muttered, as he bit
his nails to the quick. ''This will upset
all my arrangements. / must lose no
| time and secure my prize"
So ne hailed a double-sculled boat and
promised the men couple of crowns each
| If they would land him at Totnes bridge
within the two hours.
Arrived at the famous old bridge, with
| a couple OF minutes to spare, he threw the
men their money, walked rapidly up the
steep street, struck off TO the right down
a passage by the church-yard wall, and
pulled up at a mean looking house, at the
| door of which he knocked with some i'm.
! patience.
A very pretty girl with dark ewes and
| dark curly hair, but with a thin sad face
and very plainly dressed, answered his
knock.
"well. Doris" he said, sis your father
within ?"
81 believe SO, Mr.. Briggs" replied the
girl
Mr.. Nautilus pushed past her into a lit
tie back room. wherein, at the window,
sat the poor, bent, shriveled ghost of the
once proud Squire Adams of Barncombe
hall.
"Ha, Mr.. Briggs, glad to see you, glad to
see you," said the old gentleman, with 9
! forced smile. "Any news in Dartmouth
| sir?'
''None that know Of" replied Nautilus
Briggs. 'Tve come to hear your daughter
| ultimatum."
| "Well-there she is-ask her, ask her
1 Nthh hO hOtAiAiikf bebiu WI [AudllS.
"Doris, Mr.. Briggs has come to ask you,
once and for all, if you will marry him
and save me from utter ruin and dis
grace"
81 can't answer, father, indeed can't
just yet, said Doris.
"But why not, Doris?" said Briggs
surely you can say yes or no."
'If / say nc" said the girl, "you refuse
to help my father against his creditors, he
will be imprisoned, and Imprisonment
will kill him. If say yes, am acting a
lie, for | am virtually acknowledging thai
/ will love, honor, and obey you as CIR
ought to acknowledge to the man who il
70 be her husband"
"My darling. remember that yon owe
your life to Mr.. Briggs" said her father
III know it, / know it, father; and
have thanked him over and over again fol-
| it, although it has not brought me much
happiness" replied Doris. "But-but--
] there! l do not love Mr., Briggs as ht