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

] should require to write TO tho length of
this book over again TO do full justice by de-
scrption to the difficulties and anxeties Of
The days that now followed. Ii it had not
been thick weather all the time / donot know
how l should have Jared, l am sure. was
betweed two fires, so to say: On the one sido
the French cruisers and privatcers, and on
the other side the chips of my own country,
and particularly the revenue cutters and tho
Scoops and the like cruising after tho snug
glers As | knew that my relative could not
be with me under four days | steered out of
sight of land into the middle of the channel,
between BeaChy Head and the Seine coast,
AMI there lodged about under very small
canvas, heartily grateful for the haze that
shrouded the sea to within n milo of me- |
scarcely closed my eyes in sleep, and though
my worries were now of n very different
kind from those which had racked me on the
ice, they We're, 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 l could scarce
breathe till they were out of sight. Indeed,
lay skulklng out upon tnat sea as II / was
some common thief broke loose from Jail.
However, it pleased heaven. that / should
manage to keep out of sight of those whom
] most strenuOusly desired not to see: and
the afternoon of the fourth day found tho
Boca lying off Beachv Head, and peering
over the rail with haggard face at the dark
shadow of the land.
1t had been blowing AID srowing all day
The seas ran short and spteSllv. Ii was a
dismal December afternoon, and tho more
sensbly disgusting to lis who We're fresh from
several weeks of the balm and glory of tho
tropics. And yet would not have exchanged
it for clear, fine day for all that l was like
to be worth.
1t was the most reasonable thing in the
world that q vessel should be hove to in such
somber weather: and so | was under no CON
Germ that our posture in this respect would
excite suspicion, should we be deserted. The
hours stole away one by one. Now and
again @ little coaster would pass, some hoy
bound west, n soop for the Thames, lugger
on some unguessable mission-all 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 We're mighty pensive and
eager, staring necessarily with all our eyes;
but it looked as if we were not to expect any
thing that day when the night put its dark
ness into the weather Then, Us fOresaw a
serious uuliSeT II tne VIM SulIlSu llluO Ine
south, and as could not obtain a glimpse of
a shore light, ! resolved to bring up and ride
till dawn. Long ago we had got the
schooners old anchors at the catheads and
the cables bent; so, lowering the mainsail
and hauling down the stay foresail, we let
fall the starboard anchor, and the ship camo
to a stand. | put the lead over the side that
we might know if she dragged, hung "A Ian
tern on the forestry and one on either quar-
ter, 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 and anxious, and
had no patience to talk with Billy Pitt.
! There were too many risks, too many vague
chances in this exploit to render contempla-
ton Of it tolerable Suppose my relative
should he dead. Suppose Wilkinson should
| be robbed of his money? fall to the cuttngof
| capcrS as a sailor newly delivered to the
pleasures of the land with ten guneas in his
| pocket: get locked up for breaking the peacel
| blab Of lis in his cups and start the customs
on our trail: There was no end to such CON
lectures; and made myself so melancholy
! that | was fool enough to think that the
| treasure was no better than n curse, and that
on the whole | was better Off on the ice than
]
my native soil within gunshot.
! | was up and abouttll midnight and then,
| being in the cabin and exhausted, fell asleep
across tho table ana in that posture lay as
| one dead. Some one dragging at my arm
with very little tenderness, awoke me. | was
| in the midst OF dream OF the schooner haV-
ing been boarded by a party of French
! privateersmcn, with Tassard at their head,
| ana the roughneSs with which was aroused
was exactly calculated to extend into my
waking the horror and grief of my sleep.
/ instantly sprang to my feet, and saw
/ Washington Cromwell.
"Massa Rodney he bawled, "Massa Rod
ney. de gents 'longside-him an Wilkinson
--yaos, by de good Lord, dey'se both dcrc!
Dey hail me, an | answer and say who arc
you" and dey say Are you de Bocaf we
ann say, and dey say'--
| had stood stupidity staring at him; but
my full understanding coming to me on u
sudden, jumped to the ladder and darted on
deck. heard voices over the starboard side
and ran there. 1t was not so dark but that
| could see the outline of Deal uRger.
While l was peering the voice of my man
/ Wilkinson cried out, On deck, there! Crom-
well-Billy-W Mr.. Rodneytn
"IIere | ann cried |.
| "My God, PAUL" exclaimed the voice OF
Mr. Mason, this encounter is fortunate in
. deed.
/ shouted TO the negroes to show a light
and in few minutes Mr.. Mason, Wilkinson
and a couple of Deal hoatmen came over the
side, | grasped my relative by both hands.
l had not seen him for four years
This is good of you, indeed" 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 fire in tho
cook room and drink to warm us y and down
| bundled in the widest confusion Of excite
ment, followed by Mason and the others.
My relative was warmly clad and did not
seem to suffer from the cold. lie took me by
the hand and brought me to the lantern light,
and stood viewing me.
SAY" said he, you are your old self-a
bit worried looking, bur thatll pass. Stout
and burned. Odds heart. faui. if YOU have
passed through the experiences Wilkinson
has given me IA sketch OF we must nave your
life, man; we must have your life-for the
booksellers"
Well, need not detsin yea by reciting all
the civilitieS and congratulations which he