The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-08

button broke out into the most violent
oaths. sinking n little lower as no did, 20
that the mud was nearly to his we Z; and
plucking a pistol from his belt, Help me, "
be cries. 'or die and be damned to you'll"
"Nay.r says Ballantrae, II did but jest
am coming" And he set down his own
packet and buttons, which he was then car
rviny. "Do not venture near till we see IL
You are needed said he to me, and went
forward alone to where the man was begged.
He was quiet now, though he still held the
pistol: and the marks OF terror in his coun-
tenance were very moving 10 behold
"For the Lords sake" says he, "look
sharp"
| Ballantrae was now got clcSs up. keep
| still saws be, and seemed to consider; and
| then Reach out both your hands,"
| button laid down bis pistol, and so wntery
was the top surface that il went clear out OF
sight; with an oath be stopped TO snatch 1t,
and as he did so, Balartrae leaned forth and
stabbed him between the shoulders. Upwent
bis hands over bis head, know not whether
with the pain or to ward himself, and the
next moment he doubled forward in the mud
Ballantrae was already over the ankles, but
he pi.cked himself out and came back to me.
where stood with my knees shifting one an
other. "The devil take you, Francis" says
he II believe you are a half-hearted fellow
after all. have only done justice on a
nitrate And here we are quite clear OF the
Sarahl Who shall now say that we have
dipped our hand in any irregularitiesp
/ assured him he did me injustice; but my
,ense OF humanity was 50 much affected by
the horridneSs Of the fact that | could scarce
find breath to answer with.
Come" said he, you must be more re
solved The need for this fellow ceased when
ne had shown you where the path ran, and
YOU cannot deny would have been daft to
letHli 50 fair an opportunity"
We struck tao path without further mis-
adventure, and the same night, about sun.
down, came TO the edge Of the moraSs
We were too weary 20 seek far, on some
dry sands. still warm with the days sun, and
close under n wood OF pines we lay down and
were instantly plunged in sleep.
We awaked the next morning very early,
and began with a sullen spirit a conversation
that came near 10 end in blows. We were
now cast on shore in the southern provinces,
thousands of miles from any French settle
ment; a dreadful journey and thousand
perils lay in front OF us; and Are, II there
was ever need for amity, it was in such an
hour. must suppose that Ballaatrae had
suffered in his sense OF what is truly polite.
indeed, and there is nothing strange in the
idea, after the sea wolves we had consorted
with so long, and as for myself he fubbed
me of unhandsomely, and any gentleman
would have resented his behavior.
| told him in what light | cav his con
duct: he walked little off, IfolloDng to up
braid him, and n last he stopped me with his
hand.
Frank says he, "you know what we
sworc, and yet there Is no oath invented
would induce me TO swallow such expressions
if did not regard you with sincere affection
It is impossible you should doubt me there;
have given proofs. Dutton had to take be
cause be knew the pass, and Grady because
Dutton would not move without him, but
what call was there TO carry you alongl You
are perpetual danger to me with your
cursed Irish tongue. BY rights you should
now be in irons in the cruiser. And you
quarrel with me like n baby for some
trinkets"
| considered this one Of tho most unhand
some speeches ever made; and indeed TO this
day can scarce reconcile II to my notion Of
a gentleman that was my friend. Iretorted
upon him with his Scotch accent, of which
no had not so much as some, but enough to
be very barbarous and disgusting, as | told
him plainly, and the affair woull have gone
to great length but for an alarming inter
ventiOn.
We had got some way or upon the sand
The place where we had slept, with the pack
cts lying undone and the money scattered
openly, was now between us and the pines
and it was out of these the sts.nger must
have come There no was at least, great
hulking fellow Of the country, with a broad
ak on his shoulder, looking open mouthed
now at the treasure, which was just at his
feet, and now at our disPutation in which we
had gone far et-ugh 10 have weapons in our
hands. Wehc no sooner observed him than
he found his It's and made of again among
the pines.
This was no scene to put our minds at rest,
n couple Of armed men In sea clothes foand
Quarreling over n treasure not many miles
from where pirate had been captured-here
was enough 10 bring the whole country about
our ears. The quarrel was not even made
up; it was blotted from our minds and we
got our packets together in the twinkling Of
an eye and made off, running with the best
will in the world. But the trouble was we
did not know in what direction and must
continually return upon our steps. Ballan-
trae had indeed collected what he could from
Dutton: but it's hard 20 travel upon hearsay,
and the estuary, which spreads into vast,
irregular harbor turned us of upon every
side with a new stretch Of water
We were near beside ourselves and already
quite spent with running, when coming 10 the
top Of dune, we saw We were again cut off by
another ramifcation Of the bay. This was
creek, however, very different from those that
had arrested US before; being set in rocks, and
so precipltously deep that a small vessel was
able 10 lie al0ngside. made fast with hawser:
and her crew had laid plank 10 the shore.
Here they had lighted fire and were sitting
at their meal As for the vessel herself, she
was one OF those they build in the Bermudas.
The love OF gold and the great hatred that
everybody has 10 pirates were motives Of the
most influential. and would certainly raise the
country in our pursuit. Besides, it was now
plain we were on some sort Of struggling penia-
sula like the fingers Of a hand; and the wrist.
or passage to the mainland, which we should
have taken at the first, was by this time not
improbably secured These considerations
put us on holder counsel For AS long as
we dared, looking every moment 10 hear
sounds Of the chase, We lay among some
bushes on the top of the dune; and havingby
this means secured little breath and recon-
posed our appearance, we strolled down at
last with great ailectation OF carolessness,
TO the party by the ire.
CHAPTER VI.
VOYAGE WITH a SLAYER TO ALBANY IN
TUE PROVINCE OF NEW YORK