The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-04-06


! And surely we were as could be told by the
altered sound Of the water beneath US, and
the many creakings that the Godsend began
to keep. Once more l tasted freedom again
and the Joy of living, and could have sung
for the mirth that lifted my heart. ''Let US
but gain open sea" said ], land I'll have tit
for tat with these rebels!'
But alas! before we had left Avon mouth
twenty minutes twas another tale. For lay
on my side IN that dark hold and longed to
die, and Della sat up beside me, her hands in
her lap and her great eyes fixed most dole
! fully. And when Capt. Billy came down
with the news that we were safe and free to
/ go on deck we turned our faces from him and
said we thanked him kindly, but had no
/ longer any wish that way-too wretched,
/ even, to remember his deafness.
Let me avoid, then, some miserable hours,
and come to the evening, when, faint with
! fasting and nausea, we struggled up to the
| deck for air, and looked about us.
Twas gray-gray everywhere; the sky
lead colored, with deeper shades towards the
| east, where a bank of cloud blotted the coast
line; the thick rain descending straight, with
hardly wind enough to set the sails tapping;
the sea spread like plate of lead, save only
crawled away from under the Godsend's keel
On deck, few sailors moved about, red
eyed and heavy. They showed no surprise to
see us, but nodded very friendly, with smile
for our strange compilations. Here again, as
ever, did adversely mock her own image.
But what more took orr attention was to
see a row Of men stretched on the starboard
side, like corpses, their heads in the scuppers,
i
arranged. They were dozen and two in all,
and over them bent Capt. Billy with a mop
in his hand and q bucket by his side; who
beckoned that we should approach.
"Arrayed in order O merit, said he, point
ing with MS mop like Snowman to the line Of
figures before him.
We drew near.
'Ths here is Matt. Soames, master O. this
vessel-an' he's dead"
'Deadn
dead drunk, that is. o the gifted man!
Come upI" He thrust the mop in the fellows
heavy face. There nowI Did he move? did
he wink3 No, says you. o an accomplished
drunkardw
He paused moment. then stirred up No.
., who opened one eye lazily, and shut it
again in slumber.
''You saw! Opened one eye, hey? That's
Benjamin Halliday. The next is a black
man, as you see; a man Of dismal color. and
hath other drawbacks natural to such. Can
the Ethiop shift his skin? No, but he'll open
both eyes See there-a perfect Christian, il
so far as drink can make him"
With like comments he ran down the line.
To he brief, twas not till the fourth after
noon (by reason of battling head Winds that
we stepped out of the Godsend's boat upon a
small beach Of shingle, whence, between
rift in the black cliffs, wound up the road
that was to lead us inland The Godsend, as
we turned to wave our hands, lay ct half
miles distance, and made pretty sight for
the day, that had begun with a white frost,
was now turned sunny and still. 50 that look
ing north we saw the sea all spread with
pink and lilac and hyacinth, and upon it the
ship lit up, her masts and sails glowing like
gold piece And there was Billy, leaning
over the bulwarks and waving his trumpet
for Good by" Thought /, for I little
dreamed to see these good fellows again,
''what a witleSS game is this life! to seek
ever IN fresh conjunctiOns what we leave be-
hind in handshake"
We followed the road after this very mood
ilv: for Della, whom had made sharer Of
the rebels secret. agreed that no time was TO
be lost in reaching Bodmiu, that lay a good
thirty miles to the southwest. Night fell and
the young moon rose with a brisk breeze at
our backs that kept us still walking without
any feeling of WEAKNESS Capt. Billy had
given me at parting small compass, of new
invention, that a man could carry easily in
his pocket; and this from time 70 time l ex-
amiued in the moonlight, guiding our way
almost due south, in hopes of striking into the
main road westward. l doubt not we lost a
deal of time among the byways; but at length
happened on a good road bearing south, and
followed it till daybreak, when, to our salts
faction, we spied & hill in front, topped with
a stout castle, and under it a town of impor-
tance, that we guessed to be Launceston.
By this my comrade and I were on the
best of terms again; and now drew up TO
consider if we should enter the town or avoid
it to the west, trusting to find breakfast in
some tavern on the way. Because we knew
not with certainty the temper of the cOun-
try. it seemed best to choose this second
course; 50 we fetched around by certain bar
rem meadows, and thought ourselves lucky
10 hit Oh a road that, by the size, must be
the one we sought, and a tavern with wide
yard before it and g carriers van standing at
the entrance, not three gunshots from the !
town walls.
''Now Providence hath surely led us to
breakfast said Della, and stepped before !
me into the yard, towards the door.
| was following her when, inside of gate /
to the right OF the house, caught the gleam |
Of STEEL and turned aside TO look.
To nv disrnay there stood near score Of I
chargers in this second court, saddled and 4
dripping with sweat Ny first thought was
20 run after Della; but quick surprise made /
NE t-lb my eyes with wonder.
Twas the sight Of a sorrel mare among .
tdeul-a mare with one high white stocking. /
In n thousand could have told her for Molly. /
Three seconds after I was ct the tavern /
door, and in my ears a voice sounding that /
stopped me short and told me in one instant /
that without Gods help all was lost.
Twas the voice OF Capt. Settle speaking in |
the tsp room, and already Della stood, past /
by the open door.
And therefore, master carter. it gTieves
me TO diSappou. thee but no man goeoh this
day towards Bodmia. Such he my Lord Of /
Stamford'S orders. whose servant | am. and .
as captain Of this troop l am sent 10 exact
them. As they diSple2se you, his lordship is
but tweuty-fCur hours behind; YOU can abide
him and complain. Doubtless he viii hear
Ten million devils.'
/ heard his shout As he caught sight of Della
/ saw his crimson face as he darted out and
gNRpsd her saw. or half saw, the troopers
crowding out after him. For moment
hesitatei. Then came my pretty comrades
voice. shrin above the hUbbub:
"JacE-thev have horses outSidei Leave
mel am ta'en-and ride, dear lad-ride.a
IN a fash my decision was taken for better
or worse. l dashed oEt around tue house,
vaE.tei The -ara and catcElnc AT MoIiEs