The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1890-02-28
The SchooImaster's Story.

| The villains ofmy story were two poor men
named Peter and Bryan. They lived on the
banks of lonely Irish lake, and supported
themselves by fishing and ferrying the gentry
who came to visit the ruined castle beyond.
! They made poor living in this way, and
| from being light hearted they grew morose,
and grumbled about the tyranny of the rich
and their hard fate in life.
One night richly clad young man rode
up to the farmhouse and asked to be piloted
across the lake.
II am young MIR. Firth" he said. "My
father owns the Mills and I'll pay you well"
AS he spoke he shifted double bag of
leather that hung over the saddle, which gave
out a chink as if filled with gold.
"Tl speak to my partner" said Bryan,
withdrawing into the hut. "Yonder." he
whispered in Peters ear, sis young Firth
with the mill-hands' wages in his saddlebags.
He wants to be ferried over the lake."
"Well ?" said Peter.
There must be four hundred pounds in
those bags. A fortune to u.s." .r..a.I
But the law would soon put stop to our
enjoyment Oft"
"And who is to know if young Firth goes
to the bottom of the lake ;" asked Bryan.
Il tell you, luck has come to US. Don't
thrust it away"
OlCI lOOhSu ulll lull III luC ldC6 duu IOSG
up and took the oars from the wall.
well ferry Master Firth over the lake."
he said aloud and the two tramped out to-
gether.
Young Firth had alighted. He led his
horse, with the saddlebags, to the edge of the
lake. The long boat, in which 80 many
ladies and gentlemen, parties of fifteen often,
had crossed to ruins, lay there. g .r,
king will behave himself WELL" said the
boy. Hes horse with brains and heart,
aren't you, King?"
The horse whinned and rubbed his nose
against young Firth's shoulder. -.a-.
Peter and Bryan took their places, and the
boat moved heavily out into the middle of
the deep lake. There Bryan lifted his oars
into the boat and Peter followed his example
The boy, with his elbow on the saddle and
his hand turned SO that the back of his fair
head rested on the palm was looking up at
the moon, thinking of his sweetheart, per
haps. He dropped his eyes to Bryan's
gloomy fance in surprise .F
whats this for ?" he asked
As he spoke, Bryan brought his fist, with
stone he held hid in it, against his head
and Peter caught his ankles and tripped him.
He fell into the lake like dead thing, and
vanished under the dark water. Bryan seiz-
ed the saddlebags, but King, seeming to know
something was wrong, turned and bit him
furiously. s
He struck out with his hoofs, crashing
against Peters knee, and sprang over the
side of the boat.
so much the better" said Bryan, furiously.
"1f he swims home We'll never be suspected"
He dragged the chinking bags towards him,
and the two men rowed back to the spot
they had started from with difficulty, both
suffering fearful pain. Peter could not move
his leg, and Bryan's right arm was burning
as though scared with red hot iron but they
reached the boat, and dragged their prize to
the cabin, barred the miserable door, and lit
their yellow tallow tip at the smouldering
peat fire.
'"Let's see what we've got" said Bryan,
lifting the bags to the deal table. "Our pain
viii! be over soon, but our money will last.
God knows how much there must be
how they were come by. All hard, solid gold
and silver"
He could only use his arm, but Peter drag
ged himself to the table, helped him undo the
stout leather fastenings and pour the contents
on the boards and Satan, children. stood be-
hind grinning for the round pieces of metal
that tumbled out before their eyes. chinking
and clasbing together, were only bits of iron
little nuts and clamps, or what not-Ican't
tell you just the names of the things-that
were used in the machinery. e..
Young Firth had been to the bank, sure
enough, but the money was in pocketbook
next his bosom. These bits OF iron he had
brought to save delay on Monday morning,
when repairs were to be made.
1t was Peter who spoke first.
"We've done murder for this !" he said,
and Bryan flew at his throat as he spoke but
shrank back and covered in the corner the
next moment. .... .y. Pm.
The wind moaned about the house and
ratled the rickety door, and blew the peat
smoke down the chimney into their faces and
the candle guttered down and went OUT but
neither spoke to the other that night, and
only the groans of pain broke the silence.
But in the dawn, when it came gray and
soft over the lake, with flecks of pink low
down on the waters edge, roar like COM
ing storm was heard, the muttering of mems
voices and oaths of vengeances. Mounted on
his gray horse came old Firth from the mills,
pistol in hand, with posse of constables
about him. Alter him trampled the mill
hands and among them rode young Firth,
with bandage on his head, mounted on
King and no other horse in creation. For
King, with more sense than some men have,
had saved his master, taking him by his
clothes with his teeth, until, his senses re-
turning he was able to cling to his name, and
so, with Gods grace, the two gained land
together, and the boy told his story.
They arrested the men, with their emptied
bags and bits of iron, giving evidences of
their reason for the attack. But, after all, it
was King who had vengeance on them, for
Bryan died of the bite on bis arm, and Peter
Of the kick he got, both ending in mortiica-
ton. And the whole story is but another
proof that Satan is treacherous friend even
to those vino take him for a master. God
bless all and protect US from him. And now
you may all 60 home, children.
a Eouood Than Tn