The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-04-06
CHAPTER X.
CAPT. POTTERY AND CAPT. SETTLE.

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get word out-''Sir, we are in your hands
will be plain. Tonight have broke out Of
Bristol Keep, and the colonel'S men are after
me. Give me up to them, and they hang me
tomorrow; give my comrade up, and they
persecute her vilely Now, sir, know not
which side you be, but there's our case in q
nutshellp
The man bent forward, Displaying a huge
rounded face, very kindly about the eyes,
and set atop of the oldest body in the world
for, under trunk extraordinary broad and
strong, straddled pair Of legs that baby
would have disowned, so thin and stunted
were they, and to make it queererl ended in
feet the most prodigious you ever saw.
As / said, this man leaned forward, and
shouted into my ear SO that l fairly leaped in
the air;
My names Pottery-BiiI Pottery, cap'n
o. the Godsend-an' you can't make me hear,
not if you bust YOURSELF
You may think this put me in a fine guam
Diary.
81 be as deaf as nailsl;' bawled he.
Twas horrible; for the troopers, 1 thought,
II anywhere near, could not miss hearing
him. His voice shook the very rigging.
IAN o. my crew the half ashore gettin'
drunk, an the half below in very accom-
plished state o liquor; 50 there's no chance
for ZEE to speak!n
He paused moment, then roared again:
''What pityl Cos you make ME very
curious-that you do!'
Luckily at this moment Della had the sense
TO put a finger to her lip. The man wheeled
round without another word, led US aft over
the blocks, cordage and ali manner of loose
gear that encountered the deck to a ladder
that towards the stern led down into dark
ness. Here he signed to us TO follow, and,
descending first, threw open door, letting
out faint stream of light in our faces. Twas
the captains cabin, lined with cupboards and
lockers; and the light came from an oil lamp
hanging over narrow deal table BY this
light Capt. Billy scrutinized US for an instant:
then, from one Of his lockers, brought out
pen, paper and ink, and set them on the table
before me.
caught up the pen, dipped it, and began
to write:
/ am John Marvel, a servant OF King Charles,
and this night am escaped out Of Bristol castle.
If you be
Thus far had written without glancing
up, in fear TO read the disappointment OF my
hopes. But now the pen was caught sudden
~ from my fingers, the paper torn in shreds,
and there was Master Pottery shaking US
both by the hand, nodding and Decking, and
smiling the while all over his big red face
But he ceased at last, and opening another
of his lockers, drew forth a horn lantern, a
mallet and chsel. Not word was spoken
as he Lit the lantern and passed out of the
cabin, Della and following at his heels.
Just outside, at the foot of the steps, he
stopped, pulled up trap in the flooring and
disclosed another ladder stretching, as it
seemed, down into the bowels of the ship
This we descended carefully, and found our
selves in the hold, pinching our noses twixt
finger and thumb.
For indeed the smell here was searching to
2 very painful degree, for the room was mar
row and every inch of it contested by two
puissant essences, the one raw wool. the other
hilge water With wool the place was piled,
but also l noticed, not far from the ladder,
several casks set on their ends, and to these
the captain led us.
They were about a dozen in all, stacked
chose together; and Master Pottery, rolling
two apart from the rest, dragged them to
another trap and tugged out the bungs. A
stream of fresh water guShed from each and
splashed down the trap into the bilge below.
Then, having drained them, be STAYED in
their heads with a few blows Of his mallet.
His plan for US was clear. And in n very
few minutes Della and were crouching on
the timbers, each with a casll inverted over
us, our noses at tie bungholeS and our ears
listening to Master Pottery's footsteps as
they climbed heavily back to deck. The rest
of the casks were stacked close round US, 50
that, even had the gloom allowed, we could
see nothing at all.
Soon l heard the noise of feet above, and
string of voices speaking one after another,
louder and louder. And next Master Pottery
began to answer up and drowned all speech
but his own. When be ceased, there was
silence for some minutes; after which we
heard party descend to the cabin, and the
trampling Of their feet on the boards above
us. They remained there some while discuss
ing; and then came footsteps down the sec
ond ladder, and a twinkle of light reached
me through the bunghole Of my casll.
'Quickr' said a husky voice, Overhaul
the cargo here!"
| heard some half dozen troopers busting
about the hold and tugging out the bales Of
wool
Hill" called Master Pottery; can when
you've done rummaging my ship put every
thing back as you found it"
Poke about with your swords" command
Cd tbs husky VOICE whats in those barrels
yOndarI'
Water, sergeant answers trooper, roll
ing ont a couple
Nothing behind them!"
No; they're right against the side"
Drop EN-, then. Plague on this busineSsl
lis my notion they re a mile away, and Cap'n
h. -.
here. He's Erudging promotion, that's what
be is! Hurry, there-hurry."
Ten minutes later the searchers were gone,
and we in our casks drawing long breaths of
rhankfulness and strong odors. And 50 we
crouched till, about midnight, Capt. Billy
brought us down 8 supper OF ships biscuit,
which we crepr forth TO eat, being sorely
cramped.
He could not hear our thanks, but guessed
them.
Now, say not word! Tomorrow we sail
for Plymouth sound: thence for Brittany.
Histl We be all kings men aboard the God
Kend, though hearing noughr l say little Yet
] have my reasoning heresies, holding the
Lords Amounted to be an anointed rogue, but
nevertheless to be served; just as aboard the
Godsend be Cap'n Billy an you plain Jack.
your III b1ASS NAlet bASN may NN-S SNtl-
nlusion is-damn all mutneerS an rebelsl
Though, to be sure, TIE words be bit lusty
for young gentlewoman's ears.
We went back 10 our casks with lighter
hearts Howbeit twas near ) in the morn
ing. l dare say, before my narrow bed cham
Der allowed me 10 drop asleep
woke to spy through my bInghole the
faint light Of day struggling down the
! Z. - -.zrs.a
and the voices OF the men hiccouEhiBg dis
NAL chant They were lifting anchor I