The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-01-28

The blacksmith ana his companions as.
sented, and with q guard armed with mus
kets. the Captain went to the door. He
could hear the two deserters talking in
low tone. He waited moment trying to
catch the drift of their conversation, but
was unable to distinguish single word
At last he raped lightly. Evidently
the men were very busily engaged for they
did not hear him, and continued their
low, inaudible conversation, speaking but
little above whispers. He rar:, ed again,
louder than before. The voices became
silent and there was a confused rustling
sound as if they were alarmed or annoyed
at the interference. The Captain raped
still louder and after o moments hushed
whispering, footsteps were heard ap-
preaching the door.
The door was opened by the mysterious
gunner himself, and his face betrayed
evident confusion when he discovele ed
the commander of the post confronting
him with half dozen armed men.
Come in, Captain Alton, said the de-
serter, after q short but awkward silence.
The Captain and two men stepped inside
the mouse. -wnat 40 you want, Captain
suppose You want to see us?"
Yes, Mr.. Burnett, want to know what
this is, and the young commander held
up the file.
The deserter Of the Xenophon took it
in his hand, and, after glance at 1t, an
swered:
Its q rst-tail file."
Where did it come from2"
The deserter was confused for q mo-
ment, and :hen answered:
Il can't tell, am sure, shipmate.
We'll, Mr.. Burnett, want to know
how you came with it?"
By this time Henry Dawes came for
ward and stood by his comrades side,
and their faces expressed blank amaze.
ment, if not confusion.
Captain Alton, I must confess I'm off
my bearins; can't ye give us the sound
in's? What dye mean?"
Il mean-I want to know how You came
to have this rat-tail file in your pos
session."
4 never had it in my possession,
g-g-guess, sr:pmare, ne was MIS-
taken. I hope may never reef another
sail, Cap'n, ef ever had that rat-tail file
in my hands"
"But I saw ye drap it, Put in the car
penter.
@Where2"
Jest as We come in here the last time. n
He was too much confused and annoyed
10 make any response. 1t was really need
less to ask him if he had been out, for by
his acts he admitted he hal. Henry
Dawes exchanged glances with Burnett,
and it was easy for one to imag ne that
they saw guilt expressed on their cou:,-
tenances. After few moments of awk-
ward silence, Burnett, who was the first
to recover his possession, said:
Il don't clearly see the lay o the land,
Capn, but if I do, it seems to me that
you have come to think somethin' i'll
O. u.s."
Spies have been reported in camp"
AHA! Your suspicious are aroused,
TOO, are they, Cap'n? I was jest going to
warn you.
Il thank you, SIR" said Captain Alton,
coolly, -but it seems from what am able
to gather that they were detected trying
10 spike the g7ns. They have been
traced from the guns to Your door where
YOU yourself were seen to drop the rat
tail file, the very thing above all others
with which one might be expected to try
to spike gun"
Dawes could be restrained no longer,
and pulling his forelock respectfully, lie
said:
"Begyer pardon, Cap'n, but dye think
we're sailin' under false coiors?"
Il do net know, but for the present you
will have to consent to being prisoners.
Tar an 'ounds, Cap'u," CALCULATED
Dawes. Eff we've come to regard us ns
suspicious crafts Jest take off yer emhar-
20, nm we'll weigh anchor and quit port. "
Il can't consent to that. There is some
suspicion against you, and you must con-
sent to be prisoners for time at least.
Dawes lost his temper at what he re-
garded as bad faith on the part Of his
countrymen, and at the same time lack
of pratituGe in reoniti"~ thn;r ea"vice
WITH imprisonment. But the mysterious
gunner was cooler, and by few words OF
advice got his companion quieted.
Captain Alton disarmed the deserters,
left them under strong guard, and then
detailed fifty men to watch for the spies
outside. The remainder of the night
passed in quiet. The next day proved to
be foggy and disageeable. No object
could be seen any distance away, and it
was impossible to see one-fourth the dis
tance out of the bay. OF course the
man.of-war was not visible. The day
passed drearily enough. Not shot was
fred from ship or shore, and one could
half believe that the enemy had raised
The siege and retired.
fro RE Continued