Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1892-10-08

but every indenta.ion of the coast was
familiar to most Of the Gloucester men, |
for they had Of ,een there on their |
fishing voyages. Their attention was at
tracted to the singular movements OF a
solitary crow that hovered persistently |
above them. now and then aligh.ing on
the topmast.
As they were entering the harbor oil
Louisburg, Martin Sanders was sent for<
ward to assist IN furling the iib. A rope
parted suddenly under his fee: and he
fell beadlong into the sea.
The last sound that fell upon his ears
before the rushing waters closed over
him was the hoarse screaming of tie
crow. & powerful current was running,
and it was only with great difficulty tha,
Sanders was rescued.
When the excitement was over, an /
the half drowned man was once more
safely on deck, the crew had disappeared
The feet cast anchor in the harbor and
countless boats took the men o, shore
Before the siege could. commence, the
cannon must be landed and placed in
favorable position. 1t was arjuous toll
for the soil was boggy, and the men often
sank to their knees, but all worked with
a will, and the guns, one after another,
were landed.
Goodwin and Ayers, with Others, were
dragging cannon on a sled e through
half frozen mud, when suddenly with
whI Of wings a crow alighted on it.
Job Ayers made dash at it with his cap.
At the very instant that he did so, the
rear of the sledge sank in the treacher
Gus soil; the cannon gave sudden lurch.
and the arm he had flung out WAS caught
5 between the cannon and sledge and hone
lessly crushed. The unfortunate man
was carried into camp and, his arm ampu-
tated
The work of siege went on from day
to day. Foraging parties were sent out
sometimes, for the rations were some
what stale and monotonous, and there
was game in abundance IN the vicinity.
Sanders and Goodwin made two of such
a party one pleasant May afternoon. Of
ten during their hunting they noticed
crow crcling near them. They were
about returning to camp when Goodwin
striding across some low shrubbery in
search of fallen bird, thrust his foot
into an open fox-trap which closed
on his ankle, the sharp points penetrating
deep into the flesh. His cry for help
was echoed by the ":aw, caw,",of the
crow
1t was with infinite difficulty that his
companions released him. Pale and
half fainting with paie and loss Of blood
he locked up at the crow still near.
II believe it's a WITCH" he, cried
"Peg Wesson, by heavens," exclaimed
Sanders, recalling the witch's curse.
He lifted his loaded fovlingpiece, took
steady aim and fired. Cav cav
caw!" screamed the crow derisively,
winging its onward way unhurt. Mar
tin Sanders was . renowned shot, anc
never known TO miss such mark before
His comnanions acted his failure with
amazemeut, and though they thou o1lt it
a poor use for good powder and shot
another and another fired, but with tie
same result.
at is surely witch, criel Goodwin,
who, lying on the gras, with hastily
bandaged ankle, was looking grinlyr on
ssIt is surely a witch. AMI not 10 be
brought down pe Ieaden ballet. Moth
inc bu. silver will bring down a wla>h :
.tThat's true" cr1ed Martin Sanders.
he hastily tore his silver sleeve bI'tons
from MS wrist. He vrenched them
asunder. II as the WORK Of ,min Ute
to load his gun with one OF the pieces
The crow was still! within glnsnI. lie
took deliberate aim and fired. Wounded
ID the leg, It futtered downward in less
en!ag circles, and apparently fell IL SONS
- ty,.. f.4E