The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-11

moment after he declared should in re-
turn for this help him about the house.
ana, agreeing. he first sent me up the
tower staircase for some papers he said
were above in a chest. The tower was
dark and 1t was only by fash OF light
ming IN the storm that saw the stairs
were unfinished, and another movement
forward had sent me falling TO my death.
In anger l retraced my stems. Nv uncle
sat back to the door. drinking grea, gums
OF brandy and shaking as with ague. And
when crept in and clapped him on the
Dack and cried "Ahr' he gave crv and
zen senseless on the floor. When [ had
brought him to ierceiy demanded why
ne mad acted so suspiciously toward me,
ana why he had sent me 10 danger in the
tower. But he pleaded illness and begged
me TO let him rest till morn.
The next day early there came a mess
age rom Capt. Hoseason, of the brig
covenant, owned partly by my uncle.
ms made hurried trip TO Queens Ferry
necessary and postponed the explanation
OF the events OF the night before. ! went
along with my uncle, aud at tie inn over
heard gossip by which | learned that
Epenezer was suspected in the country
round OF killing his elder brother, Alex
anGer, my father, in order to get the es-
tate. While was bordering on this dis
covery and rejecting on my title to the
property. Capt. Hoseason called ont an in
vitation to come aboard and inspect the
Covenant. | went, and had hardly got
fairly standing aboard when thunder
bolt seemed to strike me. saw great
flash OF tire and fell senseless. ] had been
trepanned," as they called il in those
days-kidnaped-to be taken to the Car
olinas. In these days of my youth white
men were still sold into slavery, and that
was the destiny to which my wicked uncle
had condemned me-
was long unconscious, and then long
In great pain. as lay in the ships bowels
alone: When at last recovered from the
cruei biow, was taken into the forecastle,
and eventually was made cabin boy. in
place OF poor lad named Ransome. who
had been killed by blow from Mr..
Shuan, the chief mate, in drunken ut.
Ransome had told me many tales about
"trepanning," and about the unhappy
criminals, whom he called twenty
Founders" and the still more unhappy
innocents who We're kidnapped for private
interests or vengeance; so that | was
familiar with the fate that awaited me.
On the tenth afternoon out the ship ran
down a boat in the tog, sending her to the
bottom with all on board but one. This
man had leaped up and caught hold of our
bowsprt and saved himself. He was
hnelY dressed and OF elegant manners,
and / learned from his talk with the
captain that he was Jacobite. who was
being rowed out expecting to be picked up
by ship bound for France when we
ran the boat down. He made bargain
with the captain to be set ashore
on the Linnhe Lock for 90 guineas;
but l shortly heard Hoseason and
the second mate. Mr.. Reach, planning
how to overpower the stranger and rob
HIM of his belt of gold. Something i'm
PEELED me to warn the Jacobite. He was
oil b.,x
the ships arms We're stored, and the cap
tain sent me there to bring out some of the
weapons unobserved. When Hoseason
saw did not return he came and showed
his face in the open door. but quickly re-
tired. By this time had introduced N.Y.
self TO the newcomer, and he had told
me that he was Stewart, and his name
Alan Breck.
The roundhouse was built very strong.
The stranger stood face to the door, and
drew his great sword. My place was to
climb up into a bed and shoot from q
window. There were fifteen to be
against rs.
In a moment there was rush of feet
and a roar, and then a shout from Alan.
and sound OF blows and some one crying
out as If hurt / looked back over my
shoulder and saw Mr. Shuan in the door
way, crossing blades with Alan.
That's him that killed the bowl" I
cried.
Look to your window! ~ said Alan; and
as l turned back to my place | saw him
pass his sword through the mates BODY.
1t was none too soon for me to look to
my own part, for my head was scarce back
at the window before five men, CARRYING
square yard for a battering ram, ran past
me and took post TO drive the door in.
had never fired with pistol in my life,
and not often with gun, far less against
a fellow creature But it was now or
never; and just as they swung the yard 1
cried out, Take thatv and shot into their
midst.
must have hit one of them. for he sang
out and gave back q step. and the rest
stopped as if little disconnected. Before
they had time to recover / sent another
ball over their heads. and at my third
shot, which went as wide as the second.
the whole party threw down the yard and
ran for il.
Another onset ended in like manner and
then the battle was over.
The roundhouse was like shambles:
three were dead inside, another Law in his
death agony across the Threshold; and
there were Alan and | victorious and I'M
hurt.
We had the roundhouse 10 ourselves the
rest of the night. In the morning the cap
tain sought parley and explained that
he was helpless, so many of the crew be-
ing dead or disabled. 4 treaty was come