The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-04-30

diver, was with them on her at this time,
Tor he was a good sailor and a bold man.
VINO would lend a hand TO get her into sale
moorage afore the worst OF the gale came
down..
We could not hear the clatter of our
horses heels for the whistling and rustlina
OF the trees on each side OF ts-young
wood. which beat like reeds afore the
blast, with now and then a branch snap
ping short and being whisked like q feather
over our heads. Every instant the wind
grew flcrcer. driving off the rain like steam
as Ii chilled our backs and left our faces
hot and dry.
Half way through the woods we were
met with q volley of muskets. which didn't
hurt any OF rs. for we were going at full
pace aud passed the am buscade before they
could get good aim, or grab at us TO stop
US. Tor they could only guide themselves
by their sense of hearing, which was I'M
certain with that turmoil going on amongst
the woods.
We saw their position from the blazes of
the muskets as we bore down upon them,
perhaps q dozen of preventatives ranging
across the road. some on foot. some on
horseback. Then. before the flashes were
well out of the barrels. we were amongst
them. me striking to right and left with my
ash blud geon. hitting sometimes, but often
ranks and bearing on at full speed. with
the mounted gang behind us and the hurri-
cane nearly lifting US OFT the road alto
gether.
1QeTo were no tights In canterbury do
We rode through Westgate and into q safe
quarter. not a hundred miles from the ca
thedral. We each went over particulars
when We stO we'd away our brandy tubs.
and sometimes there was more inside the
vaults than the bones of saints. but that
don't matter now. The clergymen preached
none the worse because they Rad a good
fiaRon of free stuff to 70 home to after they
were finished with the saryices. ana the
congregation hardened to the good advice
all the more cheerily that we had done so
well by them on Saturday night. for that
was our business and theirs entirely, and
tother was the preachers.
We had left our hunters we'll behind
afore We reached the town, and had no
longer any fear of being heard even by the
citizens who were wakeful, for they were
mostly on our side. and the rain was now
driving against the easements with a ciat-
ter that all other sounds Amen
Moss and Roger Harding met US at the
gateway as we slipped inside with our
horses and cargo intact, and helped ms TO
disload and put the nOssles on the beasts
with something inside to keep them CON-
pany and from neigbing In the ciolsters
while we were below doing the burial.
Who let us into that sacred edltice L amt
going to inform UPON, even at this late day,
but we got in without suspicion, and made
our bargain for what We had brought.
down In the damp chill with only q single
dark lantern between US and our custom
ers.
Our three mates had engaged with the
officers on the road. and was main sorry to
hear that they had used their weapons on
the enemy. for that meant trou bic to Us all.
worse, u great deal, nor smuggling.
Ted Kemp was wounded In the thigh, and
lay on one of the slab helpless and almost
senseless through loss of blood. Amen
Moss had got oil all right. bus Roger hast
ings had q bloody bandage round his head.
having received another flourish from q
~cutlass added to his old ornaments.
"Wor there any serious accidents to the
blockades" l asked, anxiOusly. For, IL
80, it means Punishment to the lot Of rs
from merry Kent, If We are lucky enough
to get Oft clear"
Il can't say" replied Roger. hoarsely.
holding his head with his hand. lit wOr
too blamed dark TO see where our bullets
went, and We didn't wait to find ont"
Then we'll find out for certain afOre
many hours are over our heads. for why
couldn't ye rest with your cud gels; u rap
on tho skull is easily cured. but @ ball
through the brains means jack Ketch for
the whole ships crew. It's Onwise. Roger,
as always tell you"
II amt used to cudgels.p muttered Roger
from his gravestone. Pm more at home
with cutlasses and pistols. and when q man
cuts a beefsteak out of my hide with his
steel, or fiattens an ounce of lead against
my brain pan. It doesn't seem right to give
him only wood by way of return.
We'll. lads. what's done can't be undone
now. Let's finish the business and get back
to Mother Partitts as soon as We can. The
news wouldn't be long behind US OF how
we stand for this nights work. if it hasn't
travelled in front to Whitstab!e. What are
we TO do with Ted Kempf"
"T1l take him up on my horse and hold
him in my arms till we get back" answered
Roger Harding.
Then let's bave q drink all round and
go. afore they have time to alarm the coun-
We took the road back by Chaplain Hill.
and did the five miles in less than half an
hour, in spite of the wind and rain. Ted
Kemp lay quiet enough in the burly arms
of Roger Harding, and when we had car
ried him into { he best bedroom of The
Stag" and returned our borrowed animals
TO their proper stables, daylight was be-
ginning TO break through the heavy clouds.
We found the parlor of The Stag" we'll
filled, IN spite OF the early hour. when We
got back. Bill Cannon had brought in
the lugEer oil safely, and she was now
waiting Oft the shore for us TO board again.
tor the news had travelled before as of the
encounter, and 1t was the worst of news
tor us all. and made the company look blue
in the gills.
Two of the coast guards had been killed
outright and another badly wounded. and
SO. when we heard that, we knew Whit
stable Was no longer a habitatiOn TO any of
us. and the sooner we got out of it the bet
ter for our necks.
The doctor was upstairs. looking after
Ted Kemp. for Roger Harding thought
uOtuluk VI Ills sChlp WOuuus AL. tu&b was
o doctor. Bill. whom any man might love
and respect; none of your stuck up. half-a-
crown q visit and physic-extra-pay-the-
money-dOwn-Or-else-w ant sort of fellow,
but q downright Christian. who would
want bis sleep to help anyOne without
thinking about whether they could pay or
not, q man you could trust your lite TO
without fear. and your secrets as we'll.
Why, there warn't one of us but had been
through his hands and could testify to his
kindness, and as for the women and kids,
they would have died for him, he was that
good to them all
We didn't take long to consult what was
to DO done in this crisis and we didn't get
long time TO make up our minds, for hardly
had the doctor gone out, than one of our
watchers came in to tell us that q strong
party Of revenue men. armed to the teeth.
were coming along the cliffs; then We knew
1t was fight or fly. and as we had done
enough damage in the fighting line, we de-
termlned TO cut and run.
Ted Kemp we carried out of the back
door on a shutter. and. picking up what we
could think useful in the hurry, we made
our way down to the beach, where the boat
lay. and were very soon aboard in spite of
the heavy sea which was rolling In. then
lifting the anchor we turned pOrthward.
with the squall at its strength, and made
for the open sea once more.
i didn't notice that Tony CIadlsh. the
diver. had added himself to our company