Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-11-24

3Es
Sharp practice, Charley; It was the
overcharge saved YOU"
rs he killed, sir?" / asked.
mot quite, I believe, but as good
You took him just above the hip
Can he recover?" said 1, with a
voice tremulous from agitation, which
/ vainly endeavored to conceal from my
companion. .....
Not if the doctor can help it," said
Considine, for the fool keeps poking
about for the ball. But now let's think
Of the next step. You'll have to leave
this, and at once, toO.''
AS we neared the land q strange spec
tacle caught our eye. For consider
able distance along the coast crowds
of country people were assembled,
who, forming in groups and breaking
in parties of two and three, were ey-
Identity watching with great anxiety
what was taking place at the opposite
side.
Now, the distance was at least a
mile, and therefore any part of the
transaction which had been enacting
there must have been quite beyond
their view.
While was wondering at this, Consi-
dine cried out suddenly: TOO in
famous, by Jove! we're murdered men!
What do you mean?' said I.
Don't you see that?" said he, point
ing to something black which tioated
from pile at the opposite side of the
river.
yes; what is it,"
Its his coat they've put on an oar
to show the people he's killed; that's
all. Every man here's his tenant; and
ok-there-they've not given up
much doubt as to their Intentions"
Here tremendous yell burst from
the mass of people along the shore,
which, rising to a terrific cry, sunk
rose and fell again several times, as
the Irish death cry filled the air and
rose to heaven, as if imploring ven
geance on the murderer.
The appalling influence of the 'keen,"
as it is called, had been familiar to me
from my infancy, but it needed the
awful situation l was placed in to con-
my accusation and my doom.
AS the boatmen looked from us to.
ward the shore, and again at our faces,
they, as if instinctiyely, lay upon their
oars and waited for our decision as to
which course to pursue.
rig the spritsail, my boys" said
Considine, land let her head lie up the
river, and be alive, for I see they're
bailing boat below the little reef
there, and will be after us in no time"
The poor fellows, who, although
strangers to us, sympathizing in what
they perceived to be our imminent
danger, stepped the light spar, which
acted as mast, and shook out their
scanty rag Of canvas in a minute.
Consdine meanwhile went aft, and,
steadying her head with an oar, held
the small craft up to the wind till she lay
completely over, and as she rushed
through the water, ran dipping her
gunnel through the white foam.
put an oar to leeward," said Consi-
dine, land keep her up more to the
wind"
Here they Gomez said the other
boatman, as he pointed back with his
finger toward Il large yawl which shot
suddenly from the shore, with six
sturdy fellows pulling at their oars,
while three OF four others were en-
deavoring to get up their rigging, which
appeared to be tangled and confused
at the bottom of the boat; the white
splash of water, which fell each mo-
ment beslue her, showing that the pro-
cess of bailing was still continued.
Lay out upon your oars, boys; the
winds failing us!'' cried the count, as
the sail tapped lazily against the mast.
whats that ahead of us there!"
1.-The Oat rock, sir. A vessel with
grain struck there and went down
with all aboard four years last winter.
There's no channel between it and the
shore-an sunk rocks, every inch OF it.
There's the breeze"
The canvas fell over as he spoke,
and the little craft lay down to it till
the foaming water dubbed over her
lee bow.
Keep her head up, sir; higher-high-
er still"
ton, steering straight for the narrow
channel the man alluded to.
Tear and ages, but you're going
right for the Cloch ma Quirka!'
"Arrah, an the devil taste I'll be
drowned, for your divarsion," said the
other, spring up.
"Sit down there and be STILL roared
ConSidina as no drew a DiStOl from
the case at his feet; IF you don't want
some leaden ballast to keep you so.
Here, Charley, take this, and # that
fellow stirs hand or foot-you Under
stand me-"
The two men sat sulkily in the bot
tom Of the boat, which now was &c
tually flying through the water.
Considine's object was clear one.
He saw that in sailing we were greatly
over matched and that our only chance
lay in reaching the narrow and danger
GUS channel between the Oat rock and
the shore, by which we should dis
lance the pursuit, the long reef Of rocks
that ran out beyond requiring a vide
berth to escape from.
Nothing but the danger behind Us
could warrant SO rash a daring. The
whole channel was dotted with patch.s
of white and breaking foam-the sure
evidence of the mischief benealh--
while here and there dash Of sLL-i'ng
spray flew up from the .lark water,
where some cleft rock lay bic below
+, the flood.