The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1894-03-30
CHAPTER XII.
FIGHTING FOR THE BOOTY

CHAPTER XII.
f1oHTlNG FOR THE BOOTY.
took no heed whether he sank or swan
nor indeed 80 much AZ cast glance afse
him, but turning quickly on my he.
picked up my, crimson sword, wiping
roughly on coil OF rope that lay hand,
Then, making my best salaam to the pirat
leader, and speaking az we'll as u blow
man might, l said: "You have graciousl
granted my prayer and the satisfaction fo
which my soul yearnetl; in token of sui
mission and gratitude now shea,he III
sword In sight Of all" And sating tn
action to the word. shot the weapon int
It's steel scabbard with clash that coul
be heard all over the ship. The chief bowe,
grimly in return, but without speaking
word; then. cOurtesies being at an end b
gave the command and the looting began
Leaning against the companion head,
watched the wild rush and scuffie for
minute, but heing greatly hustled and but
feted and feeling faint besides, | totteret
to secluded corner. where I sank with
Keeling sensation on the deck. Huddlet
there pretty much like u bundle of discard
ed clothes, mopptxl my face and 'ripd tt
discover the sources Of the many stream!
OF blood that seemed to ooze and trickl,
oil over my body. There was perhaps M
great effort made to stanch the flow, for
was far enough gone to be careless What
did It matter! Might ! not quietly pan,
cut ny life there and bs done with ite And
even while the thought was 10 ms mind
the brightness Of the sun was suddenl,
overcast an by the duskiness of death, AM,
the clamor Of the robbers died away in my
cars.
lsuppose must have been some time in
this state Of collapse when the brig grated
harshly en- the bottom, careened slightly
lurcbed and lay over, fast aground. The
queer grating sensation, as of the prickin!
81 million small fms. aroused me, and
staggered half awake to my feet. The first
thing ! saw was Abram ben Alden beinu
hauled dripping by two men into boat.
| rubbed my eyes, wondering how he came
to BE- in need Of help or to have companions
to render 1t, and finding no answer called
cut ~ Justify as could: "Hellol What's
the matter thcrep"
He heard and looked mp. Atsight of me
the IRE Of hell sprang anew into bis black
eyes and s.hia thin features gathered In a
vengeful scowl. Then my wandering wits
began to return. bringing a remembrance
ef what bad happened.
Ishould have fallen into the sea but for
the support OF the bulwark. In q dizzying
turmoil of feelings laid hold, with trem.
bling hands, to keep myself up, my eyes
fast on the distorted face Of Abram ben
Alden.
"GodI man, are ye much hurt9" asked,
scarcely knowing what said. We're 4
pair Of FOOLS" added, laughing and cry
Ing together.
But either he did not hear me or be was
Beyond speech. for be only cast look as il
10 say he wished he had my heart out and
slipped into the boat. which hid him from
my view.
was fain to sit down again, my back
propped against the vessels side, and
breathe myself The commotion of spirit
brought fresh gush of blood, which
bathed back and chest in warm stream.
Yet what had just seen occupied me more
than my wounds Indeed. forgetting both
them and the evil storm cloud on Abram
ben Aden's countenance, | felt only an all
JOY ut seeing him alive again.
For now, being past thoughts of vengeance
aud much too weak to have heart fo,
realized in some measure wha,
, disquieting thing it is to face the grea.
last reckoning with the blood Of fellow
creature on Jour head.
] hoped that the man whom I had sc
lately and 40 desperately striven TO kill
might hive. even were it only to finish me.
And sure ! should have smiled namely,
who knows hut ! may have bean,ed in vel.
come. IL he had suddenly appeared, sword
IN hand, and intimated that my time was
soms. No doubt my mood of Christia
a'eekness and charity w,ls due to the cir
that nature wa' perilously ne,,.
Fielding In any case. suspect the worst
II W are pious when lacking the pith tt
10 anything else.
Reviving little presently. l began IL
link Of my own life (since no one elss
'eemed 10 desire It specially Just them and
lxerted all my surgical skill and ingenuity.
They were not much. aud they were let,
'natded Lying there in the midst Of
'ro~d. no one Inquired about my hurts; nd
me offered help: no one, Ia fact, cared a
traw whether lived or died. The plum.
!esin1 went on with much noise and not
title quarreling, aud II the plunderer,
anne near It was only to curse Mt me fof
'eing IN the way.
Perhaps they could not have adopted
more elective means Of dispelliug nv
ethargy, There are times when a kick. |
literal or metAphorical, is the very best
onic that can Be administered The rouxa
'ehavior OF the pirates pricked me to viz.
s0us self interest that no process OF sooth.
nR or doctoring could have induced. The
svage oaths and savager looks were 10 nv |
pirit what the grindstone is to the knife |
hey turned listlesxness aud dulIness to An |
cttvity that had an edge Of anger and
ome possibility Of retaliation. The first !
esult OF this new found energy was ti,s
: r''''''. that I" crouch there and bleed ID
cath was incst xs,liredly not the par, @: \
IAN. So watching my opportunity, for tha
onipanlonway war mostly blocked With |
hleNes. went below to finish my dressing.
Fortunately my wounds. though inakil., |
cory show, were neither desp nor dan. !
sFooA but Il vas wonderful In how many