Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-04-11
CHAPTER MI.


] took no heed whether he sank or swan,
nor indeed so much ascast u glance after
him, but turning quickly on my heel
picked up my crimson sword, wiping it
roughly on coil of rope that lay handy.
Then, making my best salaam to the pirate
leader, ard speaking as well as blown
man might, said: You have graciously
granted my prayer and the satisfaction for
which my soul yearned; in token Of sub
mission and gratitude now shcathe my
sword in sight of ALL" And suiting the
action to the word, shot the weapon into
its steel scabbard with clash that could
be heard ali over the ship. The chief bowed
grimly in return, but wiJhoUg speaking Il
word; then, courtcS:cs being at IN end, he
gave the command and the lo1ting began
Leaning against the companion head,
watched the wild rush and seattle for q
minute, but being greatly hustled and buf-
feted and feeling faint besides, tottered
to 4 secluded corner, where l sank with
reeiing sensation on the deck. Huddied
there pretty much like a bundle Of discard
ed clothes, moPped my face ana tried TO
discover the sources Of the many streams
of blood that seemed 20 oozc and trickle
all over my body. There was perhaps 70
great effort made to stanch the flow, for l
was far enough gone TO be careless. What
did it matter? Might I not quietly pant
out my life there and be done with it? And
even while the thought was in my mind
the brightness of the sun was suddenly
overcast as by the ttlskincss Of death, and
the clamor Of the robbers died away in my
ears.
suppose must have been some time in
this state OF collanse when the brig grated
harshly on the bottom, careened slightly,
lurched and lay over, fast aground. The
queer grating sensation, as Of the pricking
of million small fins, aroused me, and
staggered half awake to my feet. The first
thug saw was Abrapl ben Alden being
hauled dripping b. two men into boat
rubbed my eyes, wondering how he came
to be in need Of help or to have companions
to render it, and finding no answer called
out as Justify as could: "Hellol What's
the matter there:"
He heard and looked up Atsight of me
tic fire of hell sprang anew into his black
eyes and his thin features gathered in q
vengcful scowl. Then my wandering wis
began to return, bringing 4 remembrance
of what had happened.
should have fallen into the sea but for
the support of the bulwark. In a 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.
God! man, are ye much hurt?" asked,
scarcely knowing what said. ''We're
pair of FOOLS" added, laughing and cry
ing together.
But either he did not hear me or he was
beyond speech, for lie only cast a look as if
to say he wishe.' he had my heart out, and
slipped into the boat, which hid him from
my view.
/ was fain to sit down again, my back
Dropped against the vessePss side, and
breathe myself. The commOtion Of spirit
brought q fresh gush Of blood, which
bathed back and chest in warm stream.
Yet what l 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 al
pervading joy at seeing him alive again.
For now, being past Thoughts of vengeance
and much too weak to nave heart for
slaughter, I realized in some measure what
disquieting thing it is to face the great
last reckoning with the blood of a fellow
creature on your head.
T hoped that the man whom I had so
lately and so desperately striven TO kill
might live, even were it only to finish me.
And l sure / should have smiled namely,
who knows but may have beamed in vel
come, if he had suddenly appeared, sword
in hand, and intimated that my time was
come. No doubt my mood Of Christian
meekness and charity was due TO the ci"-
cumstance that nature was periiousiy near
yielding in any case. / suspecbthe worst
of us are pious when lacking the pith to
be anything else.
Reviving a little presently, began to
think of my own life (since no one else
seemed to desire it specially just them and
exerted all my surgical skill aud ingenuity.
They were not much, Gnd they were left
rnaided. Lying there in the midst OF
crowd, no one inquired about my hurts; no
one offered help; no one, in fact, cared
straw whether liveG Or died. The plum
dering went on with much noise and not
little quarreling, and if the plundercrs
came near it was only to curse at me for
being in the way.
Perhaps they could not have adopted