Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-03-28

OIL uecN uIure eager Jnan ever. Hardly had
T swung myself into my place than I leaped
down again, calling out, rs if the immense
vacancy were peopled, that beyond doubt
the thing moved and was growing bigger.
Then after awhile l saw something like
the futter of flag and understood the
black speck was boat with man in it.
And he saw the brig.
"Ye-hoop ! cried, with leap of joy.
"Deliverance at lastp And l ran about
the deck like one possessed, shouting, "D"-
livecance, de,iverancel" and could have
wept for'gladnes5.
But all at once cold chill struck me to
the marrow and put an end to this exhibit
tion. What if this were some Of the crew
returning! For one brief moment my mind
was blank with fright, but the next had
taken my resolution. Swift ne ever man
prepared for an enemy got two pistols and
musket, loading them and laying them
on the deck ready for use. Then went to
Mr. Watson's strongboX, smashing the lid
with an iron bar and taking thence the
longest sword could fird. That being Of
good weight and sufficiently keen, Sc
lected Turkish dagger, and sailors long
knife, and two more revolvers, with some
ammunition. Then I arranged my armory
and waited for the boat. 1t was now close
enough to enable me t. discern that there
was but one man in it, b discovery that
gave me confidence. With such an arsenal
and the natural advantage of my position
the deuce was in it if couldn't give good
account of myself.
The man was rowing hard, and the boat
came quickly over the sleeping water.
When he was within hailing distance,
stepped to the bulwarks and leaned over.
In the same moment, resting on his oars, he
turned to look at me. My first care was to
find out whether or not he was one of the
crew, but very brief examination sufficed
to show that be was not. He began to pull
again, and I, thinking my warlike prepara'
tions slightly overdone, hastily put my
weapons out Of sight, reserVing just brace
of pistols and dagger to meet emergen-
cies.
My visitor did not come close alongside,
but held off little distance, as if doubling
the reception he should receive He was
an Arab and showed signs of distress.
"Row upl' l called in English, never cX.
pecting him to understand that language.
"Allah is mercifulp' he responded joyfully
in the same tongue, and with two or three
vigorous strokes he was alongside. Then
for a minute or so we silently took stock Of
each other. was not enamored Of his
looks, and perhaps he was just as little in
love with mine.
"You seem rather In bad way" re
marked, speaking first.
Allah is mighty scoureer," be said.
with shrug of his tawny shoulders.
$50 he is" replied. "How do you come
to be alone and in such plight?"
At this he worked himself iuto sudden
rage, gesticulating wildly and talking Of
villains and robbery and outrage. His
story was that he had been in command of
ship laden with a valuable cargo; that
the pirates had plundered him, killed his
crew, and that it was only By the greatest
miracle he had escaped with hislife Onmy
inquiring how he happened to know Eng
lish, he replied fawningly that be had
learned my beautiful tongue in Egypt and
in Africa.
IAN Arab slave dealer" concluded at
once But his distress wls evidently
great, and l could not do less than takc
him OH board. Praise be to Allah for his
mefcleS! lie eAC!aiH!tu, CluCcnlIS III Ine
ropes end let do~n to him.
He climbed with the agility of cat,
pouring out thanks and blessings, and
when he reached the deck hSGeeisted on
embracing me in the most fraterral man
ner known to his race. He laid his fore
head against mine and threw his arm over
my shoulder, clasping my side with the
other and laying his chin first on my
left breast and then on my right, striking
my palm with his and giving other novel
and embarrassing tokens of esteem and
friendship, all the while invoking the cboic
est blessings of heaven upon my head.
Then he kneeled with his face toward
Mecca and repeated the Tizh-el-Bahr, or
prayer for safety on the ocean wave. His
devotions over, we raised his boat, which
was crazy kind of coracle.