The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-07-16
Continued.
CHAPTER xxx.

tOlu l1le uOW ne anu elpnJ Otner poor
Englishmen, sharing the same bagnio,
had endured the hardships and misery of
slavery, some for 10 and none less than
seven years; how for three years they
had been working a secret tunnel by
which they could escape from their
bagnio, in which they were locked up
every night at shutdown, at any moment;
how for six months, since the compile
ton of their tunnel, they had been
watching favorable opportunity to seize
ship and make good their escape, seven
of them being mariners, and how now
they were by tedious suspense wrought
to such a pitch Of desperation that they
were ripe for any means of winning their
freedom. "And here, says he in con-
clusion, "hath merciful Providence
given us the power to save not only our
selves from this accursed bondage, but
you also if you are minded to join us. "
Asking him how he proposed to ac-
complish this end, he replies:
&c IT'S as easy as kiss your hand
First, do you accept Haroun's Offer"
81 have" says l.
"GoodP' says he, rubbing his hands
and speaking thick with joy. "You may
be sure that Mohand will suffer no one
to interfere with your getting aboard, to
the achievement of his design When is
it to be-"
hesitated moment, lest l should
fall into another trap trying to escape
from the first, but seeing he was an
Englishman 1 would not believe him Ca
pable of playing into the Turks hands
for our undoing, and so told him our
business was for midnight on the feast
of Ramadan.
Sure, naught but Providence could
have ordered matters so we'll" says he,
doubling himself up, as if unable to
control his joy. "We shall be there, we
nine sturdy men. Some shall hide in
the caves, and others behind the rock,
and when Haroun rows to shore four of
US will get into his boat, muffled up as
you would be to escape detection, and
as soon as they lay themselves to their
oars their business shall be settled"
GAS how?' says 1, shrinking as ever
from deeds of violence.
Leave that to us, but be assured they
shall not raise cry that shall fright
your lady. Oh, we know the use of q
bowstring as we'll as any Turk among
them. We have that to thank 'em for.
Well, these two being dispatched, we
return to shore, and two more of our
men will get in, then we four to the fe-
lucca, and there boarding we serve the
others as we served the first two. So
back comes one of US to fetch off our
other comrades and you four. Then, all
being aboard, we cut our cable, up with
our sail, and by the time Mohand comes
in the morning to seek his game on the
sand bank we shall be half way to Elche
and farther if Providence do keep pace
with this happy beginning What say
you, friend?" adds he, noting my reflect
i've mood.
Then frankly confessed that would
have some assurance of his honesty
81 can give you none, master, " says
he, "but the word of good Yorkshire
man. Surely you may trust me as |
trust you, for tits in your power to re-
veal all to Haroun and so bring us all
to curry favor with the dey. Have you
no faith in poor brother Englishman?"
eyes, says l. "I'll trust you. "
Then we rose, clapping hands, and he
left me, with tears of gratitude and joy
in his eyes Telling my friends had
something of secret nature to impart,
we went ont to the end of the mole,
where we were secure from eavesdrop.
pers, and there l laid the whole story
before them, whereupon we fell debat-
ing what wesshould do, looking at this
matter from every side, with a view to
our security, but slavery lying before us
and no better means of escaping it com
ing to our minds we did at last unani-
mously agree to trust Joe Groves rather
than Haroun.
The next day there fell a great deluge
Of rain, and the morrow being the feast
Of Ramadan we regarded this as highly
favorable to our escape, for here when
rain falls it ceases not for 48 hours, and
thus might we count upon the aid of
darkness And that evening, as I was
looking at some merchandise in a bazaar,
fellow sidles up to me and whispers,
lingering piece of cloth as if he were
minded to buy it:
docs all go well?"
Then perceiving this was Joe Groves,
l answered in the same manner:
"All goes we'll "
Tomorrow at midnight"
Tomorrow at midnight, return
Upon which, casting down the cloth, he
goes away without further sign.
And now comes in the feast of Rama
dan with heavy, steady downpour of
rain all day, and no sign of ceasing at
shutdown, which greatly contented us.
About 10 the house we lodged in being
quite still, and our fear of accident
pressing us to depart, we crept silent.
ly out into the street without let or
hindrance, though warrant some spy
OF Mohand's was watching to carry in
formation of our flight to his master,
and so through the narrow, deserted al
leys to the outskirts of the town, and
fIntnnA hyy Nl,A l.