Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-10-07
UNDER FALSE COLORS

Under tho Ice OF CAp0 dtO Nez Two
vessels were hove to within Afty yards
of each other. Boats were coming and
going between them, and on the quar-
ter deck Of the larger vessel seven de-
1ected-looking English sailors were
drawn up under a guard of marines.
From the maintops Of both Haunted
the tricolor of France, with this omin-
Gus difference: that on the smaller YES
sel It surmounted the union jack Of En-
gland.
The brigantine Fireny was in the
hands of the French The numbering
old Goa ster. bound from London to Chi
chester harbor, with q genral cargo.
had been blown Of her course by con-
trary winds to the wrong side Of the
channel; the forty-two gun frigate Al
ceste had pounced upon her. and now
her skipper, Jacob Dempster. was rue.
fully giving an account Of himself on
the figate's quarter deck.
Hal say you thatE" exclaimed the
French captain, who spoke English
we'll your ship is Of Bosnian, In the
harbor of Chichester? Know you the
hOust Ut boSudulp o"hCuJ ous
not inhabited, by one Squire Billiards"
II do-seeing as 1 live within loo
yards of it," replied the rugged old mar.
liner, sullenly.
Certain French officers are residing
there? Prisoners of war on parole?"
They were, when l left for London,
three weeks back"
roato;,, ~ tho loaafa fnrr1.
ed and addressed himself with much
gesticulation and excitement to a
group of his officers, who stood a few
PAGES in the rear. The captured skipper
fell back and spoke with his compan-
ions In misfortune.
There's something in the wind. lads;
the Mounseer captain has been making
kind Inquiries about the prisoners at
the manor house." he growled.
Captain Fournier. having finished his
consultation, again came forward.
m. Dempster," he said, my brother,
the Lieutenant Camille Fournier, is one
Of the prisoners living at the manor
house Of Bosham. He cannot attempt
to escape himself because Of his parole.
but that makes no reason why should
not release him by force. l propose to
put hundred of my men in the Fire
ny, which as a ship of Bosham will not
be suspected till too late for prevention,
and run in and effect my purpose"
Jacob Dempster laughed sourly. I'D
like to see you try it" he replied. Don't
you know that Bosham lies six miles
from the sea? You'd be stuck on mud
bank before you'd done a mile of the
creek
1T is you who will pilot US, my
friend-in return for your liberty" be
said My men will remain below for
concealment, while you and your crew
work the vessel, as though In due
course returning home"
"What-me steer a pack Of French
men up Bosham creek to the doors Of
my native village! I'll see you in Davy
Jones' locker firstr'
A murmur of approval came from the
prisoners behind him, but Fournier,
= cynical, cruel-loOking man, merely
smiled Il have so far omitted to state
the alternative" he said. IF neither
you nor any member OF your crew will
steer the brigantine up the creek l will
hang you all at the yard arm within
f1ve minutes"
There was a moments dead silence,
and the old skipper turned and faced
his crew.
What say you, my ladsr' he asked
quietly. I'm for hanging"
A lip or two among the married men
twitched as they thought Of wives and
little ones, but the answer was unmis-
taxable, We're with you. Jacob"
- Not quite, however. as It proved
One voice among the Fireny's company
was silent, and all eyes turned on the
tall, blue-eyed young fellow In the cen.
ter of the line In amazement. Was
Greg Applegarth. Of all men, going to
turn traitor?
The French captain, whose quick eye
had already singled him out as a dis
sentient, put the question point blank:
You, there, are not so foolish aa
these others-you will steer the brigan-
tine TO Bosham?'
Avoiding the withering glance shot at
him by old Jacob, the young man raised
his head for a second and answered:
"Yes, I'll pilot her up the creek-if 80
be as you'll spare my mates lives az
well as mine"
"Yes, certainly-unless they attempt
% thwart me-" said Fournier, con-
temptuously. Mind this. though" he
thundered, changing to sudden fury.
IF by the act of any one Of you my
plan fails l will not only hang you all,
but will burn every house in the vii,
lage 1t is a secluded spot, far from
garrisons, l see by the map. and many
things would happen before help could
arrive"
Having selected 100 Of his best men
ander a proper complement Of officers,
Captain Fournier sent them aboard the
Eirefy, and followed with Greg, for
be meant to lead the enterprise in per-
BON, leaving the Alceste in charge OF his
erst lieutenant.
As soon as the transfer was complete
and rendezvous appointed with the
trigate the French Gag was hauled
aown on the Fire,y and she stood
across for the English coast. Greg Ap-
plegarth was permitted to remain on
deck, but Jacob Dempster and the rest
Sf his crew were thrust into the hold,
where they passed their time In cursing
their comrades treachery.
That the traitor should be Greg Ap-
pleEarth was the most astonishing fact
Of al-especially to old Jacob. who was
aware Of certain tender passages be-
tween the smart young sailor and bis
,wn way ward daughter Peggy.
The prisoners of war were permitted
by the Government to rent the manor
house and live there as they pleased,
provided they kept to the stipulations
Of their parole, which demanded that
they ehould make no attempt to escape
Or 70 farther than two miles from their
dwelling.
Nsufiia Taurnfer fhA brother OF the