The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-06-17
.HEXRY

hef. MY minds made up, n you'll
obey me now, or swing at the yard-arm
within the hour. Stand by the bulwark.
there!" And he pushed him back from
the hatchway.
The lieutenant came up as he spoke.
"Estcourt." he asked, "have you for
gotten me?"
Not /, Wilmore.' cried Dick: land
/ never shall, though l live to be a thou
sand!'
well said! laughed the other. But
why am l so desperately in demand?"
why, you're in the nick Of time. I
was shorthanded till you came, and
I've a pair OF mutineers on board"
Right said Wilmore. And he called
over the side: Send three men aboard
there, with cutlasses."
The colonel made a rush for the main
hatch, calling to tombstone for help.
Dick caught him in time, and handed
him over to the men from the flagship,
giving them the rons at the same time.
Are they for this fellow?" asked Will
more.
OH said Dick, contemptuously, "as
far as fighting goes no one need be
afraid of him: but he's a wretch with
out a rag of honor, and his tongue
would twist anything less stiff than
steel"
The ron were on in a moment; the
colonel seemed to find them cold. for he
shivered ~pitiably.
Now for the other one!' said the
lieutenant.
AS he spoke, tombstone came on deck
by the forward ladder. and stood there
at a little distance from the group, peer
ing about him in the l~antern-light to see
the position of affairs.
Dick went up to him. Here he is!'
he cried. tombstone, you're my pris-
oner!'
Johnstone's right hand went swiftly
to his pocket, but before he could grasp
his pistol Dicks fist shot home be-
tween his eyes, and he fell like a log,
disappearing backward down the open
hatchway.
Two of the men-of-war's men ran
down, and found him m%otionless at the
bottom of the ladder: they brought him
on deck, and got a rope to secure him
when he should come round.
But he never moved again; the fall
broken his neck.
Well" said Dick. when they told him.
that seems only just: he was the bet
ter of two bad men, and his punish
ment's the soonest over. AS for the
other" he continued. turning to Will
more, "a quick deaths too coed for him,
and no prison would hold him long"
He reflected a moment, and then
turned to the captive and his guards.
Bring him below" he said, and led
the way to the saloon.
In Dicks W seat they placed the
colonel, with Dicks own irons upon
him, and In his hand they made him
take the pen with which he had COM
manded Dick to sign away his honor.
Now, IL you will please leave us
alone together" said Dick to the 9th
ers, II dare say / shall soon have done
with him.
They went out wondering, and he
turned to the prisoner.
Write the date" he said, shortly;
land now go on as l dictate to you:
- hereby acknowledge and confess
that 1 conspired with one Herman
tombstone, since deceased, to effect the
escape of the Emperor Napoleon from
the Island Of st. Helena on the 5th Of
May. 1921, and to levy war against the
king of France and the peace of
Europe; that for this purpose l brlbed
the said Herman tombstone and the
crew of the brig Speedwell, four of
whom I knew to be French subjects;
and by fraud n forgery induced my
sister-in-law, Madame de Montaut, and
Captain Richard Estcourt to accom-
pany me, in complete ignorance of the
object Of our voyage"
The colonel stopped. but that Is not
the truth" he objected.
Truth" said Dick, scornfully; what
is truth to you? Write as / tell you,
every word! And wait before you sign"
he added; I'VE want a witness whom
your ISLANDERS can not touch. Will
more!" he called. and the lieutenant
entered.
The signing and witnessing done,
Dick folded the paper and laid 1t again
before the colonel.
Address It," he said. ito the Minis
ter OF Justice at Paris"
The colonel started and drew back.
Deal gently with me-" he said, In a
low voice; courage and mercy should
go together"
Courage and mercy" replied Dick,
ARE no concern of yours your province
is obedience, and. If you can manage
1t, a little decent shame"
The address was written.
! And now" said Dick, after writ
ing that letter, you will, / think, see
that 1t would never suit your health to
live in England or France again. To
keep you. however, from all temptation
of such risks for the present, I propose
TO ask Lieutenant Wilmore here If he
will be so good as to put you ashore
at jamestown. You have, / believe,
some friends on the island who will
condoie with you on the failure of your
enterprise"
Shall I take him at once?" asked
Wilmore.