The Somerset reporter., 1897-06-03
A BURGLARS YARN.

makes one tllDk Oh EN-, ne exclaimed
In minute or two, without turning
round.
fancy l heard him sigh.
There is a grim praeticality about
Archie though. Down dropped from
the clouds in one swift second.
"Yaller Jack vera busy when paid
my first visit" he said shortly and
pumped himself down into his chair
before the fire.
"Ohr
"Aye; took off many on US. e"
"And you?'
Me. oh, he were vera guild friend
to me, were Yaller Jack. Aye, I've
nowt but kind words for him. "
Never before had l heard the praises
of yellow fever sung. But Archie is
original if he is anything at all
1t were in this way:
As usual, | were nearly always in
hot water with my obstinate temper
and my willful ways
1.-THE cat and me was we'll acquainted,
likewise the dark cell, likewise cheens
and rings, likewise bread and water.
Things was gettin to a vera bad
pass when Jack come to my rescue.
81 But it were vera hard for man to
keep out O. difficulties.
"I'll tell you about Nat the stock
man, fro Leicester, who were doin sew
en- year for settin fire to his house. Him
and me was diggin the foundations of a
cookhouse. Nat vera down i the hole
and were atop wheelin the muck away.
One day it Were pipin hot, and Nat
were takin a speel-o. Comes up war
der-an old slave driver he were-and
looks down at Nat. Now, then, get on
with your work, he sings out. Nat
looks up and never moves. Now, then,
stir, or I'll come down and make ye,
cries the warder.
But old Nat only laughs. Then in
goes Mr.. Warders and Nat knocks him
down-silly-fo meddlin-wi his lang
handed shovel
"And would We believe me? don t say
nothin about Nat-he was bit short i
his temper-but they gives me % days
bread and water for not interferinl
And you stood by, Sloss, and see
Dllu 90 III, says inc governor.
90 Do We think I'm fuil?' cries,
to NEEDLE in other folks affairs? Not
me. III tell you what it is, sir. I've
more business o. my own nor can man
age They was man for mainland let
'em fight it out.
But it We're no good argufyin.
Il only mentions it to show you what
sort of a place Bermooda was i my
time.
"Afore I'd done my 2S days comes
Yaller Jack Ye should ha' seen their
faces Takes wulders and ALL Spares
nonel There was fair panic. A man
were full o life in the mornin and food
for the sharks by night time.
But | didn't care for it, cared for
nowt-i' those days. l don't know as l
do now-excep' for what's afore me.
Imagine a somber pause, full Of sig
nifcance.
"Well, Jack gets worse an worse.
"There was none lief 10 tend the sick
"The commander Of the hospital ship
comes ashore an calls for volunteers
Halo, Archien says | u ryscf
Here's a chance fer Il change Lots o.
grub and smook all day long Ye may
as we'll die here as ~, whecrs else.
Here goes. So ho ds up my hand and
cries, I'm one.
He looks at me and begins to laff.
You're fat and lusty, Sloss, says he
You'll be the first to go. For Jack
were particular fond O. the lusty ones.
-, IL L
But didn't care-not me.
"'Ye might be dead afore me, sir,
says |. He were hard nut, was Com
mander Jackson. I'd had four dozen
from him once.
Well Sloss, says he, III take ye
The devil will soon get his own So
off | goes down to the boat-me, three
others and him-and were soon aboard
the hospital ship.
Sure enough, my words come true.
That vera night Jack knocks at the
cabin door of Commander jackson.
ut were fair awful, that ship. / be-
gins to think I'd best ave been satisfied
wi bread an water ashore. But |
booked, and there was no gettin out o.
the job. First he took ye in the legs,
then he mounted upward, then he
spread all over ye, till ye was all aches
and pains Then come the black vomit. -
Even now Archie shuddered at the
thought of the awful scenes he took
part in-men raving, men cursing, men
mad, men tied down to their hunks, all
yellow. Above the sun burning and
blisterinR; below, the odors of the sick,
disinfectants, the croaking death rattle
at their Threats
Such is yellow jack, according to
Archie
He took Commander jackson vera
bad, be went on. He were hard
nut and had the name for tit were
word and blow wi him. Many's the
time / shook my fis' i his old face all
yaller-oh, he couldn't see me--think-
In O. the four dozen I'd had of him.
1t were vera temptin to take my re-
venge. | could ha' killed him easy
Just like snuffln a candle. How? Leave
his blankets off him. Let him lie naked
and sweat. Then quick march. But l
didn't. Why? | don't know. 1t made
me grin to think be were at my mercy,
and | cared noNt for no man. Your
turn next, Archie, says | to myself,
and / smoo.is away. The second night
about four bells-light down-hot as