Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-07-21
II it in earnest, and looked to my prim-


Captain" said I, ''Trelawney is the
dead shot. Give him your gun; his
own is useless"
They exchanged guns, and Trelaw-
| ney, silent and cool as he had been since
the beginning of the hustle, hung a mo-
ment on his heel to see that all was
| fit for service. At the same time, OBJ
serving Gray to be unarmed, I handed
him my cutlass. It did all our hearts
| good to see him spit on his hand, knit
his brows, and make the blade sing
| through the air. It was plain from
every line of his body that our new
hand was worth his salt.
| Forty PAGES further we came to the
edge of the wood and saw the stockade
| in front of US. We struck the inclos-
ure about the middle of the south side,
and. almost at the same time seven mu-
tineers-Job Anderson, the boatswain,
at their head, appeared in full cry at
| the southwestern corner.
They paused, as if taken aback, and
before they could recover not only the
squire and I, but Hunter and Joyce
from the block-house had time to fire.
The four shots came in rather a scat
tering volley: but they did the bust
|
and the rest, without hesitation, turned
and plunged into the trees.
After reloading, we walked down the
outside of the palisade to see the fallen
enemy. He was stone dead-shot
through the heart.
| We began to rejoice over our good
success, when just at that moment a
pistol cracked in the bush, a bail whis-
| 1o6 ole ocfY, md Pof7-
ruth stumbled and fell his full length on
| the ground. Both the squire and l re-
turned che shot; but as we had nothing
to aim at, it is probable we only
wasted powder. Then we reloaded, and
turned our attention to poor Tom.
| The captain and Gray were already
examining him. and saw with half an
eye that all was over.
| I believe the readiness of our return
volley had scattered the mutineers once
more, for we were suffered without
further molestation to get the poor old
gamekeeper hoisted over the stockade
and carried, grooming and bleeding,
into the log house.
| Poor old fellow, he. had not uttered
one word of surprise, complaint, fear,
or even acquiescence, from the very
|
when we had laid him down in the log
house to die. He had laid like Trojan
behind his mattress in the gallery; he
had followed every order silently, dog
gedly and well; he was the oldest of
our party by a score of years; and now,
sullen, old, serviceable servant, it was
| he that was to die.
The squire dropped down beside him
| L. L.
ing like child.
| BE going, doctor?" he asked.
tom, my man," said 1, you're go
ing home"
81 wish had lick at them with the
gun first" he replied.
''Tonn." said the squire, ''say you for
give me, won't your
Would that be respectful like, from
me to you, squire?'' was the answer.
''Howsoever, so be it, ameni'
After a little while of silence, he said
he thought somebody might read a
| prayer. Its the custom, SIR" he add
ed, alphabetically. And not long after,
without another word, he passed away.
In the meantime the captain, whom
[ had observed to be wonderfully
swollen about the chest and pockets,
had turned out great many various
stores-the British colors, Bible, a
coil of stoutish rope, pen. ink, the log
book, and pounds of tobacco. He had
found longish fir tree lying felled and
cleared in the Enclosure, and, with fhe
help of Hunter, he had set it up at the
corner Of the log house where the
trunks crossed and made an angle
Then, climbing on the roof, he had
| with his own hand bent and run UP
the colors.
This seemed nightly to relieve him
He reentered the log house and set
about counting the stores, as if moth.
ing else existed. But he had an eye
on Toms passage for all that; and as
soon as all was over came forward with
another flag and reverently spread il
on the body.
Don't you take on, sir" he said
shaking the squire's hand. "Alls well
with him; no fear for a hand that's
been shot down in his duty to captain
and owner. It mayn't be good divinity
but it's a fact
Then he pulled me aside.
DIR. Livesey,' he said, ''in how many
weeks do you and squire expect the
consort?''
7 told him it was question, not Of
weeks, but of months; that if we were
not back by the end of August. BlandlJ
was to send to find us; but neither
sooner nor later. You can calculate
for yourself" I said.
"Why, yes" returned the captain
scratching his head, ''and making +:
large allowance, sir, for all the gifts o.
Providence, I should say we were pref
ty close hauled"
How do you mean ?' asked.