Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-03-18
CHAPTER XVIII.

NARRATIVE CONTINUED BY THE
DOCToR-END OF THE FIRST DAYS
FIGHTING.
We made our best speed across the
strip of wood that now divided us from
the stockade, and at every step we
took the voices of the buccaneers
rang nearer Soon we could hear their
footsteps as they ran, and the crack
ing of the branches as they breasted
across a bit of thicket.
Ibegan to see we should have brush
for it in earnest, and looked to my prim-
ing.
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 bustle, nung Il mo-
ment on his heel to see that all was
fit for service. At the same time, OBJ
serving Gray to be unarned, handed
him my cutlass. 1t did all our hearts
good to see him spit on his hand, knit
his brows, and make the blade sing
| through the air. 1t 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-
rs-JobeAndersons 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.
4 The four shots came in rather a scat.
tering volley; but they did the bust
| ness; one of the enemy actually fell
and the rest, without hesitation, turned
and plunged into the trees.
After reloading, we walked down the
outside of the palisade to see the faller
enemy. He was stone dead-shot
through the heart.
We began to rejoice over our good
success, when just at that moment ,
pistol cracked in the bush, ball wits
tied close pastmy ear,andpoorTom Red
ruth stumbled and fell his full length OF
the ground. Both the squire and re
turned the shot; but as we had nothing
to aim at, it is probable we onl,
wasted powder. Then we reloaded, ant
turned our attention to poor Tom.
4 The captain and Gray We're alread,
examining him, and saw with half al
eye that all was over.
I believe the readiness of our return
l I,
more, for we were suffered withou
further molestation to get the poor oil
gamekeeper hoisted over the stockad
and carried, grooming and bleeding
into the log house.
Poor old fellow, he had not uttere
one word of surprise, complaint, feal
or even acquiescence, from the yer
beginning of our troubles till nov
when we had laid him down in the 10
house to die. He had laid like a Troja
behind his mattress in the gallery; h
had followed every order silently, dog
gedly and well; he was the Oldest c
our party by score of years; and nov
sullen, old, serviceable servant, it wa
he that was to die.
The squire dropped down beside hill
on his knees and kissed his hand, CT,
ing like child,
I BE Igoing, doctor?" he asked.
"Tom, my man." said l, you're g.
Ing home"
II wish I5had lick at them with til
gun first" he replied.
"Tom," said the squire, "say you TO
give me, won't you?"
''Would that be respectful like, fro
me to you, squirrel" was the answe
"Howsoever, so be it, amen!"
After little while of silence, he sa
he thought somebody might read
prayer. TITS the custom, sir" he adj
ed, apologetically. And not long afte
without another word, he passed ava
In the meantime the captain, who
I had observed to be wonderful
! swollen about the chest and pocket