Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-01-20

Il
certainty and a neatness that were 9
| pleasure TO behold.
Scarcely had we passed the head be-
fore the land closed around us. The
shores of North inlet were as thickly
wooded as those of the southern an
chorage; but the space was longer and
narrower, and more like, what in truth
it was. the estuary of river. Right be-
fore us, at the southern end. we saw
the wreck of a ship in the last stages
of dilapidation. 1t had been a great
vessel of three masts, but had lain so
long exposed TO the injuries of the
weather, that it was hung about with
great webs of dripping sea-weed, and
on the deck of it shore bushes had
taken root. and now fiourished thick
with flowers. 1t was a sad sight. but it
showed us that the anchorage was
calm.
Now" said Hands, ''look there;
there's a pet bit for TO beach a ship in.
Fine fiat sand, never a catspaw, trees all
around of it, ard flowers a-blowing
like a garding on that old ship"
-AA1 OAlEG bNnAAf1s L lAAl NV
shall we get her off AGAIN.
why, so" he replied; you take
line ashore there on the other side at
low water; take turn about one O.
them big pines; bring it back, take q
turn round the capstan, and lie TO for
the tide Come high water, all hands
take a pull upon the line, and off she
comes as sweet as natur'. And now.
boy. You stand by. We're near the bi!
now. and she's too much way on her.
Starboard a little - so-steady-star.
board - larboard a little steady
steady!"
So he issued his commands, which
breathlessly obeyed; till, all of a sud
den. he cried: "Now. my hearty. luff!"
And | put the helm hard up, and the
"Hispaniola'' swung round rapidly, ana
ran stem on for the low-wooded shore.
The excitement OF these last man.
euvers had somewhat interfered with
the watch / had kept hitherto. sharply
enough. upon the cockswain. Even
then | was still so much interested.
waiting for the ship TO touch. that
had quite forgot the peril that hung
over my head. and stood craning over
the starboard buiwarks and watching
the ripples spreading wide before the
bows. | might have fallen without
struggle for my life, had not a sudden
disquietude seized upon me. and made
me turn my head Perhaps / had heard
creak, or seen his shadow moving
with the tail Of my eye; perhaps il was
an instinct like a cats, but. sure
enough. when looked round. there was
Hands. already halfway toward me
with the dirk in his right hand
We must both have cried ont aloud
when our eyes met; but while mine
was the shrill cry Of terror. his was
roar OF fury like a charging bull's. a.
the same instant he threw himself for.
ward, and leaped sideways toward the
bows AS | did so | left hold OF the
tiller which sprung sharp to lceward.
and | think this saved my life for il
struck Hands across the chest. and
stopped him. for the moment. dead
Before be could recover | was safe
out Of the corner where he had trapped
me. with all the deck to dodge about
just forward Of the mainmast
topped, drew pistol from my pocket,
drew a cool aim, though be had already
turned ard was once more coming III
rectly after me. and drew the trigger
The hammer fell. but there followed
neither flash nor sound: the printing
was useless with seawater. | cursed
myself for my neglect. Why had not
|, long before, reprinted and reloaded
my only weapon? Then | should not
have been, as now, a mere fleeing sheep |
before this butcher.
Wounded as he was. il was wonderful |
how fast he could move. his grizzled |
hair tumbling over his face, ana his |
face itself as red as red ensign |
with his haste and fury. | had no
time to try my other pistol, nor. in |
deed. mech inclination, for | was sure |
il was useless. One thing saw plain
ly: | must not simply retreat before
him. or he would speedily hold me |
boxed in the bows. as a moment since |
he had so nearly boxed me in the stern.
Once 50 caught. and nine or ten inches
of the blood-stained dirk would be
my last experience or this side of eter
nifty. placed my palms against the
mainmast. which was of goodish big
ness. and waited. every nerve upon the
stretch.
Seeing that ! meant to dodge, be also
paused, and a moment or two passed in
feiuts on his parr. and corresponding
upon mine. 1t was such
game as ] had often played al home
about the rocks of Black Hill cove:
but never before, you may BE sure.
with such a wildly beating heart as
now Still, as ! say. it was boys
game. and | thought ! could hold my
own al it against an elderly seaman
With a wounded thigh. Indeed. my
had begun to rise 50 high that
allowed myself few dariingthoughts
On what would be the end Of the affair
md while | srw certainly that | could