Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-10-29

Fisoner witt out being observed.
as not slow TO take the hint; apd after
shake CT the hand, Tom told me his
I'D story. peeping through the little
@oop like a postofice clerk.
He had. it seems. waited and search
In vain for me after he got over his
revel. until he was satisfied that must
have gcne to sea IN the ship. when he
took charge Of the two stocks OF cloth
ing. which were transferred TO Scotch
Jocks hancs for liquor and board.
"A few days were sufficient to wear
out his welcome there.
He was forced, after all. to ship in
the Tres Amigos. man-of-war. and the
landlord got the lions share OF the ad-
vance doubloon.
Tom was soon convinced that the
Peruvian naval service was not what IL
had been described: end he as well as
several other English Adventures. ware
heartily sick of their bargain. and de-
termined to back out of il al the first
opportunity.
$50, having been sent inshore on
some sort of spy service, under the
command OF a young MILDLY, they took
charge Of the boat themselves, put the
| officer on the beach, and started down
| the coast to leeward.
After many strange adventures and
| dreadful sufferings they landed at the
| Galapagos Islands. and as might be
4 expected. they soon became scattered,
/! joining different ships. Tom had been
| in half dozen vessels during years
| time; and, feeling quite safe. had come
ashore in Payta, few days before,
| from a coasting craft in which he was
employed. he had hardly landed when
he was recognized by one of the former
| officers of the man-of-war- He was ar
rested and tried by a hasty court-mar-
tial, where the little MILDLY himself was
brought forward, and. glad enough for
this chance for revenge, swore to Toms
identity.
'-He was at once found guilty of hav-
ing mutined, deposed his superior Off
Ger, laid violent hands upon him, and
turned him ashore in a hostile terri
tory. He was sentenced to death.
Next Monday said be, I am to be
led out at sunrise, stood up In thet cor
ner there at the angle of the wall, and
shot by a platoon OF hese Cholo scare
crows.
You may imagine how / 'congratu-
lated myself that had been so sudden
ly led to think better of our mad scheme
and to return to my duty on board the
Marion. But what could I say to com
; fort my misguided shipmate? In three
days, for 1t was then Friday morning
he would be put to death; there was
no hope of pardon or reprieve.
But the second mate, after hearing
my story, entered into the thing heart
and soul. II was too bad to seen an old
shipmate made target of in that man
ner, he said. by a crowd OF human mon
keys, like these Cholos; and by little
management and few dollars used In
brides. he thought he might save Tom
from his fate and run him of the beach
He went ashore with me the same even,
Z ing. and we managed smother interview
with the prisoner at his pigeon-hole
and cheered him up with hope Of de
liverance. giving him some idea, too
of our plan OF affecting 1t. that h,
might be prepared to act in co-opera
= ton.
I'VE struggled a coil OF rope ashor
on Sunday, and concealed IL in q pill
u OF rubbish. convenient to the plac
:. where it was to be used. We wer
stirring early on the morning appoint
. ed for the execution, and landed witt
u picked crew before daylight. No par
| ticular notice was taken of our move
! ments, as we were supposed to hav
been impelled by natural curiosit
!. to see the man shot; and We mingle
with the other spectators without sus
picion. keeping always near each other
however, and ready to communicate b
9 signals previously agreed upon.
I'VE saw Tom led forth from tn
guardhouse by file of the soldiers, an
{ marched across the yard TO the place G
execution Here he stood up like ma
who had nerved himself to meet hi
death without Sinching; and, as b
: braced himself against the mud wall L
p the corner. his calmness extorted ad
q miration from his jailers.
Sunrise was the time fixed for tn
= execution to take place; but, with a re
lnement OF cruelty worthy OF Peruv
"A ans, he had been brought out and lie
to his post an hour before that time.
This circumstance, however was "a
vorable for our project, as il was no
- just on the gray of the morning. b,
tween daybreak and full daylight.
: 1.-The Cholo officer ana his file of me
~ ! withdrew TO the other side of the var,
~ after having a-Cer having set poor Tol
II after having set poor Tom up for tai
~ get, as one might say. The firing part
had not yet come on the ground an
.. now was our time.
d 1.-The wall at the angle where tn
Of condemned man stood was about mir
o. feet high, so that his guards had n
N fear of his being able 10 climb it, whe
e, they fell back and left him there; b.
Id they little dreamed what was going Q
es the other side OF it. We were able
communicate in low tones through
E. chink or crack, and Tom, watching
10 favorable opportunity. gave the VOL
as in a whisper, Now
w "At the signal. the rope, with boy