Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-04-03
THE DESERTERg.

II must do my best to got Bill buck
again, said the mnto. "Of course the.
started for Tnswcll's island, and It was 50
smooth last night their chance was good
to reach it. only hope, for tho boys sake
that the old tub hasn't turned turtle " III
'cm''
Lying off short distance with on
BOATS. we attempted to open pnrley w It'll
an nrmy of bnrbnrians who crowded down
to the beach, armed with warclubs aEt
3nSelins Their threatening gestures M
thcy briIndishc,i their weapons admonishetl
us ot what we might expect should we ut
tempt lodgmcnt In their territory, and a
lew stones, hurled ut US from time to
time, warned us to haul off to n safer dia
tnncc.
don't Ike to give 1t up without lcnrn-
ing something nbout the fate OF tho boy"
he shta as no took tho little telescope from
under tho storm sheets and brought It. nm
to his eye. "As for old Jack. hs might
work out his own salvation for ought
care. Hn!' no exclaimed, with a sudden
ilghting up OF his fncc. 1.-The tubs landed.
Whcther tho men nro drowned or not.
There's the head Of it."
A building much larger than the or,,,.
nary huts Of tho village stood n short dis-
lance inland, and set up cndwiso against
.no wall was something dirk, Of mn oval
form, like mn immense shield or target.
With the MD OF tho spyglnss this was cnsi
~ recognized rs tho bottom Of our tub.
What appeared like n littlo pi]o of wood
near 1t might VOL have been composed OF
tho slaves, and we Mt once OWNED TINT it
had been shocked for the snko of tho
Iron hoops, the only part likoly to DO
valued by these bnrbnrians.
Tho attention Of the king WINS attracted
to his cnrclossncss In having loft tho head
exposed TO Wow, rs he noticed tho little
excitcmcnt among ns in tho boats At q
signal from him several men ran to ro-
move 1t and carry 1t inside tho building.
but ns they opened tho door for TINT pur-
pose figure pushed by them and dnrted
out into tho open space with loud cry and
frantic gestures.
Roy Bill" snid hnlf iozon voices
lilo was recognized mt n glnnco. Wo had
no doubt that Sullivan WINS also inside,
though no probably remained thore at his
own desire The boy plninly showed his
eagernesS to escape ind join his shipmatcs
Our bnfiled captain was now Mt his wits'
end. 1t would noyor do to sacrifice life In
making al attaok upon these people at
close quarters. and reluctantly the order
was given to woigh the grapnols and pull
nway for our ship in tho ofllng.
Wo had hardly mado hnlf dozen dips
OF tho oars when tho ornck of II musket
was heard and ball struck In tho water
near US. Yolls Of dcrision rose OH the air
from tho whole population, and the dcs-
pcrsdo Sullivan, swinging muskot aloft
joined in tho insulting cry Of defiance.
Porched on tho roof Of tho council house
no had fired the shot at uB as soon as he
saw we hnd abandoned our undertaking.
Tho boy Bill was not to bc soen.
Let's stand In with tho ship and give
them shot from tho big gun" gaid tho
mnto. "Wo can do it snfe enough, sir,
think"
II will do It," returned Captain VIII
cox, ''crcn II lose tho ship. Pull ahead
md let's get aboard before tho brcezo dies
away Tho scoundrtli''
Tho "big gun" Of which tho mate spoke
was merely nh old six pounlor which
could only be effective ut pretty short
range. 1t was necessary to appronch worry
near tho land, but favored with q flne
working breeze wo venturcd to run the
risk. Tho nntives took tho alarm M they
saw tho ship steadily holding her way al
| most to tho outor limit of tho reef, and
whom her brondsfdo swung to bear upon
tho beach and tho word wns given to IRE
not human being was to be soon.
Tho gun was trained ms accurately az
wo know how upon tho largo building, and
the 1nnte applied tho match, grinding his
| teeth ms he did 80 AS its sharp report died
away discordnnt chorus Of ycils succeed
cd, and number of men poured out Of
tho building, clustering around one who
seemed to hnvo been wounded. Othora
| were also scon rushing from various quar-
ters, and several ran toward tho shore
with gestures Of fear and supplication.
"Load up again quiokl" said Mr. Man.
chester, now thoroughly excited "We
ratified tho bamboo and thntch about their
cars that time know. I can SEQ tho hole
In tho broadside OF tho house."
but There was no need to fire again. A
group now appeared with the boy Bill in
the center, hurrying him down to the wa
ter sido, and tho most frantic signals were
made, inviting communication. Another
group bore tho body of tho wounded man,
ana tho women and children formed In
tho background Of tho picture among the
cocoon palms with appraised hands and
piercing erica
Heading Oifshoro under short snil, but
with the gun still loaded and bearing up
on the landing place, we approached with
tho boat as nenr rs was prudent, and our
hoy, plunging In, swain out to us and
WAS heartily greeted by his shlpmntes. On
tho coral slope, Mt tho feet Of the frightened
natives, lay the body of Jack Sullivan, his
fhco npturncd to tho blazing tropical sun.
Is he badly hnrtP" demanded tho mate
Dead, sir, answered tho boy. "The
ball struck him full In tho head
Pull ahead, then, was tho order as he
laid the boats head round offshore
We've no time to lose with tho ship so
close into tho rocks, and thoy arc welcome
to his body II they want It,"
The captain shook Bills hand, with
tear In his ayo, when no stood once more
OH the ships deok. Ho eaid nothing Of
punishment for desertion. He did not
even reproach him, but loft him to his
own thoughts.
Tho lesson Ind not been lost upon him.
Boy Bill Is now q ship master himself, and
this rash adventure Of his boy hood seems
| almost Ike dream to him. York
| Eows
Hall Decoration.