Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1898-11-17
title darkcned--as II were the cmbers

little darkcned--as II were the cmbers
of a bonfire smoldering.
For the life Of me l could not think
what it might be.
At last came right down upon the
borders of the clearing. The western
end was already stepped in moonshinc;
the rest, and the block house itself. still
lay in a black shadow, checkcred with
long silvery streaks of light. On the 9TH
er side of the house an immense fire had
burned itself into clear embcrs, and
shed steady, red reverberdtion. con-
trasted strongly with the mellow pale
ness of the moon. There was not a
soul stirring, nor a sound beside the
noises of the breeze.
l stopped, with much wonder in NV
heart, and perhaps a little terror also.
1t had not been our way to build great
fires; we were, indeed, by the cap
tain's orders, somewhat niggardly of
tirewood; and | began TO fear that
something had gone wrong while |
was absent.
stole round by the eastern end,
keeping close In shadow, and a a con
venient place where the darkness was
thickest, crossed the palisade.
To make assurance surer, got upon
my hands and knees. and crawlrd, with
out word, toward the corner of the
house. As | drew nearer. my heart
was suddenly and greatly lightrncd.
IL was not a pleasant noise in itself.
and | had often complained of It at
other times, but just then II was like
music 10 hear my friends snoring to-
gcther so loud and peaceful in their
sleep. The sea-cry of the watch. that
beautiful "All's WE'LL" never fell more
reassuringly on my ear.
In the meantime, there was no doubt
Of one thing; they kept an infamous
bad watch. II il had been Silver and his
lads that were now creeping in on them,
not a soul would have seen daybreak
That was what il was, thought I. TO
have the captain wounded; and again
I blamed myself sharply for leaving
them in that danger with so few to
mount guard.
BY this time | had got 10 the door and
stood up. All was dark within, so that
I could distinguish nothing by the eve
As for sounds. there was the steady
drone Of the snorcrs, and small occa-
sional noise, n flickering or pccking that
| could in no way account for.
With my arms before me l walked
steadily in. l should lie down in my
own place Il thought. with silent
chuckle) and enjoy their faces when
they found me in the morning. MY
foot struck something yielding-it was
sleeper's leg; and he turned and
groaned, hut without awaking.
And then, all of a sudden. a shrill
voice broke forth out Of the darkness:
pieces Of eight! pieces of eight
pieces OF eight! pieces Of eight! pieces
of eight" and so forth, without pause
or change, like the clacking of tiny
mill.
Silver's green parrot, Capt. Flint! It
was She whom had heard pecking It a
piece of bark; ii was she, keeping bet
ter watch than any human being, who
thus announced my arrival with her
wearisome refrain.
| had no time left me to recover. At
the sharp. clipping tone of the parrot.
the sleepcrs nwoke and sprung up: and
with n mighty oath. the voice of Silver
cried:
"Who &c !s?"
I turned to run. struck violently
against one person, recoiled. and ran
full into the arms of second, who, for
his part. closed upon.n and held me tight.
Bring a torch. Dick" said Silver,
when my capture was thus assured.
And one OF the men left the lor-house.
and presently returned with a lighted
brand.