The Opelousas courier., 1898-08-06

tors being e%ngrossed by what was
going forward inside.
"Sunrise was the time fixed for the
execution to take place; but, with
refinement of cruelty worthy Of Peru
VANS, he had been brought out ant
led to his post al hour before tina
time.
"This circumstance, however, wa:
favorable for our project, as it wa
now just on the gray of the morning
between daybreak and full daylight.
'The Cholo officer and his file o.
men withdrew to the other side of the
yard, after having set poor Tom ul
for a target, as one might say. The
firing party had not yet come on the
ground and now was our time.
"The wall at the angle where the
condemned man stood was about nine
feet high, so that his guards had nc
fear of his being able to climb it, when
they fell back and left him there; but
they little dreamed what was going
on the other side of it. We were able
to communicate in low tones through
a chink or crack, and Tom, watching
a favorablf opportunity, gave the
warapin a Whisper, Now
ths>signal, the rope, with a
bow-line knot Of suitable size ready
tied at the end, was tossed silently
over the wall. In the dusty morning
twilight this operation could not have
been seen by the soldiers, OR by the
spectators who had gathered on the
opposite side of the Enclosure. Tom,
whose hands had been left free, in
Difference to his own request, and
sheer admiration Of his supposed
courage to meet his fate like a hero,
slipped the bow line down over his
body, and placing himself as in a
'boatswain's chair he gave the signal
by a slight jerk.
"Our whole souls, as it may be
supposed, were in the muscles of our
arms, and his slight jerk was re-
sponded to by one who lifted him into
the air as if he had been a child. His
hands grasped the top of the wall,
and quicker than a flash, it seemed,
he was over, and dropped among his
shipmates.
"'Carambo!' was the exclamation
from the guards, as they caught a
glimpse of his form against the sky,
over the wall.
"Stupid half-breeds as they were,
they rushed to the spot to assure
themselves that he was really gone
and then rushed back again. But
meanwhile, the word had sprung
among the lookers-on, and many were
ahead of the soldiers in the pursuit.
As they had a considerable circuit to
make before they could even see the
scene Of u operations, we had time
for a good start, and make the most
Of it. We had made straight for our
boat, which we had taken care to have
all ready for a start on the instant the
oars being peaked in the rcwlocks,
and a boy left in her to keep her off
from the landing-place. He did his
duty, like all the rest; and each man,
dropping upon his own thwart as he'
arrived, a vigorous shove sent her we'll
under Roadway before the bowling
crowd Of pursuers reached the water
side.
"'Give way, my lads!' said the Sec
ond mate, wild with excitement.
"'The captain will have to give me
up again, if you take me aboard said
the condemned man.
".Not he! The foretopsail is loosed
now, and he got his clearance papers
last night. Well be under way for
home before these Cholos get their
eyes fairly open!'
"The firing platoon at this moment
turned a corner, coming to a double!
quick pace. They rushed, all out of
breath, down the pier, and brought
their muskets to a ready at the order
of a little bewiskered officer, whose
voice seemed the most formidable part
of him.
"But we had already a safe ofing,
and their bullets ratified harmlessly in
the water on either side of us. Sew!
eral other scattering shots followed,
but equally impotent as the first ones,
for we had not lost a stroke in our
pulling, and the oars were doing their
best in the nervous grasp of trained
whalemen.
"The Marion was already casting
her head seward when we shot along
side; and as the head-yards were
braced full, she gathered rapid head
way. Never was canvas handled
quicker in making sail than it was
that morning by us. Two or three
boats were e to push out in pur-
suit; but. they might as we'll have
saved their labor and given up the
chase, as soon as the sun showed at
what a rate we were leaving them
astern.
s"That was the nearest that I ever
came to running away from a ship;
for, you may be sure, the lesson was
not lost upon me. I think Tom Bah
son always gave the whole Spanish
Main a wide berth afterward. He
would not even venture round the
Western Horn again, but shipped for
an Indian voyage as soon as we ar
in England. New York News.
SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL.
Norof,,1 ooos,roroopAo ,.oro kl.L