Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-03-23

tIce or bold disoDedIence; anC, as u4slrs,.sl
on my own quarterback has a SAVIOR of each
] was not far behind his words when
stepped out Of the companionway
A negro was at the wheel, and tie mat,
was striding the weather side Of the decl
with a spgglass under his arm, a pipe Il
his teeth, and very easy, self-satis1ied Sc
to his countenace.
He was a short, burly man, bearing
heavy, bronzed face, and having a smile tht
meaning Of which might be anything. Hi
light blue eyes were always half closed, in
a manner to be called a squirt in another
man, but his actions had been bluff, good
natured and open, and the fellow had hith
erto always shown sense Of respectful hu
NOR in our intercourse.
As / strobe up to him, / marked him slew
his little eyes around to take me in from
their corners, but he made no move to face
OF give me particular notice. / guessed then
that something untoward was in the wind
and took the shortest way to arrive at the
bottom Of it.
MIR. Lounsbury, I'd have you find it con
venient to address me as captain on my own
vessel, and bear yourself with decent re-
speet in so doing"
For an answer he turned his back to me-
and spat over the rail, then facing about
again, burst into loud laugh / looked
at him as though he had suddenly been
bereft Of wit, at which he sobered down,
and then broke out with scowl:
Faith, It's fine farce finely ployea."
What the devil has come to YOU" ] vo-
ciferated.
Well, wen Delay all an drop the cur
TAIN" he continued, setting his back against
the rail and jerking his thumb over his
shoulder ''Ye may be captain, but twill
soon be captain o nothing-d'ye see?-
savln, OF course, We come to farms with
Jack Lounsbury. Do We mark that. an
that, an that" he went on easily, turning
and pointing to three sails that were well
up on the horizon.
Then something of the matter came to me
at once. That they were British ships
well knew, for the French were not yet due
to arrive, and American privateers moved
not IN ilocks. In wonder at my mates ac-
tions and words, / had not marked this ris-
ing danger, but at glance saw that escape
by flight was useless as the oncoming yes
sells were spreading out from east to south
and rapidly sailing down on a fresh wind,
which they were evidently bringing with
unhoped for; to be chased was to proclaim
my character.
Lounsbury was no coward, / knew; but
that he was a traitor to me, or mad, had
small doubt. His manner and words heat
ed my temper, but now that i must have
recourse to deception, | let him bide the
while, and turned attention toward get
ting out of the danger bearing down from
wsndward. Putting curb ON my temper,
/ said:
you viii get up the British ensign and
hold the course. We will clear them yet
And with this / turned toward the com
panion
Now, whether he feared l was about to
arm myself, and preferring to take me as
stood (which was more than most men
dare attempt). or whether his plans were
ripe for action, | know not; but he inter
posed his square figure betwixt me and
the door, and with a mighty patronizing air,
spake thus:
Faith, captain, had no call to harrow
We. seeing the game is in my own two hands;
but list bit, and we may yet be comrades
again. No matter how ! know, but / do
know We look to cozen yonder ships by false
papers, seeing tbs impossible to dodge them
as they have the weather gauge of We an
We are in the blight of the land. Now what
use might be yer papers should l see fit
TO damn We as a rebel with cargo of rebel
lead consigned to rebels? About az much
sarvice rs a rabbits tail to a COW in fytime.
Ye be man o sense an have little liking,
| take it, for taste o either Cunningham
1.-THE British provost marshal at New y ork)
or one o. the prison huks an We can escape
them both ii my standing by We will help.
By just handing over the bit o gold We have
snugged away below
The shock OF this demand with the knowl
edge Of what might las in store for me
caused me to lose thought OF all else save
how the fellow had gotten so familiar with
my private affairs. and to this day / have
never entirely fathomed it. And it was
here | was elutched by fear of the danger
bearing down on me, for my best-laid plans
were rendered valueless by the scoundrel
| had too easily taken on trust. | cannot
account for his insight, save that he had
probed my locker when | was absent (this
fact being plain enough, and had in some
mysterious way come at the fact that |
possessed treasure which, by search he
had discovered hidden somewhere beyond
his reach. Be this as it may, | saw that
my secret was no longer mine alone.
1t is very possible my emotion showed
in the face, and he, nightly astray in guess
ing nay temper, doubtless thought | was
completely in his power. And. in fact, for
the HnmentI might have confessed as much