The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-07-22

the morass from which we had just escaped
As he disappeared, / turned on the Quaker
with the determination of settling few
small matters, and abruptly asked:
is that man what lie seems-a negroY
"Yea, and thee has seen as devoted pa
triot as the colonies know" he answered.
"As for his race, It's anomalous His parents
blood was almost white, but he bred back
ward, as men sometimes do, and is blacker
than the average negro. And he has talent
for a go between. lie can mimic so that the
evil one might take him for double. Did
he not fool thee? All! Nick" he contin-
ued, apostrophizing the absent man, "an'
were il not for thy color thy name would be
great in the field, though not so great as is
thy big heart!"
Would had known it," answered. -
would have atoned for the black thoughts
had Of him. And now, friend Ames, con
tinucd, 81 have fancied you other than YOU
are. Had | known what ! now know,
'twould have saved deal of trouble. But,
first, owe you my life for what you did for
me, as, had you not sighted the redcoats aud
acted. | would"
We're quits, friend, we're quits, did thee
but know il, he interrupted. Let us not
stand here; we have Turtle bay ahead and
no bed nearer. The way is long and rough,
seeing we are debarred the highway. Thee
be well armed; give me pistol, for as
Quaker have not so much a. a bodkin."
Being no Quaker. then spare me your
thees and thous," said i, thrusting pistol
into his hands.
"But ] am Quaker, in truth, friend" he
answered.
"a Quaker, and fight"
Coll nf f,lrp
takes a wider path than the orthodox. But
the blood is not thick in me, though am of
the Quaker stock ! fall into the style when
in need of concealmcnt, and carry it out
fairly well-eh, friend?"
Faith said |, 81 take il you're on a
broader path than Hicks Ger trod. That
blow would have read you out Of meeting
were you a true broad-brim. And how did
yor sozen the party at the tavern 2" / asked,
as we stepped out.
by sending most Of them TO the north
after thee" he answered. "Io the rest
Quilted the father of lies, and ended by get
ting them into fair state Of drunkenness
and after, as an old man, pleaded fatigue
and went TO bed | am in bed now, friend
TO them"
Though he still clung to the Quaker style
OF speaking, he had laid aside the voice and
actions of the old man he had represented,
making a strange combination with his long.
white hair, broad brimmed hat, youthful
tones, and sprightly behavior. Through all
his words there was an undercurrcnt Of dry
humor, which seemed 60 take no account Of
the deep danger we were in, or the, TO me,
absolute Darkness of the future.
Nor was this due to bravado or wonderful
courage Though he lacked none OF the lat
teri, but, as he aftcrward told me, 90 the
fact that with the failure to get help from
Strykcr--n help he had accounted as certain
he had given over hoping, and took dcs-
perately calm view of the next day or two,
surely believing that by then all would be
over. Yet withal he in no wise abated his
vigilance, though he considered the hand of
death was near him, and when, finally,
there opened up bare chance for our es-
cape from the island, he said il was as
though he had come back from the grave.
Ay, and so did /. 1t was as though suf.
locating hand placed over my mouth had
been suddenly withdrawn.
On the start he told me little Of himself
Though | had thought to find him commun.
cativel, and had 10 drag from him that he
had left a brother at Turtle bay, whom he
was now journeying to rejoin. The youth
was but year or TWO younger than himself,
and fairly helpless, having been stricken by
the Almighty with dumbness from birth,
though not with its usual accompanying
cursS~deafness. From helping the great
cause in some way both brothers were under
ban, and my companions life was forfeit
Il he was taken.
Now as black MS seemed my chances, left
the weight OF the old adnge OF life and hone
being akin. and | was by no means over
joyed in knowing that we might be handi.