The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-03-24

into the boat. | now found some
strength in my legs, and with lurch
managed to gain my feet looking
eagerly over the rail as did so, and
was at once satisfied, yet almost con
founded with what | saw. The buc-
cancers boat had floated some way off,
and not n soul was in il. though in the
water were three swimmers making
langudly toward IT, Some fathoms
out, in the direction of the becalmed
ship, was a dark object-probabl
corpse-and an oar and mans hat
foated near, hut otherwise the neigh
borhood was vacant.
1t was so sharp and absolute a
change that for Il moment ! could
scarce make it clear i'm my mind, and
stood staring over tho rail. But pres
entity my companions began to speak.
and this brought me back to my bal
ance, and | turned again to them. The
senorita was coming out of the cuddy,
and cambered over the bodiesto her
and drew her to little open space
where she could stand.
She was woefully pale, yet seemed in
a brave way to control herself, though
she broke down for bit as I steady
ingly pressed her hand.
praise God, all is over dear lady" l
said. "Yondcr are the miserable relics
of the foe. 1t is time such as | never
thought to see and live, but is in the
most blessed manner ended. Very
quickly we shall ship the oars and be
on our way"
"Nour words seem like an angels,
senor," she said, trying to command her
voice after all that has happened,
| can scarce think or reason. All, but
it was horrible! The cries and the
blows. the scraping of dying mems feet,
and the iarring of the falling bodies!
And above all was the suspense! Oh,
that suspense, senior, and in especial at
the last! But | must not think of it,
only TO thank you-Nou and your
brave companions. You are such he
roes as ! believe are not elsewhere in
the world"
NAY, senorita, you praise MS beyond
our merits" | answered, dcprecatiugly.
On truth, felt thrill of pleasure at
her words) 1--WE did. ! grant. make
pretty sturdy fight, but beyond that
there is no call for praise. Having un-
dcrtakcn your defense at first, we could
not aftcrward. save as very poltroons,
abandon you, and in our own behalf
we did not prefer the sword or bullets
to torture
But she would not have it So and in
sisted that we had first risllcd all in
delivering her from the castle, and
that this was n piece of heroism to
match it, adding to my surprisc) that
she knew we had refused 20 deliver
her to Towland. 81 peeped from the
cuddy and saw she explained. YES.
senior, it was easy to understand, even
| though | did not know n word that
was said"
"Well, then, you may make hero
of Mr.. lynn" | answered more light
~, "and, indeed, | am free to say he
deserves it. The rest of us did but
obey his commands"
| think our dialogue might have
gone on moment or two longer, for
| | was quite satisfied to fare so poorly
in the argument, when | saw that my
companions had begun to take steps
toward clearing the boat, beginning
with drawing aside the bodies, and
| hastily broke off and joined them.
BY this time the three swimmers
had reached their boat, and were now
pulling sluggishly toward the ship,
she hanging calm-bound as before.
first gave a glance about the hori-
zon, looking both for Il sail and any
coming of wind, but perceived neither
and without further delay fell to
work
| should remark here that we might
be supposed to have some fears lest
! the bucclneer should send another
boat, and this was ut first true, but
now we had pretty well decided that
she had dispatched the sole one she
Lad, thing the more credible as she
must have sailed at exceeding short
notice.
We stood on no ceremony i'm dis
posing of the bodies, the captain mere
ly stopping to strip one of a helmet
to take the place of his own broken
one, which done, we tumbled the re.
mains hastily over the rail. A few
buckets of water were then draw
and dashed over the deck, and the
disagreeable business was ended. We
had already determined to run the
sloop for the coast, for the wind die
not spring up, favoring the ship, oil
il it did AMI she did not choose to pur
sue, we could then fetch out; but i
she should follow we could hope tC
beat her to the coast.
Mr.. lynn and the captain had al
ready tied up their wounds, MAJ
Iyrach's needing no attention, ant
when the boat was ready the Scotch
man and | sat down to the oars. w,
were in no case for hard work, but de
sired to be making a start, it beinl
uncertain, indeed, how long this ia
voring calm would hold,
Though we were so near the surfac,
of the water, and therefore com