Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-10-19


showing the effects of unusual exposure to
sun and wind. What his rank might be |
had no idea, and speculation was lost in the
quick retort that naturally rose to my lips
'"Who are you, sir, to tumble aboard a
prize of his majesty's in this fashion? Ie
stand in need of a lesson in marine manners
as well as marine matters. Do We hope to
judge of crafts cargo by squint at her
hatch cover, or of a man by the cut of his
lib? Think not to deceive yourself or me!
| know my rights, and also know the differ
ence betwiXt the cry of a sea bird and a hem
hawk"
If had any doubt as to the official posi-
tion of the officer, it was set at rest by the
subdued laugh that came from the group
about us. Piqued by the sound of mirth
from those he had no power to punish, his
face turned to an ugly red, and, lifting his
saber as though to cut me down, he shouted
''You insolent dog! | will make you sweat
for this! Lay hold of him. some Of you!
Tie the villain up! Damnation! are you all
cowards?" he continued, as there was a
shuttle of feet, though no one approached me.
There is no telling what might have been
the upshot of this dispute had there been
no interruption, for the fellow seemed deter
mined to use his saber on me. But, tortu-
nately for one of us, we were joined by an
other officer, whom | afterward found had
come from the second boat.
"IIold hard, Scammell! You are not
handling one of your own Dragons! What
is this all about? You fy the signal of
prize, sir" he continued, turning to me;
chow comes it you are alone? Who and
what are you!"
81 am Captain Jack Lounsbury, bearing
instructions from Sir Henry Clinton, as that
cockatrice might have found ere this had
he used a smooth tongue. This is my prize
"a Yankee schooner laden with lead for
New London, and taken by me single-hand
ed. There lies Eer skipper, and all but one
of her crew are overheard" And with this
[ pointed to the body of my mate.
l had hardly spoken when two marines
came aft with the negro Stole betwiXt them.
He was trembling like a sail in the wind,
and hung his head as though he had lost
all strength to lift it. ! was looking for an
exposure on the instant, but the officer
waved them back with motion. There was
unspollen but plainly shown respect for
me in the demeanor of the crowd as it spread
away. The two officers stood for a moment
in undisguised wonder at the recital of my
prowess, giving alternate glances at the body
and myself, and then the last conner, who
vas plainly the one in authority, spoke.
''You alone did this? By st. George,
Soqmmell, you came near getting into a
mess! | promised to show you a sea scrim-
mage, but not the kind you were Matching.
Let us have further warrant of these facts"
lie continued to me. "Who was he?" point
ing toward the scupper, ''and when did this
happen? Let us come by the papers"
"Yonder fellow is Donald Thorndyke, the
master till | overcame him." | answered.
81 shipped as mate. If you will 20 below we
can come by the whole matter l replied,
not caring to extend my yarn with the negro
within hearing. "Or, better, we can take
what we there find and 90 aboard before
your captain, where the whole matter may
be boiled down at one sitting"
"'Twould be a saving of time, certainly"
be answered, but We'll hear the yarn while
the schooner is being searched; of course,
you understand the Importance OF the form"
And he turned to a sea corporal and gave
him the necessary orders. Now, sir, / am
at your service" he said, crossing the deck
toward the cabin companion. Hesitating
there, he seemed to hang in the wind for an
instant, and then strode over to the body.
Did you shoot him." he asked, as he bent
over the PROSTATE form.
"Nay, | struck him" answered.
Faith, then" he returned sizing me up
with a side glance, "Pd sooner take the
chance Of bullet than blow from that fist
! if you struck in earnest Did he wing you
| at the onset|
"Nay, nay; twas a niger striving to knife
me in the back. Let's below. Mayhap ye
| have doctor aboard who will fix up bad
cut"
Through all this l was conscious of the eye
of Scammell fixed on me. Whether or not he
sc hor ,etill
boiling under the dressing | had given him,
there were no means of telling. | saw plain
| ly the resentment he made little effort to
| conceal and felt that had made an enemy
who would be mighty glad to cross swords
with me on the slightest provocaton. He
| was % or 30 in years. or about my own age,
| and was under me not two inches in stature,
| which is speaking well for him, as | stood
! three inches above six feet, unshod. BY
weight and Drawn | well overmatched him
! las | did most mem, especially in the latter
| quality Of physique; but he made a typical
| dragoon officer, and would be formidable
antagonist in any field.
| might hope for little mercy if ever ! fell
| into the power of this man, for mercy was a
( quality which, strained or unstrained, he
and his fellows had naught to do with. This
| made sure Of on getting into the cabin,
| WDeGe IN course OF conversation III turned
out that he was a captain in De Lancy's
| Loyal Legion, body of tory cavalry half
freebooters and half in the regular service.
| had heard of them, as who has not? Be
! twixt New York and Philadelphia and the
country surrounding both places they were
a terror, the malignancy equaling if not
surprising the rapacity of Tryon himself.
| tched to get my fingers on him then and
| there, that there might be one less blood
! sucker above ground, but policy held me from
! committing an act which probably would
| have at once wrought ruin to my plans and
left my poor mother without son. l was,
therefore, bound to treat him with civility,
which | did when word to him was neces-
sary, but | fancy we each knew the other
was but skipping over the thin ice Of polite.
| ness.
Being, as it were, in the enemy's lines, l
followed the bent of the lieutenant, and
laughed loudly and long over the puzzle
ment Gas he called it, into which the Phan-
tom had led them. drank to the king and
damned the rebels; told a story of being