Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-02-16


their corners, but he made no move to face
or 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.
"Mr. Lounsbury, I'd have you find it con-
venient to address me as captain on my own
vessel. and bear yourself with decent re-
spect in so doing"
For an answer he turned his back to me,
and spat over the rail, then facing about
again, burst into a 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, tits fine farce finely ployed."
"What the: devil has come to your I 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. eye may be captain, but twill
soon be captain O nothing-d'ye kee?-
savin', 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 focks. In wonder at my mates &C
tons and words, I 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 fresh wind,
which they were evidently bringing with
them. To pass through them unnoticed was
unhoped for; to be chased was to proclaim
my character.
Lounsbury was no coward, knew; but
that he was 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, l let him bide the
while, and turned attention toward get
ting out of the danger bearing down from
windward. Putting a curb on my temper.
l said:
"You will get up the British ensign and
hold the course. We will clear them yet"
And with this I turned toward the COM
panion.
Now, whether he feared I was about to
arm myself, and preferring to take me as
l stood (Which was more than most men
dare attempt), or whether his plans were
ripe for action, I know not; but he inter
posed his square figure betwixt me and
the door, and with mighty patronizing air,
spake thus:
Faith, captain. I 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 I 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 I see fit
to damn We as rebel with cargo of rebel
lead consigned to rebels? About as much
sarvice as rabbits tail to a cow in f1ytime
Ye be O. sense an have little liking,
l take it, for a taste O. either Cunningham
1.-THE British provost marshal at New York;
or one O. the prison hulks, an We can escape
them both if my standing by We will help,
by just handing over the bit O. gold ye have
snugged away below"
The shock of this demand with the knowl-
edge of what might lay 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 I have
never entirely fathomed it. And it was
here l was clutched by fear of the danger
bearing down on me, for my best-laid plans
were rendered valueless by the scoundrel
j had too easily taken on trust. cannot
account for his insight, save that he had
probed my locker when I was absent (this
fact being plain enough), and had in some
mysterious way come at the fact that I
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.
It is very possible my emotion showed
in the face. and he. nightly astray in guess
ing my temper, doubtless thought I was
completely in his power. And, in fact, for
the moment l might have confessed as much
had l given thought to it. Before could
gather words to frame an answer, he con-
tinued, though with lowered voice:
=" 'Tis five hundred pounds to the penny,
fancy; If more, We can keep the rest Did
We play Jack Lounsbury for sucking?
started this voyage on your farms, but well
finish on mine. Have We slept since the war
began that ye knew not the color O. Louns-
bury O. Rye? Come, now, speak outi'
'Then ye looked to fall in with yonder
ships, did We, We scoundrel?" said 1. while
l gathered myself together.
"Ay, two O. them. The one to east is a
fight o. luck"
What are they?"
.eThe tail o. Howe's feet from Phiiadel-
phia. Ye may swear that Clinton has evacu-
ated the place an is marching across Jersey
for New York. So it was to be. Am plain
enough? They be bound for the same
place, an, d-n it, man, shall we go with
them or no? Speak out!''
Does anyone know of my private mat
tiers save YOURSELF" I asked, as I knitted
my strength to fulfil the purpose had ar
rived at.
"None o. that now! see yer camel What
know, l knowl An We think If am made
way with. all's safe With this he backed
pace. and, drawing pistol from his pocket,
presented it full at me- Now" he con-
tinued, with a devilish look In his half
closed eyes. ssye are my prisoner an cap
tain; an as for the matter o. that, / have
been all along"
/ had guessed the man was armed. Know
ing me. ne would hardly have had the dar-
ing to thus speak to my face without means
Of defense Of bis possible backing by the