Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1900-11-15

their places as though they did not
hear a word of our singing.
We younger ones gazed ut the omens
with wonder and little more, but the
older seamen were strangely disquiet-
ed, and as soon as we dropped anchor
in the Thames and the wages had been
paid more than so of them left the ship
for good would have followed them.
for | trusted to their older experience
in such things. but Alec, as usual ridi-
culed my superstition and said he
meant to stay. so l had to stifie my
qualms and stay too.
We were rewarded for our boldness,
for the captain not only appointed US
to officerships and housed US in the
after house. but undertook to teach US
all the mysteries of navigation and
seamanship. so that at the end of the
voyage we were either of us competent
to take the command of vessel our
selves And thus in the event it proved
that our captains deal with the devil
was the beginning of our rapid rise in
the calling we had chosen.
We stuck to the Surrey Hills for sew
eral voyages after this. until at last we
suffered so much in a brush with
couple of piratical rascals from Sallee
that. though we beat them off after
tough battle, the ship was so much
knocked about that on our return home
she was pronounced unfit for another
voyage And so we were out OF a
berth. Alec would have shipped from
the Thames again for foreign parts at
once. but | suggested that we should
have little fun on shore first We
staid n few days, therefore, in London,
and then. finding that our money was
melting much too fast, we started to
walk around the south coast of Eng
land
After few unimportant adventures
we arrived in time at Bristol, and there
the emptiness of our purses compelled
US to take ship once more. We got
berths on board the Severn at Bristol,
but our vessel had not got clear OF the
red waves of the Bristol channel when
opposite Bideford if my memory
does not fail mean accident happened
to her which gave us another step up
the ladder of fortune. Our captain
died of a stroke, and Alec, who had
been n deep sea pilot, stepped into his
shoes, and | became the second in COM
mand. So far, at least, we could not
grumble at the way fate had treated
u.s.
Our cargo was a mixed one for Vigo
Bay, and after a good voyage out we
landed it there and took in Spanish
going on we had plenty Of time to
spend on shore, and in one of our ex-
cursions we had an adventure.
A sailor is always fond Of ride on
horseback. and as Alec and I were no
exceptions to the rule we had hired
couple of very fair mounts and went
for a ride into the country. We had
left the town about half a league be-
hind US, when we met carriage con-
tanning two men and girl. One of the
men had his arm round the girl and
was holding her fast, as though to pre-
vent her from jumping out, and as we
passed she gave a cry and waved her
hand to us, whereupon the man who
was holding her swore at her and call
ed to the other to whip up his horse.
Something wrong here, Alec" ex-
claimed, but Alec had already turned
and was riding hard after him. l fol-
lowed, and after a chase Of about
mile we came up with them. We whip
ped out our pistols and shouted to them
to stop or we would fire.
Now" said Alec when they had
pulled up, 'out you get, both of you"
Yielding to the eloquence Of the two
cooked pistols, they obeyed.
"You with the reins, hold the horses
head. If you move yard farther on,
l shoot And you other scoundrel,
hand the lady out. Quickly, now"
They were unarmed or at least had
no firearms, so they had to do as they
were bid AS soon as she was out Of
the carriage the lady turned and faced
the two ruffians with a defiant sneer
lowering round her mouth, and they
covered under her glance like whipped
ours. Alec made them get in again
and drive off at once, daring them to
turn their heads as long as they were
in pistol shot.
When they were gone, we turned to
the lady for an explanation.
"How can l thank you. gentlemen"
she exclaimed.
"Speaks Englishp' 1 muttered. "And
a pretty girl tool Wonder what those
two scoundrels We're up to-"
Madam" said Alec, with courtly
bow, 1--WE are only too glad to have the
good fortune to serve you. Where may
we have the pleasure of escorting
you?"
Madam she laughed. "You need
not to be so ceremonious, Captain Ire
land"
Alec stared with astonishment, but
had recognized the voice.
"Inezw l cried in delight.
"Ah, you haven't forgotten me,
though Alec Ireland has," she said, and
l saw that she was glad.
Forgotten you?" l cried. mo. How
could L? But 1 thought you were in
Whitby."
Apparently it has not been worth
your while to inquire. / left Whitby
more than a year ago."
Il never heard it."
did you ask?"
1 was thrown into confusion by her
question and was at loss for reply,
when Alec spoke for me. 1--WE have
been at sea ever since we last saw
you," he said.
'Ah, then l forgive you" she re-
piled graciously. But you must come
with me now to my fathers house. l
don't promise that he will be pleased
to see you, but as you are my gallant
rescuers he is bound to be polite"
Don Miguel here, tooY asked.
"Yes," replied Inez. you don't sup
pose lived alone"
mo, but l thought perhaps there
was some one else" / said sadly.
Inez blushed. "Who elseW she