The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1900-02-16
CHAPTER Xxx.
THE SHE'LL OF THE DINGY.


shot beneath the surface Of the ocean. Like
a plummet / went down, the air bubbles L
carried with me roaring in my ears like
cataract. As lost the impetus of the dive
1 turned and looked up. Having gone over
al the starboard quarter, / was almost under
the stern. and the clear green of the water
magnifed the great shadOwy hull OF the
schooner as she stretched forward into
seeming infnity. Like a blot on the sill
very surface above me lay the overturned
dingv, still held TO the vessel by its painter,
and in her lay my salvation.
With d few vigorous strokes / swan IN
Ger It, and, regulating my rise as best l
could, came to the surface within the shell
of the wrecked boat. The move had been
successful. If the trick was unsupported, l
vas safe. Letting go my pent breath in a
blast, ! thanked God for His sudden inter
vention, and prayed that His hand be not re-
moved from me.
Settled low as was the overturned dingy,
ny head barely cleared her bottom, but that
was sufficient. Sustaining my position by
a light hold on the thwart, that my weight
should not prevent the regular and natural
roll OF the wreck, with nerves now tuned to
their highest pitch, hung and awaited de-
velopments The hole in the boats bottom
furnished me with air, and, to my astonish-
nient, this vent in the hollow which now
sheltered me gave to my retreat the char
acter of a trumpet, and every sound was
magni6ed, though its quality was changed
10 the deep sonorous roar such as one hears
come from the heart Of a conch held TO the
ecr Ii was an indistinct babble of cries and
oaths that first greeted me, and from the
few words l could disentangle guessed that
he whole host had rushed to the schooner's
side in the hope that 1 would rise. Had I
still coUrted death, might easily have met
with il by means of a bullet through my
head, for through the confused humming
OF voices l distinctly heard the sharp click
ING of gunlocks, and knew that had ap-
reared ! would have been made d target for
a score Of muskets.
The sound of voices decreased as the mo-
ments flew, and when at last it seemed GER
Tain that / had gone to the bottom, there
came a general awakening, and a sharp or
Ger was given to search the hull, strike the
flag, and hoist the British ensign. The
clicking of boot heels and the rafting Of
arms were more distinct than words, but
the marines had barely scattered TO obey the
last commands when, above all else, l heard
an unknown voice:
Overhaul that carrion, and then pitch it
overheard"
This / knew must refer to the body Of
my poor friend, but before ] could realize
the necessity Of the order thus brutishly
| gwen, as clear as the order itself rose the
voice Of Scanned:
Look, look, Belden! Damn me, but 1
/ thought / had brought down a buzzard in
missing the hawk, when, after all, have
struck but peg lower than ThOrndyke HIM
! self! BY the crime Of Judas, l wish it had
| been the other way! If this young, old
/ broad-brim be not Beverly Ames, I'll lose
/ Fifty pounds to any one Of you! Quick, mani
/ See, he is not deadl Fore God, but mayhap
/ be can yet give US some news of his sister!
] Overheard he goes mott Dead or alive, he
must be taken to Clinton, else your com
mission is in dangerl Know you not that
nc is connected with Mrs. Badely? Send of
tor help Is not that long-legged Irishman
yet aboard your
Here a number Of voices joined in and
turned to a confused roar all words at once
/ following. In the space of a few minutes
| heard a boat putting away from the side, the
thud Of oars in the water making jar on my
car drums almost painful. For a time there
| reigned comparative silence, and then came
what was doubtless a marines report.
The hold is clear Of all life, sir. Nawthin
hut lead below, an calm an force sic al
cleaned out barrin' some arms an the cap
tain's old clothes"
"How's this, Scammell?' said Belden, evi
IDENTIFY turning TO that officer I'VE saw
three men aboard, and but two are &C
counted for. Thorndyke has gone to hel
ever the side, and this la5 of yours is like L
JON him by another route! Where's til,
third?'
There was no third" came the sharI
response. Two it was that smOthered u
below. know Of none otherl no more doe
Lounsbury."
Nay" said that worthy, speaking TO
Inc first time, and with a thick burr to hi
speech, there was never more than fou
iegs TO the lot. Mayhap that giant spill
D. sself in two for the sake o lOOks-ther
was enough O. him. Thank God for his loss
i would ne'er sleep easy again KNOWN hin
alive"
Here words fell to a murmur until Louns
bury again spoke, evidently addressing him
self 10 the one who was in authority o.
! board:
Now take it, leftenant, that by right
this craft is mine
Yours, We toasted mug," demanded tn
unknown voice. What mean ye?'
GAY, only be right o prize, mean" wa
the answer Twas I who first laid ham
on her, an got a split skull for my pains
an. not a damn sovereign 10 help heal II
neither so much glory as shines from tn
buttons o yer coat. Prize be cussed! Now
i: yer capting wills TO let me take her int
rort-as / came nigh doing awhile agone-
. twill 60 far TO put me right with the &c
miralty an get me job, mayhap, Ike tia
lost through Thorndyke takin' my name
|, damn his soul Dye seeE'
'Ay, / see, We sweep And is that all
No prize money!
''Ay, all, all. Only to saA her home; n
more"
No more, Ell? Ye are a cursed dee
villain, but I'll touch the captain on it. G
get the CRIME from your face and look les
like a toad. Had he seen you, twas n
wcnder Thorndyke launched himself owe
. The rail. What now, Seammell? Does th
I lad still live %