Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1900-11-22

told Willie to hold his tongue an,
Job TO lead us TO the cow byre.
The gray dawn had begun TO struggl
through the chinks OF the kitchen shut
ters. and ut intervals the wind. which
had risen now TO half gale. sent {
splash of rain driving through th'
crevices on to the sanded floor OF tn,
room. When the door was opened. tn,
morning looked cheerless enough t
make even tough old Willie shudder
But. wrapping his huge coat NOR,
closely round him. and tucking the Ion:
tails under his arms to keep them from
blowing about In the wind, he ROLLED
out with his clumsy sea walk into the
muddy yard. and Nep. after a yawr
and stretch and a low MUIR Of pro
test at being asked to go out in sucl
villainous weather, left the warn
hearth and trotted dutifully at hi:
masters heels.
The COW byre, in which the pagan
had been slowed away, was a poor
enough lodging even for a four footed
thing. Years OF wind and weather
had torn away the thatch In places
and the boarding Of the walls was
about as effcctual as a sieve for keep
ing out the cold and wet. Huddled III
a corner into which the rain beat less
violently than elsewhere lay the pagan
He was coiled up beneath some loose
straw sleeping. and as he slept he talk.
ed wildly and necessarily in his barba-
rous tongue. One bronze hued leg pro-
jected from the struggling coverlet OF
straw. Nep saw II before we did. and
picking his way daintily among the
filth on the ground, went up and sniff.
ed at the limb. Then he quietly turned
his claws down into 1t and laid back
his gaunt body for a comfortable
stretch.
pagan awoke, but to our surprise be
neither pulled back his leg nor made
any move to drive the cat away.
Job Trehalion noted my look of as
tonishment at this and broke out into a
loud guffaw.
"Ho. ho! You wonder why he don't
move. He don't feel 1t, bless zee, not
hel Them pagans hasn't feelings like
as we has"
"Shut your silly mouth, nephew"
said Willie. "a pretty way this is to
treat your sarvint! Why, the poor
brute's too numbed with cold to feel
the prick of Nep's fingers. Bring him
in to the kitchen fire, an see IL we can't
thaw him n bit"
Job. still grinning, took his dusky
servant on to his back and carried him
into the kitchen. The effect of the
tat down in front of the fire, chuckling
and gurgling with glee, and, after rims
ng his numbed fingers with the glow
ng ash as we might with water and
bathing his shivering limbs with the
hot embers, though not actually de-
vouring any of the flames as l had
confidently expected to see him do, he
was new man again. A pot of warm
ale, which we reused our sleeping host
to brew. completed the cure, and Jobs
pagan was as blithe and cheerful .
pagan as one could wish to see.
When he was thoroughly recovered,
we spoke to him about the city Of
Manoa, and by means of broken SEN
tences, copiously helped out by ges-
lures, he expressed his willingness to
lead us there. He took 4 glowing stick
from the fire and drew a chart for US
on the lime washed wall, showing the
position of the golden city, and quaint
pictures he made, too, Of the houses
and the men and of the treasures that
were to be had there for the taking.
And we stared at his uncouth draw
ings and listened to his gabbling talk
as If moonstruck.
Suddenly Alec sprang up from the
stool where he was sitting and called
to me to come up to our room, and,
though l longed to hear more Of the
pagan's Turing tale, there was n look
of excitement on Alec's face that was
even more interesting, and so l went.
Jack" he cried when we were alone,
"it's time we were moyingw
ITO ManoaY l asked eagerly.
"Yes. Here we have been sitting
idle, while the sibyl is tearing leaf
Even now we may be too late"
"Well, let's start as soon as we can.
But, Alec And stopped and looked
at him.
"Well, Jacki What is itf"
"Inez"
"You can't help her by staying. Use
less to think of going to Vigo Bay again
nj de ho
utterly crushed, and now is our chance
to help at that crushing"
How, Alec? I thought you meant
to go to Manoa."
Don't you see? At this very mo-
ment the Spaniards may be laundering
at the gates of Manoa itself, and II
once they carry of the golden wealth
of that city and get 1t safely into Phil
ip's hands he will raise armadas that
will squash us like SO mahy beetles.
Here is our opportunity for serving
England, Jackw
81 see." said I, "and Of filling our
own pockets too"
mo, no. Jack! Never banker after
the gold. It's good bait to catch
crew with. Might as well give up the
sea, settle down and become n mer-
chant at once"
Not while there's adventure to be
had for the seeking-adventure.t that Is,
with plenty of your golden bait at the
end of It," l declared shamelessly.
you've got a good smack OF the
pirate In you. Jack, l fear"
Perhaps. And you Of the knight
errant. Well, fortunately we can each
of us sail with our own particular
ideal In front of us and still keep to-
gether and work together. | fight Tor
gold, to win wealth for myself and
my sweetheart; you fight for glory, to
win your country's thanks. Perhaps
in the event neither of us may get
what he hopes"
perhaps not Anyway, we can do
no more than try. Where can we get
a shipT
"Peter Waltham's brig, the Bristol
Merchant, is nearly ready for sea. He
will be glad enough to let us have her
for such venture"
Then let's go and see him now. We
have had no sleep tonight; but, never
mind, we can make up for 1t tomor-
row."
And so 1t happened that Peter Walt
ham, who had given us our supper the
night before, was called upon to fur
nish a breakfast also. Manoa, whose
wealth had lured the father to his
grave, was now summoning the son.