Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-02-01
CHAPTER XTX.-CoNTINUED.

Saving the two shots from the first boat
not small arm had been fired by them up
ts this time, their determination to carry
the vessel by cold steel alone being apparent
all through the attack. As my eye ranged
over the circle of men that spread about us
and hemmed us to the taffrail yet for all
their numbers were held off by the COM
.Ipand of their oyicer), | saw many a face
well known to me ashore, but not one ex-
pressing an atom of mercy. With a watch
full look | anticipated any possible onset,
snd yet through all the pent vigor of tight
ened nerves and stiffened muscles my gaze
played beyond their lines and marked the
details of the surroundings.
The broad ocean lay almost like glass save
for the regular heave that passed over it like
a wave over the surface of molten metal.
of our starboard beam was an upturned
boat floating lazily away, it probably having
been stove or capsized by the hatch | had
cast into il, saa near it drifted the hatch
itself. On deck the fallen canvas covered the
vessel amidships, and aloft the ragged stump
of the topmast, standing clear against the
dappled sky, looked like pine shivered by
lightning. profound silence had fallen
where moment before had been a din of
shouts and crashing timber-profound save
foz dull humping forward, which | knew
came from the prisoners, who were thus sig
a&ling for release. The moment was near
at hand when | should pass my soul to its
Maker, and yet, though the resolve was as
strong as ever, | wavered, not in fear of the
next world, but dreading the terrible strug-
gle that would come when healthy body
like mine wrestles in the grip Of suffocation.
IF our captors could not be goaded into
shooting me- nothing was left but to cast
myself into the sea, anrt this l would not do
80 long as the young Quaker stood at my
side
4 sudden cry from the bow, soon followed
by the sound of metal striking metal, told
me that the prisoners were out and being
freed from their irons. Belden, without
Vouchsafng to answer my defiance, hung
nesitating, evidently awaiting the arrival
of his superior to direct future movements.
DsSarmed save for the bare steel in our
GiGnds, we were an easy prey to him lad our
deaths now been his object; but as there
had been no show of force after boarding us,
the peppery royaliSt, still smarting from the
disgrace under which | had been the means
Of placing him, felt sure of his ultimate tri-
'1mph over me, and, giving the order to hold
Us where we stood turned toward the point
OF the disturbance forward and hurried off.
/ was step in advance of Ames, who still
voice in my ear.
There a fair chance for leap, Donald"
lie whispered. "The last tie is gone. Be
thee ready?"
NAY, lad | answered softly. eve are
not yet parted. | still hang to my oath. |
have seen nothing of Gertrude. Where can
she be-"
''She is past the sight of this, thank Cod"
lie returned. She is dead, man; dead and
gone, and we will soon follow her. l saw
Eer-"
Again he was interrupted, this time by
wild yell from the bow, and the man who ut
Gered it started aft chased by half dozen
ElRrires 1t was Scammel. With little
upon him save a shirt and his small clothes,
ke broke through the half circle that com
T7assed US, halting just within its limits. lie
was horrible object. His ha2T hung tan.
gled over his shoulders; his eyes we're fierce
and bloodshot: his lace was distorted by
rage, and its palof was startling. Without
n word of warning he called me a vile name,
md with an oath raised a pistol he had
probably snatched from some one and, level
ing it at me, fired. The ball passed betwixt
my body and elbow without touching the
akin, but it struck Ames, who was just be-
Find me. / heard a deep groap as the youth
fell to the deck, his head striking the plainly
ing with a heavy blow, and a number of
aands sprang upon the infuriated officer and
dragged him backward.
IT was done in an instant. The shock and
ssuddenness of the attack came like thun-
Gierbolt, and yet | retained my prescnce of
mind. With my eye still fixed on my enc
rzsies, | stopped to one knee and felt for the
E.sad of my friend, calling on him to speak;
hut no sound came to my repeated appeal,
and the hand / found gave no answering
Es-essure He was dead past doubt, and had
ugzicisiy joined his sister. who, in some man
uer unknown to me- had gone before him.
1t was the eliminating wave of disaster,
aud for the moment | felt like sinking be-
meath it, Within a quarter hour by vio-
Fence ! had been bereft of r. two com
panions, and thus was | sudden freed from
any obligation to live. With le left for
rvhom to combat, surrounded by iumphant
Gnnemies, and before me ruin in shape of