Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-02-23

land flavor of the man lay also in the fact
that he wore forage cap and carried a cav
airy saber instead of cutiass. His face, too,
lacked the true sea tan, its fair complexion
showing the effects of unusual exposure to
sun and wind. What his rank might be
lad no idea, and speculation was lost IN the
quick retort that naturally rose to my lips.
.tWho are you, sir, to tumble aboard a
prize of his majesty's IN this fashion? Ye
stand in need of lesson in marine manners
as well as marine Matters Do We hope to
judge of crafts cargo by squint at her
hatch cover, or of man by the cut of his
jib? Think not to deceive yourself or. mel
know my rights, and also know tbs differ
ence betwixt the cry of sea bird and a hem
hawki"
IF had any doubt as to the official posi-
ton of the officer, it was set at rest by the
subdued laugh that came from the group
about us. Piqued by the sound of -nirth
from those he had no power to punish, his
face turned to an ugly red, and, lifting his
saber as though to cut me down, he shouted:
You insolent dog! will make you sweat
for thisi Lay hold of him, some of you!
Tie the villain upi Damnationl are you all
cowards?" he continued, as there was
shuttle of feet, though no one approached me.
There is no telling what might have been
the upshot of this dispute had there been
no interruption, for the fellow seemed deter
mined to use his saber on me. But, fortu
nately for one of us, we were joined by an
other officer, whom I afterward found had
come from the second boat.
"Hold hard. Scammell! You are not
handling one of YOU own dragoonsi What
is this all about? You fly the signal of
prize, sir,'' he continued, turning to me;
chow comes it you are alone? Who and
what are your"
81. am Captain Jack Lounsbury, bearing
instructions from Sir Henry Clinton, as that
cockatrice might have found ere this had
he used smooth tongue. This is my prize
"a Yankee schooner laden with lead for
New London, and taken by me single-hand-
ed. There lies her skipper, and all but one
OF her crew are overheard" And with this
Ipointed to the body of my mate.
/ had hardly spoken when two marines
came aft with the negro Stole betwixt them.
He was trembling like sail in the wind,
and hung his head as though he had lost
all strength to lift it. was looking for an
exposure on the instant, but the officer
waved them back with motion. There was
an unspoken but plainly shown respect for
me in the demeanor of the crowd as it spread
away. The two officers stood for moment
; in undisguised wonder at the recital of my
prowess, giving alternate glances at the body
and myself, and then the last conner, who
was plainly the one in authority, spoke.
gu diOue sOlQ ILLS. Dy george,
Scamme1l, you came near getting into
mess! l promised to show you sea scrim-
mage, but not the kind you were Matching.
Let us have further warrant of these facts"
he continued to me. 'Who was he?" point
ing toward the scupper, "and when did this
happen? Let us come by the papers"
"Yonder fellow is Donald Thorndyke, the
master till | overcame him" l answered
81 shipped as mate. If you will go below we
can come by the whole matter" 1 replied,
not caring to extend my yarn with the negro
within hearing. COR, better, we can take
what we there find and go aboard before
your captain, where the whole matter may
be boiled down at one sitting"
Twould be a saving of time, certainly"
be answered, ''but we'll hear the yarn while
the schooner is being searched; of course,
you understand the Importance of the form"
And he turned to sea corporal and gave
him the necessary orders. Now, sir, L am
at your service he said, crossing the deck
toward the cabin companion. Hesitating
there, he seemed to hang in the wind for an
instant, and then strobe over to the body.
did you shoot him." he asked, as he bent
ever the PROSTATE form.
''Nay, struck him." answered.
Faith, then" he returned, sizing me up
with side glance, I'D sooner take the
chance of bullet than blow from that fist
if you struck in earnest! Did he wing you
at the onset?
F'Nay, nay; twas niger striving to knife
me in the back. Let's below. Mayhap We
have doctor aboard who will fix up bad
cut"
Through all this was conscious of the eye
of Scanned fixed on me. Whether or not he
was suspicious of me, or whether he was still
boiling under the dressing I had given him,
there were no means of telling. I saw plain
| iy the resentment he made little effort to
| conceal, and felt that had made an enemy
| who would be mighty glad to cross swords
! with me on the slightest provocation. He
was % or 80 in years, or about my own age,
and was under me not two inches in stature,
which is speaking well for him, as / stood
| three inches above six feet, unshod. BY
weight and Drawn 1 we'll oyermatched him
las L did most mem, especially in the latter
quality of physique; but he made typical
| Dragon officer, and would be formidable
| antagonist in any field.
/ might hope for little mercy if ever ] fell
into the power of this man, for mercy was a
quality which, strained or unstrained, he
and his fellows had naught to do with. This
| made sure of getting into the cabin
| where In course of conversation it turned
| out that he was a captain in De Lancy's
Loyal Legion, body of tory cavalry hal
freebooters and halfsin the regular service
| l had heard OF them, as VINO has not! be
| twixt New York and Philadelphia and the
country surrounding both places they wer
a terror, the maiignancy equaling if no
surprising the rapacity of Tryon himself.
/ itched to get my fingers on him then anC
there, that there might be one less blood
sucker above ground, but policy held me from
committing an act which probably woult
have at once wrought ruin to my plans anC
left my poor mother without SON. l was
| e. 10, wifi efv 70
which did when a word to him was neces
sary, but l fancy we each knew the othe
was but skipping over the thin ice of polite
ness.
Being, as it were, in the enemy's lines
followed the bent of the lieutenant, AM