Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-03

this cant Of mercy If we are Brethren of
the Coast, brethren let us be. / don't hold
with bringing white women here, with
palace for them to live in. and that boy and
girl running peering everywhere. No good
comes O. that, as l see!
Ones captains son-tothers supercar-
go's daughter! That's why!" said another
out of the darkness.
''P rhaps they'll make it up and start
new crew." chuckled another.
First We know" continued Jim Pembury,
this island will get bowed on, and we'll
hear the blessed magistrate a-tellin' us that
we had better get ready to be hanged by
the neck till we be dead. And the Lord
STOW that. Jim," said Rodney Pax.
quickly; mo good ever comes O. takin
them words in vain!
"Rodney's turning soft, I guess, like cap
tain and old Saul!'' said Jim Pembury.
Dare you say much to either O them
you've named. Jim?' retorted Rodney.
TONY Drake an me ill come along and
bring home the pieces in a fo'c'sle sack, if
you do!''
IF you think I'm afeard O. either captain
or any gypsy tinker that breathes. you're
mistaken" said Pembury. I'm as good as
they is and better. 1 didn't kill my father
when he was asleep''
Something passed us quickly, tall figure,
dark against the sky, as Anna and I cow
cred lower behind the hedge of priekiy pear
Stand up, Jim Pembury," l heard the
voice of Capt. Stansfeld, very clear, and
yet not loud. You never killed your father,
did you not? Well. You have a chance to
kill a better man now. Stand up and fight
for your life! 1 might have you tied up and
shot like a dog for the words you have
spoken. If 1 gave the orderis there man
would say. me nay? But 1 give you a
chance which is more than he deserves.
Has he his knife, men? Get over the
hedge the rest of you? I will fight him in
the dark who ISLANDERS in the dark. Are you
ready, Jim Pembury? Step outr'
But the man did not reply. Already he
had dropped to the ground, and from where
We crouched we could see him creeping
around the shelter of the hedge with the
| intent to strike the first blow. 1t was a
| terrible moment. We were on the same
side of the hedge, and he was crawling so
| closely that he could scarcely avoid touch
| ing either of us. Yet the prickly pear
| Impossible either to overlap 1t or to push
through: So, though I suffered intense pain
from the pricking, l pressed my back
down upon my knees, just as Jim Pembury
| came creeping softly round. He was so
close in that 1 thought he could not pos
sthly escape seeing us. But he had eyes
| only for my father, who had never moved
since he had spoken. l could see him still.
| black against the sky, making a blank
among the stars.
Every moment I expected to feel the
| knife, and wondered if it could hurt much
more than the needles which were piercing
| my back and side. But, just as Pembury
crouched for the rush, felt something
| SUNNI NY iuot. L He clouCIllIlS E}eH SUM
| bled and fell forward upon the stones and
single, with an oath and ring of iron as
his knife went Gathering out of his hands.
| The dark figure Of Capt. Stansfield vanish
| ed too quickly for our eyes to see what
happened next. We also heard the sound
of two heavy blows stricken in quick sue
cession. a dun groan like that OF pole
axed OK, and then between US and the sky
we saw the dark, tall figure Of the captain.
! He was wiping a knife delicately, even as
| as I had seen him do once before In the
blue room at New Mllns.
| Then a hand fell on the collar of my
| shirt and I was lifted to my feet, Anna
| still in my arms.
What is this?" said my fathers voice
More traitorous knaves? What! NV son
Philip night-lurking here among the
| hedgesH
| He fell over my foot, sir" stammered
| without thinking what had said.
AHA, son Philip Then I owe you tina,
| which shall not forget! But now escort
this young lady to your mothers house
and go you to bed. This is neither time
nor place for either of you to be abroad u
So Anna and l walked back to my moth.
er's house, and found her sitting at hel
| stocking with an open Bible before her
She knitted steadily and as If her fingers
could not stop. But though she looked al
the book. do not think she read much.
You are too late out, Philip and AnnaY
she said as If We had been playing abou,
the Yeti house at hi-spy or marbles. cit Ii
altogether seemly!'
| So for once in their lives my father ant
my mother were agreed upon a question OF
morals.