The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1901-06-28

Supported bU a niche In the rock sat a
skeleton.
Of the torches falling on the whitcncd
bones revealed it's CHASTITY presence.
Mine was not the nervous start Of a
coward. Heaven knows had seen too
many dead men In the flesh and In the
bone. too. for that matter. to quail Mt
the sight Of mere piece OF cold hui
manity. Had the skeleton been naked
| might have taken II for that Of a
SpanIard and have given 1t no more
than careless glance in passing. But
there was that about II which told me
whose body II had once supported
Around the bony lattice of its ribs
hung moldering leather jcrkin. once
gaudy with slnshings and lace. but
now mildcwed over with n soft gray
fur. II was the old mans had seen
him change II from Il dead Spaniard's
bnck to his own and knew that he had
worn II ever since. And II other evil
dcncc waS wanted. II was there I'm the
broken AMI distorted bones of leg and
wrist. II needs no wizard to read the
writings OF the Spaniardrs clcmcncy.
Job Trchalion shared my knowledge
and for awhile gazed with me in silent
horror. The others clustered curiously
round. wondering why mere bag Of
twisted bones should so affect us.
At length Job found his voice.
Master Topp." he whispered hoarse-
ly, "d'you note the old mans outstrctch-
ell hand? He's built Il wall O. mud an
pebbles for 1t to lie on
Yes" said |. 1T seems curious
freak, but he was always strange and
eccentric I'm his doings."
"The old man never did aught with
out an object. Master Topp. His brain
might take after his legs in being bit
crooked, but 1t were Il clever brain, for
oil that. specially when there was
Spaniards to be gammoned. Let's see
where the finger points. Blow up your
torches, lads. All. see there! Telled
zee so, Master Topp! knowcd thcre'd
be something"
And job broke out into n great chuc-
kle, which well nigh ended in a sob.
'Scc,' he went on. there's writing
on the wall, scrattcd in with a knob
o. stone. Read it. Master Topp.
baln't scholard enough to tell what II
says"
"'Snake his trail Is what Is written.
Job. 1t has neither rhyme nor rca-
SON."
"NO; It ha'n't rhyme. that's true.
though none could turn a rhyme an set
II to n cheerful Tilt like the old man
when he put his mind to it, But J. war.
rant there's reason. though mebbcs the
nuts a hard un to crack"
Like date stone. Job" | answered
detectcdly-"hard to break. and no ker.
mel when you've broken IT."
well. Mister Topp. 1t won't do no
harm to tell Captain Ireland what was
the last words as the old man wrote.
An now
"And now." l interrupted, eve must
carry his poor bones back to daylight
and give them decent burial So run
back. some OF you, and cut siplings
for a litter"
'NO need for n litter" said job. "I've
carried the old man living. whiles he'd
laugh IN say I was his moke, an
don't think rs he'd ask other arms than
Job Trehalon's to carry him dead"
And without another word he rcver.
emily and tcndcrly gathered up the
shrivclcd corpse and bore Ii In his
arms to the shore. We performed the
last obsequies, and put up n great slab
OF stone over the grave. on which Alec
carved with a sword point, "Scnex bic
Jacet." And for two whole days job
TrehallOn sat by the grave or wander
ed In the woods alone, and during the
whole time we remained on the island
no man heard his laugh or saw his
grin. 1t was strange friendship
which these two crazy ones had for
one another.
After the burying was done there
was great discussion about the mean