Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1901-01-31


were meek and submissive rs Indians.
going about our labOrs mechanically.
and, if we did not show great interest
in each task. at least we performed it
effectively. We were careful not to
court suspicion by excess of zeal, while
we avoided additional tyranny by
steady obedience.
But we meant to escape. The car
rack should never set US on Spanish
ground. We would fire her powder
room sooner, and perish with the rest
of her crew in one overwhelming holo-
caust. In the meanwhile we lived in
hope that the chapter of accidents
would unravel the coil in which we
had entangled ourselves.
The pilot left the carrack at the most
easterly point of Trinidad, and then,
bidding goodby to domestic navigation,
we set out Oh the ocean voyage. For
two days we beat, tack and tack,
against easterly winds, sagging to lee
ward like a haystack, and making
lGIuiA any ItsIu " 4 AANAA ANA NAASS
DAYS the wind chopped round fair,
and we sped easily along our course.
But after the third morning had passed
the barren plain of ocean began TO
haze over. and as the thickness in
creased the breeze died away, till at
last the carrack lay motionless in the
calm Of a dense fog.
Night came, and the gray twilight of
the afternoon changed 10 inky black
ness All of US were asleep, tired out
with the exertions of the day and glad
to snatch little rest.
Suddenly Alec and l were aroused
by a warning touch of Willie Treha.
lions hook.
Listen! he whispered.
4 strange sound came to us out of
the blackness.. a sound that was half
wall. half howl, but wholly weird and
awful
"a water pixy," said l, trembling.
"Sea wolves" said one of the men,
who had raised himself on his elbow to
listen. They're seeming prey. We're
in for fearful storm, or they wouldn't
be there Sea wolves never hunts
without kill"
The sound made itself heard again-a
"Wa-a-o-o-w'' rising doleful in the still
night air and dying away into nothing
with uuutterable mournfulness.
"a water piXy beyond doubt" said
| again.
"A water fddlestickw replied the
boatswain contemptuOusly. THAT cry
romes from no creature what breathes
through gills. It's my old cat, an
that's his night song D'you think l
shouldn't know his voice among a
thousand? Old Nep--you'l mind him,
Master Topp?"
| shook my head.
"The night mist has got into your
brain, Willie. You must be mistaken
here" said.
"Mebbe it's Nep's ghost that's hail
ing, uncle"
"Nep's ghost be hangedr' replied the
boatswain irritably, turning on this
last speaker. Hold your tongue, Job,
an let others speak that has sense"
"But if it is Nep Willie|
-''This-if that's Nep why, then, it's
the Bristol Merchant too. Think min
ute. Why shouldn't it be her? Those
on board couldn't be expected to wait
for us up the great river till the crack
O doom. The three years that Captain
Ireland told them to bide there is up
long ago, an, so believing that we're all
swallowed up in the wilderness, they're
making the best o their way home with
the news. Besides, listen again. Therel
I'd stake my hand on it that's Nep's
voicel An, as Nep would never desert
the Bristol Merchant, we must just try
an frighten the dons into setting us
adrift. Wen maybe fall between two
stools; but, anyway, it's our best
chance"
"If we can do It," said Alec, but
"Trust me to manage 1t, Captain Ire
land" interrupted Willie. "Ive "A weap-
on in mouth TINT would frlghten the
very soul out of n Spaniard, If the devil
bred Spaninrds with souls. Ask Master
Topp. He knows what can do. Look
at them now Fenrsome o. the darkness,
they've lit n score o. lanterns an are
clustered together like flock o. sheep,
a-wrngng their yaller hands with
fright. Nows our time; now or never
An, mhrlSee, my lads, out-Spanlard the
most Spanish o them I'm trembling. IL
It's laughter that makes your limbs
shake, never mind. The dirty hounds
are too scared to know the difference"
And. whispering further directions TO
| Alec. he led him away, ana the rest of
us dropped down the ladders ana min.
gled with the trembling group Ia the
waist
Again the melancholy "Ma-a-U,o-w"
ilUhls tU us cut OF the darkness, anu
| Alec, stepping forward into the lantern
light tlapped cupptd hand TO hls ear
hhd efitdi "Isteni There's some one
hhllht from the masthead"
"Glte oar tU my iUrd o the scar
etlu1 a llsh cracked Voice ftUm alOft
ANA another Ifehi The mhlhyafd afih
| slflphpdt ute pUihpa hl0htsldtW
Thehl hb though ff1ih the waters close
90, came a thlfd v0lpe, dtep Ahd fes0s
ihnL which asked what ship that was
"Whu halls And by what flBhl does
he question: efied iI0h Miguel
~ Am Neptune lord % lhp sea" fes
turned The t0iep, hWhat ship "a ihaiW
A l00h et perpieklly came late b0n
Mlguel's face, hnd lhe lesl ~ the Span
iards sheek with fear
Neptune Was Impatient,
hWhat ship Ia ihatf Answer nae,
miserable mortalI Know yeu not that
I have power "a puli yeur puny hart
! timber tF0m tmher An ~ carry your
parCa5Hes away ~ hAtlen nay sea
! wolves Ia lhelr cAVerns among the
Weed Jungle belpWW
~ fear neither sea god nor sea dew
! w." hegan the enmmandant boldly but
the priest Interrupted him, saying Ia
whisper that II was best 90 lemporlze
with the powers OF darkness some
| times.
And then, with muttered nnathe-
ma after every sentence, he answered
! Neptune's questions himself,
"What eargoT querIed the lord of
! the sea,
| The priest told him,
"What passengers"
"Thirty Of whom seven are women
I ana three Infants"
4 "And what crew."
"a hundred and sixty, most potent
EMO moref Metltinks there's some
few yet untold old ocean hath n
: queer flavor hcreabout"
"Thcre are II prisoners, English sail