Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-12-04
BY GEORGE MANVlLLE FENN
80 GI95@ F69g9G

4 yards. the roar Of the sea being hushcd
, and the overhangng trees which held
! on among the riffs OF the rocks shutting
! out the evening light, so that at times it
/ was quite dusk But the rocky barrier
was soon passed, and an open, natural
park spread before them.
| A low grunting and squeaking which
! had suddenly been heard in the distance
! increased loudly; and directly after a
| herd Of quite two hundred pigs came tear
| ing down through n narrow opening in
the rocky jungle and made straight for
| the lake. Dinny had an easy shot at "A
| wcll-fcd specimen which rolled over, the
rest dashing off through the trees, squeal-
ing as If every one had been injured by
the shot.
ave shan't starve here" said Dnny
with Il grin Of satisfaction, and before
many minutes had passed fire was kin
died in sheltered nook, where the flame
was not likely to be seen from the sea-
and as soon as it was glowing, pieces of
the pig, were frizzling in the embers.
They had been month on the island
leading dreamy kind of existence, and
had begun to sleep Of night deeply and
well without starting up half dozen
times bathcd in sweat, and believing that
the authorities from Plantation Settle
ment were on their track. The question
had been debated over and over again:
What were they to do?
Finally an incident occurred one day
which settled the matter for them. This
was no less than the coming to the island
Of the cutter from the penal settlement
1t contained beside the crew a number
of soldiers and the overseer. They had
not come in serch of the fugitves, whom
they deemed hundreds of miles away by
this time, but for days pig hunting.
Thinking the island uninhabited, they
only left one sailor on board the vessel
while the others proceeded to the woods
where they were soon busy popping away
at the pigs.
The party concealed in the bushes
watched these proceedings with intense
interest, and soon determined that now
was their chance to seize the cutter and
make their escape for good
AS silently as possible they swan out
to where the cutter was anchored and
climbed on board to find the solitary sail
or had taken the opportunity to indulge in
nap. He was awakened only to be
made prisoner of, Jack pulled up the
light anchor. while Bart and Abel rails
cd the sails, which, catching a lively
breeze, set the cutter going at a brisk
rate before the overseer and his men
knew what had happened.
well, Dennis Kelly" said the captur-
ed sailor, whose name was Dick Dull
lock. as they sat together on board later
with the stars gathering overhead and
faint sounds waited to them from time
to time. as they glided rapidly along a
few miles from land, you can only make
| one thing Of it, my boy, and that's piracy;
and piracy's yard-arm and swing at the
| end Of the rope"
"Ah! get along with ye,' said Dinny,
contemptuously, land don't call things
by bad names. They're three very pills.
ant fellows, and they've bOrried the boat
and taken us prisoners to help them in
the cruise; or, if ye like it better, we're
| pressed men,"
But what are they going to do neXtT'
mot a bit do l know, and not a bit
do | care. I've no belts to pipe-clay and
you've no deck to hoy-stone. What
there is to ate they share with We, and
they take their turn at the watch. Sure,
| it's gintleman's life, and what more
would ye have"
well, Dinny, | don't mind for a
change; but it's piracy, and hope as we
shan't all be hung"
The same to you" said Dinny, giving
the sailors shoulder a sounding slap.