Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-06-19

anger rose so high at these objections,
till at last, his passion completely tax
ing the upper hand, he struck at them
stick sounded heavily on more than
one.
These, in their turn, cursed back at
the blind miscreant, threatened him in
horrid terms, and tried in vain to catch
the stick and wrest it from his grasp.
This quarrel was the saving of us;
for while it was still raging, another
sound came from the top of the hill
on the side of the hamlet---the tramp
of horses galloping. Almost at the
same time a pistol shot, flash and re-
port, came from the hedge side. And
that was plainly the last signal of
danger; for the buccaneers turned at
once and ran, separating in every di-
rection, one seward along the cove,
one slant across the hill, and SO on, so
that in half minute not sign of them
remained but Pew. Him they had de-
serted, whether in sheer panic or out
of revenge for his i'll words and blows,
l know not; but there he remained be.
hind, tapping up and down the road
in frenzy, and cropping and calling
for his comrades. Finally he took the
wrong turn and ran few steps past
me, toward the hamlet, crying:
Johnny, Black Dog, Dirk" and other
names, you won't leave old Pew,
mates-not old Pew!"
just then the noise of horses topped
the rise, and four or five riders came
in sight in the moonlight and swept
at full gallop down the slope.
| At this Pew saw his error, turned
with a scream and ran straight for the
ditch. into which he rolled. But he
was on his feet again in a second, and
made another dash, now utterly be-
wildered, right under the nearest Of
the coming horses.
The rider tried to save him, but in
vain. Down went Pew with cry that
rang high into the night; and the four
hoofs trampled and spurned him and
passed by. He fell on his side, then
gently collapsed upon his face, and
moved no more.
| leaped to my feet and hailed the
rate, Mortified at the accident; and
soon saw what they were. One, tail
ing out behind the rest, was a lad that
had gone from the hamlet TO DR.. Live
seys; the rest were revenue officers
whom he had met by the way and with
whom he had had the intelligence to re-
turn at once. Some news of the lugger in
kits Hole had found it's way to Su-
pervisor Dance, and sent him forth that
night in our direction, and to that cir
cumstance my mother and l owe our
preservation from death.
Pew was dead, stone dead. AS for
my mother, when we had carried her
up to the hamlet, little cold water
and salts very soon brought her back
again, and she was none the worse for
her terror, though she still continued
to deplore the balance Of the money.
In the meantime the supervisor rode
on, as fast as he could, to kits Hole;
but his men had to dismount and grope
down the dingle, leading, and some
times supporting, their horses, and in
continual fear of ambushes; so it was
no great matter for surprise that when
we got down to the Hole the lugger
was already under way, though still
close in. He hailed her. A voice re-
piled, telling him to keep out of the
moonlight or he would get some lead
in him, and at the same time a bullet
whistled close by his arm. Soon after
the lugger doubled the point and dis
appeared, Mr.. Dance stood there, as
he said, like fish out of water" and
all he could do was to dispatch man
to b to warn the cutter. "And
that" said he, 'is just about as good as
nothing. They've got off clean, and
there's an end Only" he added, I'm
glad | trod on Master Pew's corns;
for by this time he had heard my story
l went back with him to the Admira
) Benbow, and you cannot imagine ;
house in such state of smash; the
very clock had been thrown down by
, these fellows in their furious hunt after
my mother and myself; and though
nothing had actually been taken away
except the captains moneyba9 and {
, little silver from the till, / could sec
at once that we were ruined. Mr.. Dance
could make nothing of the scene.
, ''They got the money, you say
Well, then, Hawkins, what in fortune
were they after? More money. sup
pose?"
'No. sir; not money. think" replied
, I. "In fact, sir, I believe l have thu
, thing in my breast-pocket; and, to tel
you the truth, / should like to get j
, put In safety"
"To be sure, boy; quite right" sale
he. "I'll take it, if you like"
81 thought perhaps DR.. Livesey-"
. began.
. "Perfectly right" he interrupted
very cheerily, "perfectly right-a gen
, tleman and a magistrate. And, now
= come to think of it, I might as well rid
round there myself and report to hin
, or squire Master Pew's dead, whei
S all's done; not that l regret it, but he
I dead, you see, and people will make i
, out against an officer of his majesty
: revenue, if make 1t out they can. Now
A I'll tell you, Hawkins. if you like, II
e take you along"
e l thanked him heartily for the of
I fer, and we walked back to the hamle
where the horses were. BY the time
. had told mother of my purpose the.
| 4 i II