Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-09-30
CHAPTER XIV.


Humphrey Armstrong sat gazing
through the opening of his prison at the
dark forest vistas and dreamed of Eng
land and its verdant fields and gold-cup-
ped meadows.
The whole business connected with the
Dells came back to him, and with it the
figure of the handsome rustic fisher girl
standing as it were wildly before him.
and with her his cousin, the cause of all
the suffering.
How strange it is" he thought again,
chat l should be brought into contact
with her brother like this! Poor fellow!
more sinned against than SHINING; and
as for her"
Poor girlr'
There was slight sound as of some
one breathing hard, and the buccaneer
stood before him.
He smiled gravely, and held out his
hand; but Humphrey did not take it, and
they remained gazing at each other for
some few minutes in silence.
Have you thought better of my pro-
posals, Captain Armstrong;" said the
buccaneer at last. Are we to be
friends p
1T is impossible, sir" replied Hum
phrey, quietly. After what has passed
/ grieve to have to reject your advances"
II can wait" said the buccaneer, pa
tiently. "The time will come"
Humphrey shook his head.
us there anything you want?"
YES" said Humphrey, sharply. Lib
erty."
Take it. 1t is in my hand"
Liberty chained to yeu, siri No. There
place me under no further obligations
will not fight against you; but pray un-
derstand that what you ask can never
be-"
II can wait" said the buccaneer again.
quietly, as he let his eyes rest for a few
moments upon his prisoners face, and
then left the room.
Humphrey sprang up impatiently, and
was about to pace the chamber like a
wild beast in a cage when he heard voices
in the corridor, and directly after Dirny
entered. The man looked troubled and
stood listening, then he stole to tie cur
tain and went down the corridor to stay
away for quite quarter of e hour be-
fore he returned.
Hes gone, sor, safe enough. FAX,
captain, dear, | fale as If | ought to be
hung"
Hung. Dinny?'
"Yes, sir, for treaehery to as good a
friend as l liver had"
What do you mean, Dinnyw cried
Humphrey, eagerly.
Name, sor! Why, that all the crate
min in the world, from Caesar down to
Pater Donovan, have had their wake
side. I've got mine, and I'm a fallen
man.
Speak out plainly" cried Humphrey,
flushing
''Th.t's just what I'm doing. sor.' said
/ Dinny with a soft smile. Its nature
scr. She was bad enough, and thin you
helped her. Oh. there's no foighting agen
it, 1t used 10 be so in Oireland. She
says 10 the little birds in the spring
choose your partners. darlin's. she says,
and they chose EN-; and she said the
same TO human man. and ne chooses his"
''Oh. Dinny, il you hadn't quite such
long tonguer' cried Humphrey.
Fax. it's regular sarpint. scr. for
length, and just as desaving: but IS
was saying. what Nature says in ovid
oireland in the spring she says out here
in this haste OF a connthry. where there
{ -
withdrawing but a sort or moshpoSh
of sunshine and bowling thunder storms"
And viii you really help me 10 es-
capeg-
~Whisht. sor, What are re thinking
aheutl Spanking aloud in s country
where the parrots can talk Ike Chris
tians and the threes is full OF ugly chaps,
who SIT and watch ye and say nothing,
bur how'd toight wild their tails. and thin
go and Whisper their Ssycrets to one
another
You'll help mey~
"YiS, SIR, II ye'll go down on your bend
ed knees and take 9n oath"
Oath, What o&shg'
'.Niver TO bethray or take part in amy
thing agen Commodore Junk. the thruest,
b-avest boy that iver stepped
You are right. DinEy. he is 4 brave
man. and l swear that / win not betray
or attack him. come what may. Get me
nv liberty and the liberty Of ny men. and
I III be content. Stcpi cannot 81 50
far as that; there are my men. | swear /
VII not attack your captain without
giving him due notice. thar he may es-
cape, but this nest OF harnets must be
burned ont and ny men f.sed
All. well. we won't haEgle about thri-
des. sor. Swear this. soE- Yen behave
to the captain ike a gsntIemAn-T
Il swear / wiz"
-Bedad. thea. I'm Wild re. and there'
enc mere favsr III BE asking yes sox