Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-09-02
CHAPTER TX


Then we'll die for it, Bart" said Jack,
fxercely.
If so be as you says die for 1t now,
or tomorrow, or next day, or next week,
die it is, my lad" said Bart Respondent
~; but luck's agen us, and we're beat.
Why not give up?"
Give up?' cried Jack, whose appear
ance was somewhat altered by. his two
years of hard sea life in the tropics since
the night when the cutter sailed away
into the darkness of what seemed to be
their future. Give upY'
Yes; and back out of it all. Why not
take passage somewhere, not as Jack,
Commodore Junk's brother, but as pom
ny Mary Dell O. Devnshire, going home
along o Bart Wrigley, as is Bartholomew
by rights?'
''WellY said Jack, sternly.
Don look at me, my lad I'm tired
O boare ships and sending people
adrift"
Growing afraid, Bart?"
Eyes, my lad: but not for Bart Wrig-
Hey. For someone else"
You are preaching tonight, Bart"
May be, my lad. for it's solemn times;
and something keeps a-saying to me:
Don't run no more risks! There's Old
Devon awaiting for you, and there's the
old cottage and the bay, and you've got
the money to buy decent lugger, and
there's plenty O. fish in the sea-"
Go on" said Jack, mock. ngly.
'Ay, lad, Will" said B 4 And you
might settle down there, and live happy
with man there to wait on you and be
your servant-ay, your dog if you liked;
and some day, if you thought better of it,
and was ready to say, Bart, my lad,
you've been a true chap to me, and |
know as you've loved me ever since you
was a boy, so now I'll be your wife, why,
then"
Bart stopped with his lips apart, gazing
wonderingly at the angry countenance
before him.
'.You mailman! What are you say
mgr was Kissed into his ears. MARY
Dell died when she left home, driven
away by mans tyranny-when she
sought out her brother and his friend TO
find them working like slaves in that plan
tation. 1t was John Dell who became
your companion: Mary Dell is dead"
NO." said Bart, speaking softly ana
with homely pathos, as he sat ON the
deck of a long, low, heavily spared
schooner. NO my lad, Mary Dell isn't
dead. She's hidden here in my breast,
whore l can look inward and see the
bonny lass with the dark eyes and long
black hair as / knowed / loved as soon
as | knowed what love meant, and as
long as L live that lass will never die"
Hush, Bart, old friendr' said Jack,
softly Let her live then, there; but TO
me she is dead, and / live to think of
her prosecutions, and how for two years
man has pursued us with bitter hatred
ard hunted us down as if We We're saw
age beasts
Aye, but see how we've growed First
it was the bit of a canoe thing as you
came in up the creek"
Jack nodded.
Then we took the cutter"
Yes. Bart"
And with that cutter we took first
one ship. and then with that another,
always masters. and getting. bit by bit,
stout. stanch men,
And savages." said Jack. bitterly.
"WeI. yes. some on 'em is savage ike,
specially Mazzard."
BLACK Mazzard is a rufianly wretch"
''True, lad; but we've gone on and got
better and stronger till we have under
our feet the swiftest schooner as swims
the sea, and Commodore Junk's name is
known all along the coast
And hated, and a price set upon his
head: and now that he is a prisoner his
people turn against him, and his most
faithful follower wants to 20 and leave
him in the lurch."
Nay, don't say that. my lad" cried
Bart I'VE was oveTmatched and he was
took
Yes, BY his mems cOwardice."
Nay. you're cross. my lad" said Bart
nneonsciously raising one arm and draw
ing back the sleeve 10 readjusr a band
are. Month tonight and the deck was
running into the scuppers with blood. half
the lads was killed and t'other half al
got a wound. We was obliged TO sheer
CT
Yes. you coward yoa left the captain
10 his fate"
But l saved the captains brother
shut up in prison along with poor Abel
now
Better So said the other, fercely;
@and then here'd be an end Of 4 perse-
cutei life"
Better as il is" said Bart, quietly;
''hut I did save you
Bart, old lad. don't take any notice
Of what l say whispered Jack but
Ahei must be saved; and the men agree
AYE they Say they'n have the skipper
out Of prison. or theyn die first"
Brave feilowsw cried jack eRthusias-
tically.
-But don't see how = schooner's to al
tack forts and cannon and stone walls
Mr. lad. Il can't be done"
L shall be DONE cried Jack -How's
Dinny?