Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-07-03


before they could recover not only the
squire and l, but Hunter and Joyce
from the block-house had time to fire.
The four shots came in rather scat
tering volley; but they did the bust
ness; one of the enemy actually fell,
and the rest, without hesitation, turned
and plunged into the trees.
After reloading, we walked down the
outside OF the palisade to see the fallen
enemy. He was stone dead-shot
through the heart
We began to rejoice over our good
success, when Just at that moment a
pistol cracked in the bush. n ball whis-
tied close pastmy ear. and poor Tom Red
ruth stumbled and fell his full length on
the ground. Both the squire and re-
turned the shot; but as we had nothing
to aim at, it is probable we only
wasted powder. Then we reloaded, and
turned our attention to poor Tom.
The captain and Gray were already
examining him, and / saw with half an
eye that all was over.
I believe the readiness of our return
volley had scattered the mutineers once
more, for we were suffered without
further molestation to get the poor old
gamekeeper hoistcd over the stockade
and carried, grooming and bleeding,
into the log house.
Poor old fellow, he had not uttered
one word of surprise, complaint, fear,
or even acquiescence, from the very
beginning of our troubles till now,
when we had laid him down in the log
house to die. He had laid like a Trojan
behind his mattress in the gallery; he
had followed every order silently, dog
gedly and we'll; he was the oldest of
our party by score of years; and now,
sullen, old, serviceable servant, it was
he that was to die.
The squire dropped down beside him
on his knees and kissed his hand, cry
ing like a child.
BE / going, doctor?" he asked.
"Tom, my man." said /, you're 60
ing home"
II wish I had lick at them with the
gun first" he replied.
"Tom," said the squire, "sny you for
give me, won't your
would that be respectful like, from
me to you, squire?" was the answer.
"Howsoever, so be it, amen"
After little while of silence, he said
he thought somebody might read a
prayer. It's the custom, sir" he add
ed, apologetically. And not long after,
without another word, he passed away.
In the meantime the captain, whom
I had observed to be wonderfully
swollen about the chest and pockets,
had turned out a great many various
stores-the British colors, Bible, n
coil of stoutish rope, pen, ink, the log
book, and pounds of tobacco. He had
found a longish fir tree lying felled and
cleared in the Enclosure, and, with the
help of Hunter, he had set it up at the
corner of the log house where the
trunks crossed and made an angle.
Then, climbing on the roof, he had
with his own hand bent and run up
the colors.
This seemed nightly to relieve him,
He reentered the log house and set
about counting the stores, as if moth
ing else existed. But he had an eye
on Toms passage for all that; and as
soon as all was over came forward with
another flag and reverently spread it
on the body.
Don't you take on, sir" he said,
shaking the squire's hand. "All's well
with him; no fear for a hand that's
been shot down in his duty to captain
and owner. 1t mayn't be good divinity,
but it's a fact"
Then he pulled me aside.
"Dr. Livescy," he said, "in how many
weeks do you and squire expect the
consort ?"
I told him 1t was question, not of
weeks. but of mon this; that if we were
not back by the end of August, Blandly
was to send to find us; but neither
sooner nor later. you can calculate
for yourself" said.
"Why, yes" returned the captain
scratching his head, and making q
large allowance, sir, for all the gifts OF
Providence, l should cay we were pref
ty close hauled"
How do you mean?' l asked.
ltS PITY, Sir, we lOsJ the second
load. That's what l mean," replied
the captain. "As for powder and shot
we'll do. But the rations are short
very short-so short, DR.. Iivesey, that
we're perhaps as well without that ex-
ira mouth"
And he pointed to the dead body I'M
der the flag.
just then, with roar and whistle,
a round shot passed high above the
roof of the log house and pumped fal
beyond us in the wood.
"Oho!" said the captain. Blaze
away! You've little enough powder
already, my lads"
At the second trial the aim was bet
ter and the ball descended inside the
stockade, scattering a cloud Of sand
but doing no further damage.
Captain" said the squire, "the
house is quite invisible from the ship
1t must be the flag they are aiming at
Would it not be wiser TO take it in?"
"Strike my colors!" cried the cap
tain. mo, sir, not Il" and. as soon a:
he had said the words, think we al
agreed with him. For it was not only
piece of stout, seamanly good feeling;
it was good policy besides, and showed
our enemies that we despised theil
cannonade.
All through the evening they kent