The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-10-16

mbound?" he asked.
At nod from Coventry the master
at arms unlocked the letters about his
feet and hands. The prisoner took his
place in the midst of the little squad of
men and assembled to the spar deck.
The ships company of marines was
drawn up aft on the quarter deck
Most of the seamen of the crew were
arranged in orderly ranks in the star.
board gangway. Forward a grating,
had been rigged on the bulwarks under
the port fore yardarm A new rope led
from the grating up through the block
in the yardarm, came inboard to an
other block under the top and thence
through a block fixed 70 the deck.
Some sixty or seventy men chosen by
let from the ships company had hold
of the rope which was led aft along the
port gangway. In front of the marines
stood Captain Pearson a1hl his officers
in full uniform. The prisoner was halt
ed before him.
''Are you aware, SIR said the cap
tain gravely, 'that the hour for the
carrying out of the sentence of the
court approaches|
'Yes, sir" answered O'Neill cour-
teously.
"Have you anything to say before
that timer
81 have to thank you all for your
kindness to me; nothing else, SIR
"Allow nae, sir" said the captain, ''to
assure you of the great personal dis
taste and regret l feel at being COM
PEELED to take this action"
Your feelings do you honor, SIR re-
piled O'Neill gravely, "but it is mat
ter of duty. Pray proceed"
Captain Pearson" said Coventry in
great agitation, "can nothing be done
to delay this execution a few hours?
There are considerations, sir, in my
possession which, feel sure, would in
nicated with, to extend clemency to
this circumstances which,
"Are these circumstances within the
knowledge of Lord Westbrooke, Major
Coventry?" answered the captain. sur
prised at the unusual nature of the in
terruption.
"They are, SIR"
''Have you mentioned them to him?
Have you called his attention specific
ally to them. l mean?"
eyes, sir, have" answered the SOL
dier reluctantly.
"And they have evidently not influ-
| enced him, you see. Therefore l fail
to see how l can permit them to weigh
with me-"
"But delay, sir, of a day, of an
hour even, until l can communicate
| with the admiral again! For Gods
sake, sir, do not hang this gentleman
like
major Coventry, you are soldier
and should not make such an appeal.
have my orders. You have shown me
no cause to disregard them. cannot
take it upon myself to do SO. dare
| not"
but an hour, sir, until r.
"Not moment. At five bells they
must be carried out" said the captain
I in1eXibly. mo more, sir" he added as
Coventry made an impetuous step for
! ward. 81 have INDUCED you too long
already. Mr. Pascoe, take the prisoner
| forward"
"It is useless, Coventry. Why pro-
long this agony longer? You have
done what you could. 1 thank you
and bless you," said O'Neill as they
walked along the deck to the place of
Che grating.
"Will you please step up here, sir?"
said Pascoe, the first lieutenant of the
Scraps, who had the matter in charge,
pointing to the grating on the rail as
they came abreast of it.
''It is a fair and easy place from
which to step to heaven, sir, or to the
other place as WELL" said the Irishman.
smiling, as he stepped on the rail. Il
pray you to tell your men to start me
on my way with a quick pull and
swift run" Pascoe nodded in compre
hension. This would be a case in
which speed would be merciful.
A boatswain's mate now stepped up
beside the prisoner and bound his feet
and hands with a flashing. A hang
mans knot had been made by expert
fingers in the rope leading from the
yardarm, and the running moose was
quickly cast about O'Neills neck.
"The collar of an ancient order, this
observed O'Neill, still smiling. ''And
now one last request, SIR" he added,
turning to the lieutenant.
"And that is?'
''Throw away that black cap, sir.
Let me go with my eyes open" The
lieutenant hesitated a moment The
whole ships company was filled with
: admiration for the intrepid and gal
liant Irishman.
do it, for Gods sake, Pascoew
whispered Coventry, springing up
alongside O'Neill and the sailor, who,
to avoid him, stepped back and stood
on the rail by the fore shrouds.
"What are you doing there, Major
Coventry?' answered Pascoe.
Nothing. l promised to stand by
him to the last" replied Coventry.
The officer hesitated a moment and
then threw the cap into the water.
81 thank you," said O'Neill huskily.
"How much time is there?"
"About two minutes, l Think said
the lieutenant nervously
"You will run away with the fall at
the first or last stroke of the bell?"
'The last, SIR
mo more" said O'Neill to Coventry,
turning his face in the direction of the
shore. The deep voice of the white
robed priest alone broke the silence:
"'Thou knowest Lord, the secrets
of our hearts; shut not thy merciful
ears to our prayer; but spare US, Lord
mast ho,lxr q God most mi orhfU q holy