Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-09-02
CHAPTER XIV.

I CHAR En- AhlN.
| Soon after daybreak the next morning
took the road. All | carried wasi my
staff and a small knapsaek on my back:
my other worldly possessions had gone
on. days before. Ny aunt and Annie
watched me from the door; my uncle
walked with me through the village. and
| a short distance up the highway.
/ At daybreak next morning | reached
my destinationa mining settlement or
the very borders Of Cornwall and De
! Won. / found II to be a lonesome place.
/ situated on the banks Of a small river,
and surrounded on every side by the wild
! blocks and tors Of the moor. / reported
myself in due course, and was forthwith
instaile@ IN my position. The miners
were wild lot. and the last cYerseer. an
elderly man. had more than once gone
In dNnxpr Of his life. AS person still
suspected OF violent proelivities, | had
been chosen to take his place. The truth
was, the place bore the worst Of names.
and few men would have accepted the
situation, at any price.
The agent, during our FIRST interview,
limited that the miners needed an iron
hand to rule them. That very afternoon
| inspected the place. and found myself
inspected in turn by as yillainous n set
Of faces as | had ever encountered. There
was much muttering and murmuring, for
the fellows wanted to be under the di-
rectiou Of one Of their own number. one
Michael Looe. a red-haired giant.
The next day. the first after my In
stailation, found out the sort Of oppo-
sition with which | had to reckon. As
stood by the open mine. giving some
directions, Looe ran up against me, with
a pick-ax on bis shoulder, and almost
eapsized me. A hoarse laugh GREETED this
performance
CANT ZEE look where you'm gaun,
Measter? ?" cried the fellow, grinning saw
agely.
I loked him STEADILY in he face, ms one
looks in the eye Of furious bull. What
saw there did not daunt me. The fol-
low was bully, and | had dealt with
DULLES before. If was to retain my
authority in the place. must bring him
TO his senses.
What's your name?" | said, quietly.
my nameT' he repeated. leering round
at the others. Mike Looe, If you maua
knaw. As good name as yeurn, I'll
wager"
MY name is Hugh Trelawney: and,
as I am master here, I'll trouble yoc TO
remember it, If you don't. my man. I'll
find way to impress it on your mem
cry
"You win. viii 'ee?" said the giant.
And SO you be measter? Mates" he
added looking round. dye hear 'un
Take of your hats to UNI
And sniting the action to the word.
he bowed moekingly before me. My
blood was now up. and faced him reso-
mteiy. eco back to your work" said.
"No more words. DO as | bid you"
"whoi make mey' he said, hrandish.
Ing his piek-ax.
Before be knew what was about,
wrenched the weapon from his hand
and flung II on the ground. lie clenehed
his tist and made d rush at me, | waited
! for him. aud landed him a blow which
made him stagger back, dazed. The
men flocked round as, mtrmns.ng and
threatening.
| But Michael Looe had confidence in
his own prowess. He weighed fifteen
stone. and had the fsts of Anhk; so that
III. though a tall. strong man, loked No
match for such a giant. He uttered {
fierce oath, and babe the men stand hack
| Fair play. ladsi" ne cried, grinnine
again. Lea the new chap to me DOM
zee see. he means fghtin'?"
| With that the men made a ring, Will,
! their champion stripped of his waistcoat
and began quietly turning up his sleeves
/ show ing an arm with muscles like irof
bands At this juncture. an old man
one Of their number. hut superior IL
manuer to the rest. whispered HI my ear
You'd best bolt. Measter Hell
smash ZEE like an egg, as he did chaI
afore 'ee."
Ny answer was decisive, on went m!
| coat, down went my hat on thu ground
and, clenching my fists. faced the giant
4 This rather turned the tide of feeling Il
my favor; at any rate, II ELECTED feeble
| cheer The men prepared themselves
for enjoyment; real stand up" 6gh
was imminent
Mike Looe came az me like Goliath
hut at the first encounter | discoyere,
that he had no science. myself had {
little. ADD though fEr his inferior il
weight. possessed muscles and sinews o
/ steel. 6ee to Ely healthy life and con
slant exercise. from hoyhood upward. il
the open air The result is eSsily pre-
dicted. In matters If fstiana, science
con. hlned with pluck, is everything. BE
FORE many minutes had passed. Miehae
Loon had received as sound thrsshi1.
rs man could desire. He lay on tn
ground, his head supported on the kne,
of one Of his comrades. ami looking stu
pidly up into my face. | turned to tn,
men, with rs much good humor IS coui,
- I. a
eye and bleeding forehead
well. my lads, f" l cried ''you see ",
paid my footing. II any Of you thinl
haven't paid enough. let him stand up
/ and I'll give him little more"
This speech, qJss in the humorous
manner Of my late Jpnoaent. complete,
MY victory. II was greeted with an up
roGrioes isugh and cheer. To my as
tonishment the men crowded round me