The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-09-16
CHAPTER VII.

1874 HERE are only two
4 war In the whole lot"
f@SsSsES1 Fright, yer honor. That
GsAsNy un near the shore there
away looks like n big frigate. That III
be the Scraps, I'm thinkin'."
Eyes, and that one farther out the
Scarborough"
".Ayc, aye, sir, an all the rest on 'eln
Is merchantmen. There Amt q gun on
board any on 'em. Nice pickln's them
III be fer us poor sailor men arter we
dispose of them war vessels. Dash my
wig, jist think OF them fat traders an
we ~a-rummagim among 'em'-
'"That will do, Price. Just moderate
your transports n little" said the Off
cor, stepping forward to the brow of
the hill and taking another long look at
the harbor.
Il amt no transport" muttered the
%garrulous old man under his breath.
II won't carry no soldiers nowhere.
I'm Il man-of-war, I am" but he took
good care that his superior should not
hear these somewhat insubordinate re.
marks.
"Wcll.' said the other, finally turning
about after his close scrutiny, 81 think
we have asccrtained about all We have
come for. They are the Baltic convoy,
without doubt, md you would better
make a straight course for the ship at
once and report"
An you, sir?" asked the old man re-
spcctfully. won't YOU come along,
sir? l hate to cut cable an leave you
here adrift alone, yer honor"
"No," answered the officer, after n
reflective pause. al think l shall go
up to that castle on the bluff beyond
and find out n little more definitely as
to the situation, If possible. Mean
while do YOU get OH your horse and
ride back to Bridlington bay. Go
aboard the Alert and tell Mr.. Lunt,
from me, to join the Richard to the
southwark ut once, and notify Captain
Jones of what we have seen. Tell him
] think 1t will be perfectly safe for him
To come OH. There IL n great fleet of
merchant ships here with only two
ships of war. He will rejoice ut the
chance Of Il fair fight. l will fine
means TO join him ut the rendezvous
before the rest of the ships can assem-
bic and they can get under way. Now
bear n hand. Don't let the grass grow
under your keel
ooh, Lord, yer honor, have / got to
git on board that ERE four legged craft
ag'in?" said old Price rucfully.
That's what you have to do, my
lad" remarked the officer cheerfully.
Seems like sometimes wrong with
him." said the old sailor. "a animal
wot steers by the head is contrary-like
to natur'. Now If l could only git him
to go about on t'other tack, or wear
him, by shiftin' his tail, I'd understand
him perfectly; but this ycro tillcr rope
riggin' over his bows is wot gifts mo.
An, sir, L can't make out with them
zero stirrups nuther; it's like hangln'
OH TO the yardnrm In q tossin' sea
without no footropes. 1Iowsomever,
tf L must, i must, / guess"
ooh, you won't mind it," replied the
officer, laughing at the old mans rue
full face. Besides, the winds fair
and you'll be going free most of the
way. Just give him n touch of your
weather heel once I'm awhile, and you'll
soon make the harbor."
~ never thought about the wind"
said the veteran gunner thoughtfully,
ITO ioNS no Nv II tiI'
listened for it. eyer honor's right.
Twill be plain sailin'. Well, sir, an
chor's aweigh, an here COOS"
The old seaman, giving great evil
dence of his disinclination in spite of
Che favoring breeze, at last climbed up
on the back of his staid old horse, and,
resisting the temptation to give him
his direction by n pull OF the tail,
got under way and lurched rapidly
down the road. Left to himself, the
lieutenant mounted his own horse
surprising to state, for n sailor lie was
an excellent horseman-and rode down
toward the sleeping town nestled
around Scarborough hnrbor, which
was filed with n largo feet of mer-
chant ships conveyed by two men OF
war, all riding quietly at their anchors.
Opposite tho acclivity on which the
two men had stood and to the north
of the town rose n bold, splendid head
land, or scar, almost an island, to the
height of about 300 feet. The rugged
crest was crowned by q picturesque
old castle. The headland jutted boldly
out into the sea, and the Wild waters
dashed upon Its walls from every side.
Access to the castle from the town
was by means of q causeway cad
bridge %springing over n rocky and
otherwise impossible connection be,
tween the cliff and the mainland,
which was sometimes flooded at high
tide.
Portions of the castle were I'm bad
repair or had been dismantled In the
several wars in which 1t had played a
memorable part since its erection near
Iy 700 years before by a follower OF
William the Conqueror, but a large
pnrt of II was still inhabitable and
had been provided with q SUFFICIENT
garrison. A heavy water battery,
which had been placed In position dur
ing the rebellion In 17db. had been re-
Gently strengthened and REINFORCED.
Captain Jones. In the Bon Hommo
Richard. had been cruising around tho