Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-10-15

iaAiII III II very HulSl UeIiG lying UeSWCSH
the riNermoutE and the castle l wass
in such state that it wass quite easy
to get me to go out to the ship with
them.
There 1 had glass of rum, and. In
deed, 1 remembered no more till the
next morning. and then we were miles
out in the sea. Well. made great
noise; but the captain he laughed and
said that when it wass time for him to
go wass too drunk to go ashore. so he
left me alone. But, said he, I am put
ting into Aberteify this afternoon; you
car go ashore there.
II was quite satisfied with that, but
I saw no Aberteify that day; indeed,
wass too sick to see anything. The next
morning l wass little better, and I
asked the captain about Aberteify.
Well. ne just laughed again and said
he had changed his mind about calling
at that place. and I must go to Bristol
with him now, as that was the place
for the ship to stop next, and then l
could go where liked.
BY this time wass not easy In my
mind. But l wass very careful not to
look anxious, because would spoil the
chance of getting away. That morning
the wind dropped, and the ship lay on
the water all day without moving. We
were not very far from land. perhaps
1t wass two miles, perhaps not so
much, and the little white cottages on
the hills of Sir Benfro, that iss, in your
language, Pembrokeshire, looked very
pleasant to my eyes. If the captain had
wished to set me on shore he could
have done 1T very easily with that boat.
but he never made the offer, and took
care not to ask him, for l wished to
look 80 innocent as possible and willing
to go to Bristol or anywhere with them.
I knew quite we'll by now that If I
made a noise they would shut me up
somewhere and spoil all my chances.
Yet could not understand what they
wanted with me.
That afternoon. having nothing to
do. they got to the liquor and made
themselves very drunk. They offered
me some. and I pretended to drink with
them and be very merry, but I wass
careful to keep my wits. There wass q
little boy on the ship and one of the
drunken sailors wass beating him and
beating him with piece Of rope, just
for nothing at ali.
boy by me, where he wass safe, and
lucky for ME l did For that little boy
told me everything. He told me that
the ship was going about picking up
people here and there, and taking them
to Bristol to sell them for slaves. Then
they were carried across the sea and
set to work In a far country under q
burning sun, and were beaten with
whips If they dared to grumble. Iss
that all true?"
Perfectly true. Ieuan." said 1; true
as gospel"
And what else did the little boy tell
me?" cried 1euan grinding his teeth
furiously. This, this ISIS what he told
me; that he had heard the captain say
to the mate that he was to have twelve
pounds from some one he called Sir
tol. Iss that clear to you?"
Clear enough" said I. The thing
hangs together as straight as string"
We'll, 1 should think 3d." snorted
Ieuan. II think that. indeed"
How did you come clear?" asked.
"Oh. my heart wass on fire." cried
Ieuan, when 1 heard such things. The
sky was red instead of blue before me.
but / kept very quiet and waited for
the darkness.
IT could swim we'll and the sea wass
dark 1 crept to the end of the ship
where no one wass, and took off all my
clothes. and slipped down rope that
wass hanging into the water, and sc
got into the sea without sound:
though. indeed, they were too drunk In
the ship to trouble much about noise
If had made 1t.
There was light in a house on a
hill, shining like pretty star and
guiding me straight to the shore
II wass a long, long time getting
there, for l was Il slow swimmer,
though / can swim far; but at last l
put my feet down and felt the sand All
how ran that night.
THE stones cut my feet and the bush
es tore my naked body, but l ran and
ran, wishing for nothing but to leave
the sea and ship far behind me.
The next morning / found myself
close to little farm, and l went there
to beg food. At first the people were
frightened, and thought l wass mad
man. But they were very good people
and sorry for me when they heard all
my story. and they gave me food and
some clothes. And now / wass safe
and made my way back easily over the
hills
1euan," said ]. There Is many and
many a one working this day in the
plantations, trepanned and decoyed az
you were
And shall I let the man escape who
did all this to me?" cried Ieuan Gwyllt
mo, no." and he poured forth fierce
torrent of words in his own tongue, ir
which he could express his feelings
more easily.
His outburst was deep rather thar
loud. and was dying away in savage
mutterings when / laid my hand OF
his arm. Horses, and many of them,
said i.
confused trampling had come tt
my ears and we listened intently. A
rider appeared round corner of the
HILL and another, anu another. The
first four We're Owain and three gailJ
dressed young men about his own age
Then followed eleven mounted and vel
armed fellows.
Some trotting, some cantering, spurs
and harness juggling gaily, swords rat.
past US down the slope, heading fol
Manly Bryn.
Fifteen" said Ieuan. softly wher
the last horseman had ridden by; "an(
that is twelve come to help"
From where, and for what?"
asked.
From a man who is savage enemy
to us" replied Ieuan; "Sir Lewis Mer
vyn of Alteration. He is living abou
twenty-five miles away over the hills
and he has sent his two sons and hi:
nephew and nine men at once" Ieuar
turned and strobe back rapidly toward
the little hut and our horses, and fol
lowed, seeing my dilemma growing
more and more difficult.
And root out this ancient mischief,
Owain's words came to my mind, ant
I perceived why he was returning II
| such force. He had been to obtain ale
from another magnate whose lands hat
I, been harassed by the Red Men of the
Dusk. and now the latter We're to bt
pursued with fire and sword, and al
end made nf THAR frn,1h!pSOnp
ence.
And what was 1 to do? Run ava,
from people who had rendered me {
signal service, or stand by them ant
fight like rat in a hole against IN,
loves brother and my friend? It was {
Gordian knot, which am thankful tha
events cut for me, as you shall hear.