The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-08-28


saw that Il whip and a boatswain's
chair hal been rugged on the main
yardarr D swing his passengers on
board ..e sight Of the dangling rope
awakened fresh fit Of apprehension
on the part OF the timorous maid, and it
was with great difficulty that the
amused seaman persuaded her that she
was not to be hanged outright. Entire
~ unconvinced, but resigning herself
to her fate. she finally sat down on the
small board and was swung to the
gangway.
The mistress gently laid the head Of
the PROSTATE officer against one of the
. thwarts, and, leaving the handkerchief
as rest for it, followed the maid.
Then the old cockswain secured the
lieutenant to the chair, and when he had
reached the deck, where he opened his
eyes and recovered consciousness with
Incredible promptness, the boat was
, dropped astern, the falls hooked on and
, she was smartly run up to her place at
the davits. and the Ranger filled away.
, O'Neill was at once assisted below to
his cabin. and his wounds, which were
not serious, were attended to by the
surgeon.
| When the young woman Joined her
maid on the deck her glance compre-
j hended a curious picture. In front OF
her, hat in hand, bowling low before
her, stood small, dapper, swarthy,
black avised, black haired man, in the
blue uniform Of a naval officer. He
had the face Of scholar and student,
with the bold, brilliant black eyes of
fighter. Surrounding him were other
officers and several young boys similar
| ~ dressed. Scattered about in various
parts of the ship, as their occupation
or station permitted, were a number Of
rude. fierce, desperate looking men,
nondescript in apparel. None Of the
! navies of the world at that date, eX-
cept in rare instances, uniformed its
! men. On either side of the deck black
guns protruded through the ports, and
) musket and equipped in uniform Of
white and green, stood or paced a soil
| tary watch.
Il bid you welcome to my ship, mad
am. So fair face on war vessel is
as grateful a sight as the sun after a
squall," said the officer, deliberately
bowling.
"Sir," said the young woman, trem-
bling slightly. Il am person of some
consideration at home. My guardian
will cheerfully pay you any ransom if
you spare me. / am a woman and
alone. l beg you, sir, to use me kind
ly." She clasped her hands in beseech-
Ing entreaty. her beautiful eyes filling
with tears.
At this signal the fears OF the maid
broke out afresh. and she pumped
down on her knees and grasped the
captain around the legs. bawling vo-
ciferously and adding a touch of COM
edy to the scene:
! "Oh, sir. for the love Of heaven, sir.
don't make us walk the plankv 1t
would seem that the maid had been
reading romances.
The seamen near enough to hear and
see grinned largely at this exhibition.
and the captain, with deep flush and
black frown on his face, struggled to
release himself.
"Silence, woman!" he cried ferce!y
at last. Get up from your knees or,
by heaven, l will have you thrown
overheard, and you, madam, for what
do you take me?"
"Are you not "a pirate, sir?' she
answered, hesitating. ''They told me
on the ship that you
"No pirate am l." interrupted tn
man proudly, laying his hand on hi
sword. 81 am an officer and, Wit
these gentlemen, am in the service 0
the United States of America, the ney
republic. This is the American Cont
mental ship Ranger. You are as SAL