Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1903-05-29

not safely endure it minute. Bran
don left her at once and vent to the
captain.
MY lord is i'll and begs to be excused
from deck Inspection" he said.
Bradhurst, surly old half pirate of
the saltiest pattern, answered. "Ill?
Then he had better go ashore as soon
as possible. | will refund his money.
We cannot make a hospital out of the
ship. If'his lordship is too i'll to stand
inspection, see that he goes ashore at
once"
This last was addressed to one of the
ships officers, who answered with the
usual AYE, aye. sir" and started for
Marys cabin.
That was worse than ever, and Bran
don quickly said he would have his
lordship up at once. He then returned
to Mary, and after buckling on her
sword and belt they went on deck and
climbed up the poop ladder to take
their places with those entitled to
stand aft.
Brandon has often told me since that
it was as much as he could do to keep
back the tears when he saw Mary's
wonderful effort to appear manly. 1t
was both comical and pathetic. She
was a princess to whom all the world
bowed down, vet that did not help her
here. After all she was only a girl
tinid and fearful following at Bran
don's heels frightened lest she should
get out of arms reach of him among
those rough men and longing with all
her heart to take his hand for moral as
well as physical support 1t must have
been both laughable and pathetic in the
extreme. That miserable sword per-
sisted in tripping her, and the jack
boots, so much too large, evnced an
alarming tendency to slip off with ev-
cry step. How insane we all We're not
to have foreseen this from the very
beginning. 1t must have been a unique
figure she presented climbing up the
steps at Brandon's heels, jack boots
and all. SO unique was it that the
sailors working in the ships waist
stopped their tasks to stare in wonder
ment and tie gentlemen on the poop
made no effort to hide their amuse.
ment Old Bradhurst stepped up to
her.
II hope your lordship is feeling bet
ter and then. surveying her from
head to foot with a broad grin on his
features. II declare. you look the pic
ture of health, if ever saw it. How
old are you
Mary quickly responded. Fourteen
years
trc4
"Well, | don't think you will shed
much blood You look more like
deuced handsome girl than any man
| ever saw" At this the men all
laughed and were very impertinent in
the free and easy manner of such gen
try, most of whom were professional
adventures with every finer sense
dulled and debased by years of vice.
These fellows. half of them tpsy.
now gathered about Mary to inspect
her personally. each on his own ac-
count. Their looks and conduct were
very discOncertng. but they did moth
ing insulting until one fellow gave her
a slap on the back. accompanying it
by an indecent remark. Brandon tried
to pay no attention to them. but this
was too much. so he lifted his arm and
knocked the fellow off the poop into
the waist. The man was back in
moment. and swords were soon drawn
and clicking away ut a great rate. The
contest was brief. however. as the fell
low was no sort of match for Brandon,
who, with his old trick. quickly twist
ed his adVerSary'S sword out of his
grasp and with Il flash of his own
blade flung it into the sea The other
men We're now talking together at a
little distance in whispers. and in a
moment one drunken brute shouted:
at is no man. 1t is a woman. Let us
see more of herr
Before Brandon could interfere the
fellow had unbucl;led Marys doublet
at the throat and with jerk had
torn it of carrying away the sleeve
and exposing Marys shoulder, almost
throwing her to the deck.
He waved his trophy on high. but
his triumph was short lived, for almost
instantly it fell to the deck. and with
it the offending hand severed ~ the
wrist by Brandon's sword Three or
four friends of the wounded man
lushed upon Brandon, whereupon Mary
dreamed and began to weep, which of
course told the whole story
a great laugh went up, and instantly
general fight began. Several of the
gentlemen, seeing Brandon attacked by
such odds, took up his defense. and
within twenty seconds all We're on one
side or the other, every mothers son of
them fighting away like mad
You see how quickly and completely
one woman without the slightest act on
her part except Il modest effort to be
let alone, had set the whole company
by the ears. cutting and slashing away
at each other like very devils. The sex
must generate mischief in some I'M
known manner and throw it off, as the
sun throws off its heat. However, Jane
is an exception to that rule-if it is a