The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-29

drowned all speech but his own.
When he ceased there was silence 1or
some minutes. after which we heard q
marty descend to the cabin and the
tramp!ing of their feet on the boards
above us. They remained there some
willie discussing, and then came DOT
steps down the second ladder n 4
twinkle Of light reached me through
the bunghoie of my cask.
Quick said q husky voice. over
haul the cargo here"
| heard some half dozen troopers
busting about the hold and tugglns
out the bales Of wool.
Hi" called Master Pottery. An
when you've done rummaSing my snip,
put everything back as you found it,
Poke about with your swords" com
manded the husky voice. WHAT'S III
those barrels. yonder?
water. sergeant" answer q trooper.
rolling out a couple.
Nothing behind them?'
"No: They're right against the side.'
Drop 'em. then! Plague on this
business! IT'S my notion they're 4
mile away. and Cap'n Stubhs no better
than a fool to send US back here! He
cruding promotion, that's what be IS!
Hurry, there-hurry"
Ten minutes later tie searchers were
gone. and we in our casks drawing
long brcaths of t~hankfulncss and
strong odors. And so We croUched un'
til about midnight Captain Billy
brought US down a supper OF ship
biscuit, which we crept forth to eat
being sorely cramped.
He could not hear our thanks. but
guessed them.
"Now say not q word! Tomorrow
we sail for Plymouth Sound, thence foI
Brittany. Hist! We be all King
men aboard the Godsend, tho hearing
nought l says little"
On the morrow in fact we set sail.
Twas necessary l should impart
some notion of my errand to Captain
Billy. tho l confin'd myself to hints,
telling him twas urgent l should be
put ashore somewhere on the Cornish
coast. for that I carried intelligence
which would rot keep till we reach'd
Plymouth, a town that, besides, was
held by the rebels. And he agreed
readily to land me in Bude Bay, "and
also thy comrade, if las / guess she be
so minded" he added, glancinS up az
Della from the paper whereon l had
written my request.
She had been silent Of late, beyond
her wont. avoiding II thought to meet
my eye. but answered simply:
II so with Jack"
Twas not till the fourth afternoon
(by reason of battling head Winds that
we stepped out of the Godsend's boat
upon a small beach Of shingle, whence,
between a rift in the black cliffs wound
I'D a road that was to lead US inland.
We follow'd the road rapidly; for
Della, whom l had made sharer of the
rebels secret, agreed that 10 time was
10 be lost in reaching Bodmin. that
lay a good thirty miles to the south
west. Night fell and the young moon
rose, with a brisk breeze ut Our backs
that kept us still walking without any
feeling of WEAKNESS. BY daybreak we
spied a hill in front, topp'd with a stout
castle. and under it a town of import
nee that we guessed to be Launces-
ton.
We now drew up to consider If we
should enter tie town or avoid 1t TO
the west. trusting to find q breakfast
In some tavern on the way. Because
we knew not with certainty the temper
of the country. it seem'd best to choose
this second course; so we fetchd
around by certain barren meadows
and thought ourselves lucky to hit on
4 rpad that, by the size, must be
the one we sought. and q tavern with
a wide yard before it and a carriers
van standing at the entrance. not three
gunshots from the town walls.
"Now Providence hath surely led us
to breakfast" said Della, and stepp'd
before me into the yard, toward the
door.
l was following her when. inside Of 4
gate 10 the right Of the house. caught
tic clcam of steel, and turn'd aside to
look.
To my dismay there stood near a
score OF chargers in this second court,
saddled and dripping with sweat,
Mig first thought was TO rush after
Della; but a quick surprise mad me
rub my eyes with wonder
Twas the sight Of a sorrel mare
among theIn-a mare with one hlSf
white stocking. In q thousand could
have told her for Molly.
Three seconds after l was at the taV-
erin door. ard in my ears q voice sound
Ing that stopp'd NE short and tod
ME iii one instant that without Gods
help all was lost.
Twas the voice Of Captain Settle
speaking in the taproom; and already
Della stood, past ~concealment, by the
open door.
" . And therefore. master car
ter, it grieves me to disappoint thee;
but no man S0eth this day toward Bod
min. Such be my Lord Of Stamfords
orders, whose servant l am, and as
captain of this troop l am sent to exact
them. AS they displease you, his
lordship is but twenty-four hours be-
hind; you can abide him and com
plain. Doubtless be will hear-ten mil
lion devils"