Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-09-14


should be joyful he could not have told
himself except that there was no earth
~ reason to believe that the persons
who were making that fire near that
thatched-roof house were pirates. To
go to this house, whatever it might be.
to take his chances there instead OF
remaining alone in the wide forest,
was our young mans instant deter
mination.
After brisk walk, which was some
what longer than he had supposed Il
would be, Dickory reached the house
behind the trees. At short distance
burned the fire whose smoke he had
seen. Over the fire hung an iron pot
Oh, blessed pot! A gentle breeze blew
from the fire towards Dickory, and
from the heavenly odor which was
borne upon it he knew that something
good to eat was cooking in that pot.
A man came quickly from behind the
house. He was tall, with a beard a
little gray, and his scanty attire was OF
the most nondescript fashion. With
amazement upon his face, he spoke 10
Dickory in English.
What, SIR" he cried, has a man-of-
war touched at this island?"
Dickory could not help smiling, for
the mans countenance told him how
ne had been utterly astounded, and
even stupefed, by the sight of a gentle
man in naval uniform in the interior
OF that island, an almost desert region
mo man-of-war has touched here,''
said Dickory, "and I don't belong to
one. wear these clothes because
am compelled to do so, having no 9TH
ers. Yesterday afternoon I escaped
from some pirates who stopped for wa
ter, and since leaving them I have
made my way to this spot.''
The man stepped forth quickly and
stretched out his hand.
BLESS you! Bless you'll" he cried.
You are the first human being, other
than my family, that I have seen for
two years.
A little girl now came from behind
the house, and when her eyes fell up
on Dickory and his cooked hat she
screamed with terror and ran indoors
A woman appeared at the door, evil
IDENTIFY the mans WIFE, She mad Pleas
ant face, but her clothes riveted Dick
ory's attention. 1t would be impossible
to describe them even if one were gax-
ing upon them. It will be enough to
say they covered her. Her amazement
more than equaled that of her hus-
band; she stood and stared, but could
not speak.
From the spring at the end of the
island" cried the man, Ito this house
since yesterday afternoon! have al
ways supposed that no one could get
here from the spring by land. l call
that way impossible. You are safe
here, sir, am sure. Pirates would not
follow very far through those forests
and morasses; they would be afraid
they would never get back to their
ship. But will find out for certain il
you have reason, sir, to fear pursuit
by boat or otherwise"
The man was now called away, and
when he returned he said to Dickory:
Fear nothing, sir; your ship is no
longer at the anchorage by the sprins.
She has sailed away, wisely conclud.
ing, l suppose, that pursuit of You
would be folly, and even madness"
During the meal Dickory briefly told
his story, combining it to a mere state.
ment of his escape from the pirates.
Blackboard" exclaimed the man
Truly you did well to get away from
him, no matter into what forests you
plunged or upon what desert island
you lost yourself. At any moment he
might have turned upon you and cut
you to pieces to amuse himself. I
have heard the most horrible stories of
Blackboard
HE treated me very well,' said
D1ckory, "but know from his own
words that he reserved me for most
horrible fate"
What" exclaimed the man, land
he told you? He is indeed demon!'
Eyes," said Dickory, "he said over
and over again that he was going to
take me to England to marry me to
his daughter
At this the wife could not refrain
from a smile. "Matrimony is not gen.
orally considered horrible fate" said
she: perhaps his daughter may be a
most comely and estimable young per.
son. Girls do not always resemble
their fathers"
''Now tell me your story, I pray
you,' said Dickory. But first, would
like very much to know how you found
out that Blackbeard's ship was not at
her anchorage?"
That's a simple thing" said the
man. "Of course you did not observe,
for you could not, that from it's east.
ern point where lies the spring, this
island stretches in long curve to the
south, reaching northward again about
this spot. Consequently, there is a
little bay to the east of us, across
which we can see the anchoring ground
of such ships as may stop here for
water. Your way around the land
curve of the island was long one, but
the distance straight across the bay is
but few miles. Upon hill not far
from here there is a very tall tree,
which overtops all the other trees, and
to the upper branches of this tree my
daughter, who is a great climber, fire.
quently ascends with small glass
and is thus able to report if there is 8
vessel at the anchorage"
What" exclaimed Dickory, that
little girl?" y - T. ~
"Oh, MOI" said the man; 1T is III,
other daughter, who is q grown Youna