Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1904-06-16
should be ,oyful h. could not have told

should be joyful he could not have told
himself except that there was no earth
ly 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
minatEo
After brisk walk, which was some
what longer than he had supposed It
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 eountenance told him how
he had been utterly astounded, and
even stupefied, by the sight of 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 | don't belong TO
one. wear these clothes because
am compelled to do so, having no 9TH
ers. Yesterday afternoon | escaped
from some pirates who stopped for wa
ter, and since leaving them 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 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 had a pleas
ant face, but her clothes riveted Dick
orys attention, 1t would be impossible
to describe them even If one were gaz-
ing upon them. 1t 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 II
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 spring
She has sailed away, wisely conclud-
ing, | suppose, that pursuit of You
would be folly. and even madness"
During he meal Dickory briefly told
his story. combining 1t to 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 cul
you to pieces TO amuse himself
have heard the most horrible stories Of
Blackboard"
He treated me very well, said
Dlckory but know from his own
words that he reserved me for a mos
horrible fate"
What" exclaimed the man, "ant
he told you? He is indeed demon!'
Yes said Dickory, "he said oyel
and over again that he was going tC
take me to England to marry me tc
his daughter"
At this the wife could not refrain
from smile. "Matrimony is not gen
orally considered horrible fate" said
&c to hn 4
most comely and estimable young per
son. Girls do not always resemble
their fathers"
Now tell me your story, pray
you" said Dickory. But first, would
like very much to know how you found
out that Blackbeard's ship was not al
her anchorage"
That's simple thing" said the
man. "Of course you did not observe
for you could not, that from its east
ern point where lies the spring, this
| island stretches in long curve to the
south, reaching northward again abou
this spot. Consequently, there Is
! little bay to the east Of us, acros!
which we can see the anchoring grount
of such ships as may stop here fol
water. Your way around the lant
curve of the island was long one, bu
the distance straight across the bay il
but few miles. Upon hill not fal
from here there is very tall tree
which overtops all the other trees, ant
to the upper branches of this tree m!
daughter, who is a great climber, fire
quently ascends with small glass
and is thus able to report If there is
vessel at the anchorage"
What" exclaimed Dickory, "tha
little girl?"
"Oh, mol" said the man; at is III!
IL Iuhn ic q Ynun