The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-05-27
Copyright 1875


terms of cordial intimacy with this
honorable gentleman, to enjoy his con-
Y fidence, my heart filled the while with
3 guilt too strong to conquer-the thing
was torture not to be endured.
Come with me TO the inn; let us get
the ladies and their luggage aboard.
Agnes will be glad to meet you; she
says she has, great curiosity to see
what you are like"
excused myself most lamely upon
the plea of some duty to be performed.
All well, on board then; she will
have abundant time, aye, abundant
time
From dark place near the inn door,
watched their departure. Poor weak
Ing that! "as, could not deny my
self. The cheyaier, with Agnes and
another lady, took their way toward
the waiting boat, Pickering lanthorn
being borne in their front. His words,
Agnes will be glad to meet you; she
! mas great curiosity to see what you are
like. required again and again.
So she had deceived him, and he
knew nothing of our meetings? All.
We'll do these women manage, and we
are ever dupes. And /. who all my life
mad detested small receptions, found
myself heartily appauding this-wns it
not for my sake. This secret was ours
mine and hers: the bond which we
two held in common apart from all the
world. A sweet reflection. The little
weakness of women are very precious to
their object and If the deluded one
Know 1t not, why where's the harm?
Small comfort came to me, however,
for all the While conscience, like
burning nett!e In the side, gave the
lie to each excuse
All that night l paced about, and
up and down. At length came gray
dawn, but not decision. An early fish
erman disposed his net upon the beach,
81 watched him long In silence. then alb
ruptly asked, so fercely that he
dropped his work:
old man, do you know of any other
vessel sailing soon for the American
Colonies in the South?"
Aye, sir, there's brig fitting out
at Boulogne- sur-Mer for the Spanish
seas, to sail in a week or thereabout.
But, sir" the old fellow looked eau
tiously about to assure himself that no
one else could hear. they say UNI
Christian things Of that brig and crew.
She BODIES no good
a freebooter"
Aye, sir, or privateer, which, they
Say, is, the milder term"
My resolution was formed.
Await me here; will pay your gains
for the IL you walt but do me sligt
SERVICE"
Aye, aye, sir he responded,
touching his surf-stained cap.
I returned briefly from the inn bear
Ing a note for M. de Serigny.
Therein I explained that most
important matter had transpired
to detain me until another vessel
sailed. some few days at most l
would tell him of it more at length
when Joined him at Biloxi.
gave it, with a broad gold piece,
the old fellow, and directed that he
until l saw the man Chamber up lie
.Dauphin's side, when I left at once,
fearing further communication from
Serigny.
Entering Boulogue at daybreak. the
undulating valley of the Liane claimed
not one appreciative glance. The an
Client city tremhled in its slumber at
my feet. Already it became restless
with the promise of another day which
clad its gables In flame and burned the
rough old towers with the shining gold
Of God. A little beyond the waters
glinlmered in the suns first rays. and
writhing seaWard tossed themselves IN
anger against the dim white cliffs of
our hereditary foes.
AS q picture laid away in memory
this all comes back to me pure and
fresh, but on that morning gave 1t no
heed. From the heights I passed
along through quiet streets into the
lower town, thence to the beach, where
was soon inquiring among the sailors
for the privateer. These women look
ed askance at me, and some regarded
my unfamiliar uniform with suspicion,
but after great difficulty one OF their
number was induced to carry me
alongside an omnibus looking craft ly-
ing In the harbor-a black-hulled brig
OF probably six hundred and fifty tons
burden. OF the sentinel on deck l
+ asked:
Your captain
4 is here" and at the word a dark,
wiry man, who had evidently been
watching my approach, appeared at
the companion way.
"A word with you, sir If you are the
captain of this craft. I am told you
are refitting for trip to west Florida.
What your errand is care not; want
to go with you"
We do not take passengers" he an
swered positively.
Then take me as marine, sea-
man. what you will. l am soldier
familiar with the handspike as with
the sword. though knowing little Of
winds or currents"
Captain Levasseur eyed me closely
asked many questions concerning my
life and service, to which I replied,
ftruthfully In part. He seemed salts
I fled.
.'Well, we do need few more stout
fellows who can handle cutlass;
when could you come aboard?"
AT once; have no baggage but the
weapons at my side'
Good. Your name z"
Gaspard Cambronne," answered at
random.
The freebooter laughed.
We care nothing for your name SO
you Will fight. We sail the day after
my well knit frame, for was sturdy
youth, If you know any more stout
young fellows like yourself we cuu
give them berth apiece
So ! scrambled aboard without more
ado, and became at once a member of
the Seatnew's" crew. I hardly knew
at first why gave a false name. But
the character of the vessel was doubt
ful its destination uncertain, ana
knowing not what mission she was on
! shirked to give my real name and
station. The chance was desperate,
yet not one whit more desperate
than +
The Seamew sailed more than three
weeks behind le Dauphin, armed with
letters Of marque from the king COM
sfnissioning her to prey upon Spanish
commerce In southern seas, and espe-
scIally to take part in any expedition
against Havana or Pensacola.
Our voyage wore on drearily enough,
to me. almost without incident. After
four weeks Of sky and sea we rounded
the southernmost cape Of Florida and
turned into the Mexican gulf. I grew
more and more impatient and full of
dread. Lee Dauphin had twenty three
days The start OF our faster vessel, and
Biloxi was robably at that moment IN.
a fevere OF warltke preparation. It was
Just possible, too, that the Spaniards
had not yet been informed of the war,
and nothing had been so far done by