The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-08-18


meath It's blazing heat All his faculties
were merged into one consuming de-
sire for water-watcr. The thirst was
intolerable. Unless he could get some
his brain would give way. He was dy-
ing. dying. dying! Oh. God, he could
not die; he was not ready to die! Oh.
for one moment of time, for one drop
of watcr-Goi-God-
Suddenly before his eyes there arose
figure. At first he fanciel it was an
other of the apparitions which had
companicd with him during the awful
night ana morning, but this was a hu-
man figure, an old man, bent haggard,
like himself, with watching, but with u
fierce mad joy in his face. Where had
he como from? Who was he? What
did he want? Tho figure glarcd upon
the unhappy man with one fiery eye,
and then lie lifted before the caDtive's
distorted vision something. What was
tt--a cup OF water? Water, water brim-
ming over the cup! 1t was just out of
reach Of his lips-so cool, so sweet. 50
inviting! He strained at his chains.
bent his head, thrust his lips out. He
could almost touch it-not quite! lie
struggled and struggled and strove to
break his fcttcrs, but without avail.
Those letters could not bo broken by
the hand of man. He could not drink
all, God!-then lie lifted his blinded
eyes and searched the face OF the other.
"IIornigold" he whispered hoarScly
with his parchcd and stiffcned lips. rs
1t thou?'
n fol fc Lot
there was water licrc. You must hc
thirsty. You'd like Il drink? SO would
l. There is not enough for both OF
us. Who will get it? l. Look"
Not all-not all!' screamed the old
captain family as the other drained the
cup. "a littlci A drop for me-
Not one drop" answered Tornigo Old:
mot one drop! If you were in hell ana
Il held river In my hand YOU would
not get drop! It's gone"
He threw the cup from him.
II brought you to this-I! Do you
recall 1t? You owe this to me. You
had your revenge; this is mine. But
It's not over yet. I'm watching YOU.
L shall not come out here again, but
I'm watching you, remember that. I
can see you"
"Take that knife you bear-kill NO."
Il don't want YOU to dic-not yet.
l want YOU to livc-livc a long time,
and remember!"
"IIornigold, I'll make amends. I'll
be your slave."
AYE, ,crowl and cringc now, you dog.
swore that YOU should do it! It's USE
less to beg me for mercy l know not
that word; neither did you. Remem-
Der, 1 watch.
He threw his glance upward, stopped
suddenly a fierce light in that old eye
of his. 49,
Look .Mp." he cried. "and you will
see! Take heart, man. 1 guess YOU
won't have to wait for the tide and
the sun won't bother YOU long Re
member, am watching you"
He turned and walked away. conceal
Ing himself in the copse once more,
where he could see and not be seen.
The realization that he was watched
by one whom he could not see, one
who gloatcd over lis miscrics and suf-
rerinSs and agonies. added the last
touch to the torture Of the buccanccr.
He had no longer strength or man
hood. He no longer cried out after
that one last appeal to the mcvciless
sailor. He did not even look up i'm
obedience to the old mans Injunction.
What was there above him, beneath
pim, around him, that could add to his
fear! lie prayed for death. They
were the first and last prayers that haG
fallen from his lips for fifty years,
those that day. Yet when death did
come ut last lie shrank from it with
an increasing terror and horror that
made all that he had passed through
seem like Il trltle.
When old Hornigold had looked W.
lie had seen speck ia the vaultcd
heaven. 1t was slowly soaring around
and around In vast circles and with
each circle coming nearer and nearer
to the ground. a pair Of keen and
powerful eyes were aloft there picrc-
ing the distance, looking, searching in
every direction until at last their
glance fell upon the figure upon the
rock. The circling stopped. There was
n swift rush through the air. \ black
feathered body passed between the
buccaneer and the sun, and mighty
vulturc, hideous bird Of the tropics,
alighted OH the sands near by him.
So this was the Judgment of God
upon this man! For Il second his tor
tured heart stopped It's beating. He
stared ut the unclean thing, and then
he shrank back against the rock and
screamed with frantic terror The bird
moved heavily back little distance
and stopped, peering at him. He could
see 1t by turning his head. He could
drive it no farther. In another mo-
ment there was another rush through
the air, another, another! lie scream
ed again. Still they came until it SEEM
ed as If the earth and the heavens were
black with the horrible birds. High in