Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-01-11
CHAPTER XII.

Now. either | am mad or dreaming"
thought / for that the fellow had not
heard our noise was to me starkly in
credible. l stepped along the deck to-
ward him. | touched him ON the shout
der. He faced round with quick start.
Sir" said l, quick and low, before he
could get a word OGt-"sir, we are in
your hands. | will be plain. Tonight
/ have broke out of Bristol Keep. and
the Colonels men are after me. Give me
up to them. and they hang me to-mor-
row; give my cOmrade up, and they per-
secute her. Now, sir, know not which
side you be, but there's our case in
nutshell"
The man bent forward, display ing
huge, rounded face, very kindly about
the eyes. and set atop of the oldest body
in the world, for under a trunk extraor-
dinarily broad and strong straddled pair
of legs that baby would have disowned
so thin and stunted were they--and, to
make it the queerer, ended in feet the
most prodigiOus you ever saw.
AS | said. this man leaned forward
and shouted into my ear so that | fairly
leaped in the air:
MY names Pottery-Bill Pottery
cap'n o the Godsend, an you cant
make me hear. not if you bust yoursePw
You may think this put me in a fine
quaHdary.
Il be deaf as nails!' bawled he.
Twas horrible, for the troopers, l
thought, if anywhere near, could not miss
hearing him. His voice shook the very
rigging.
AN o. my crew the half ashore get
tin drunk an the half below in a very
accomplished state o liquor. so there's
no chance fer zee to speak,
He paused a moment, then roared
again:
What pity. Cos you make me very
curious-that you dor
Luckily, at this moment, Della had
the sense to put a finger to her lip. The
man wheeled round without another
word. led us aft over the blocks, cordage
and all manner of loose gear that en-
numbered the deck. to a ladder that, to-
ward the stern, led down into darkness.
Here he signed to US to follow. and. de-
scending first. threw open a door. letting
out a faint stream of light in our faces.
twas the captains cabin, lined with cup
boards and lockers, and the light came
from an oil lamp hanging over a narrow
deal table BY this light Captain Billy
scrutinized us for an instant; then, from
one of his lockers brought out pen, paper
and ink. and set them on the table be-
fore me. l caught up the pen, dipped it
and began to write:
II am John Marvel servant of King
Charles: and til night am escaped out
of Bristol Castle. If you be"
Thus far had written without glanc-
ing up. in fear to read the disappoint-
ment of my hopes. But now the pen
was caught suddenly from my fingers. the
paper torn in shreds. and there was Mas
ter Pottery shaking us both by the hand,
nodding and backing. and smiling all over
his big red face.
But he ceased mt last; and opening an
other of his lockers. drew forth a horn
lantern. mallet, and a chisel. Not a
word was spoken as he lit the lantern
and passed out of the cabin, Della and
following at his heels.
just outside. at the f0ot of the steps,
he stopped. pulled up a trap in the floor
ing, and disclosed another ladder stretch
ing, as it seemed, down into the bowels
of the ship. This we descended care
fully. and found ourselves in the hold.
The room was narrow. and every inch
of il contested Oy two puissant essences,
the one OF raw wood. the other Of bilge
water. With wool the place was piled /,
but also / noticed. not far from the lad
der. several casks set On their ends; and
to these the captain I'd rs.
They were about a dozen in all. stack
ell close together, and Master POTTERY.