The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-12-13

at Port Roy
You seen 10 ind it a pleasant task"
"By heaven, do. SIR cried the SOL
dier fercely. Il am gentleman born,
of the proudest family in the Old Do
minion, and have been forced to bow
and scrape and endure your insults and
commands, you bloody villain, but
now
"'Tis no part Of soldiers duty, sir,
to insult prisoner" interrupted Nor
gan, not without a certain dignity. BE
was striving to gain time to digest this
surprising piece Of news and thinking
deeply what was to be done in this
entirely unexpected crisis.
Course it all, HawXherst." Ensign
Bradley burst out, pulling at the sleeve
of his superior. You so too far, man.
This is unseemly."
Hawxherst passed his hand across
his brow and by an effort soAewhat
regained his self control.
..Nathless It's in this paper writ that
you are to go to England prisoner on
the Mary Rose to await the kings
pleasure, he added savagely.
@.His gracious majesty hath laid his
sword upon my shoulder. am a
knight of his English court, one who
has served him we'll upon the seas.
His Golfers have !. enriched by-but let
that pass. I do not believe that King
Charles, God bless him
''Stop! The Mary Rose brings the
news that King Charles II. is dead,
and there reigns in his stead his gra-
cious majesty King James,
"God rest the soul of the kingv cried
Morgan, lifting his hat from his head.
''Ee was a merry and gallant gentle
man. I know not this James. How if
I do not go with you:''
You have ten minutes in which to
decide, SIR" answered Hawxherst.
.'!And then?"
"Then if I don't bring you forth the
men of yonder troop will come in with
out further order. Eh, Bradley"
"Quite so, Sir Henry" answered the
younger man. "And every avenue Of
escape is guarded. Yield you, sir. Be
lieve me, there's naught else.'
81 have ten minutes then," said the
old man refectively. ''Ten minutes.
Humv'
"You may have" answered the cap
tain curtly, eff you choose to take 50
long. And I warn you," he added,
"that you'd best make use Of that time
to bid farewell to Lady Morgan or give
other order for the charge Of your af-
fairs, for twill be long time, I take
it, before you are back here again"
"Lady Morgan is dead, gentlemen, in
the room above"
At this young Bradley removed his
hat, an example which Hawxherst fol-
lowed a moment after. They had al
ways felt sorry for the unfortunate
wife Of the buccaneer.
Gas for my affairs, they can wait" ;"
continued Morgan slowly. "The game
is not played out yet. and perchance
I shall have another opportunity to ar
range them. Meanwhile fetch glasses.
Carib, from yonder buffet
He nodded toward huge sideboard
which stood against the wall imme-
diately in the rear of Ensign Bradley
and at the same time shot swift.
meaning glance at the maroon, which
was not lost upon him as he moved
rapidly and noiselessly in obedience.
Gentlemen, will you drink with ne
to our next merry meeting?'' he con-
tinued, turning to them.
"We're honest soldiers, honorable
gentlemen, and We'll drink with no
murderer, no traitorv cried Hawk
herst promptly.
'So?" answered Morgan, his eye
sparkling with baleful light, although
he remained otherwise entirely IN
moved.
"..nd let me remind you" continued
the soldier. ''that your time is pass
ing"
"Well, keep fast the glasses, Carib
The gentlemen have no fancy for
drinking. I suppose, sirs, that I must
fain yield ne. but first let me look at
your order ere I surrender myself
peaceably to you," said the deposed
governor. with surprising meekness.
Indeed, sir
"'Tis my right
''Well, perchance it may be. There
can be no harm in it, I think. Eth.
Bradley queried the captain, catch
ing for the moment his subaltern's
eye.
Then. as the latter nodded his head.
the former extended the paper to Nor
gan. At that instant the old bucca-
neer SHOT one desperate glance at the
maroon, who stood back Of the shoul-
shall hre9'
80 q