Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-08-10

harbor and see the ship Saint Hon
ore" that was to bear them to new
lands riding at anchor not half
league away They watched it day by
day, as boat-loads of provisions, cam
non, soldiers, and passengers were
taken out and placed on board. Their
faithful guide remained with them,
going out at night for food and for in
formation relative to the progress OF
the vessels lading. Thus passed sew
eral weeks, and they were beginning
to weary of their confinement when
news came that La Sale had arrived
and that the vessel would sail at the
turn Of the tide the next evening.
Their guide also learned that a thor
ough search of the ship had been made
for them by the soldiers, and that
final visit would be made before dark.
At length the day darkened and the
night came on. A small fisherman's
boat that had been at work all the
afternoon near by, drew in towards
the shore as night fell, and soon Sig
nal from their ally brought it close to
them. Tonu surrendered the ring
upon request and sought to repay their
guide, but as in all the other cases,
he refused the offered money. So help
ing them into the boat, he waved
good-by from shore, as they fast dis
appeared in the darkness.
The boatman pulled hard at the
oars, and they soon found themselves
nearing the ship. A few lights on her
decks served to render the confusion
existing there visible, but they were
not bright enough to illuminate the
waters about the vessel, while the
noise of departure-her anchor was al
ready raised and her small forward
sails set-made a cautious approach
unnecessary. At last they found
themselves directly under her stern,
and the ripping of the water warned
them to hasten ere she got fully un-
der weigh. By the advice of the boat
man, Pompon, agile as a cat, swung
himself up on to small swinging
scaffold that had been used in paint
ing the stern of the vessel, and had
been overlooked in the hurry of sail
ing. with a small leather pouch tied
to his body that he had brought with
him from Paris. Tonti then handed
up his sword and with parting boost
from the boatman soon found himself
crouched alongside Pompon. A fragile,
swaying seat it was indeed, but safe,
for they would not dare to climb to
the deck above until the vessel had
cleared the harbor.
Thus did three men sail on the
Saint Honore," parting from the
sunny land of France with diverse
emotions. In the stern stood La Sale,
looking back at the fast-receding lights
of La Rochelle, murmuring the words
of that plaintive song of Mary Stuart
as she sailed from Calais:
"Adieu! oh plaisant pays,
Adieui oh ma patrie
La plus cherie, qui a nourrlt
Ma belle enfance-adeu!"
Yet tinged as was his mind with re-
gret at leaving civilization and the
new love that had arisen in his heart,
he still looked forward with eagerness
to the great task before him. All was
secondary to this. For this he lived;
for this he would die.
Shivering in his cramped position
on the swinging stage below him, a
little man with SCARED face and crafty
eye shook his fist in triumph at his
escape from the land and the woman
that had both used him so ILL.,
Another man beside him, as the
tacking of the ship brought the dis
tant lights in view for the last time,
stretched towards the shore a hand
trembling with new and sweet emo
ton, as he murmured: "Adieu! my
Rose, until we meet"
ITO Be Continued