Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-10-10
DAILY STORY
A CONVICT AND A GENTLEMAN.
Copyright, 1896. by Homer sprague.l

when l came on duty at 10 o'clock the
captain and his family had turned in
There was nothing for my watch to dc
except in the case of the man on the
lookout, and all except him and the
man who stood by the wheel in a per
functory way were soon sprawled out
| and asleep. Within the hour / believe
that we all slept. If 1 slept at all, of
which 1 am not sure, it was less than
ten minutes by the cabin clock. 1 was
suddenly aroused by some one touching
my arm, and L at once responded:
well, what is it?"
1 spoke before l turned to the man
at my side. When 1 wheeled on him l
saw a stranger. He stood there with
his cap in hand, and drawn up across
the deck were fourteen other men, all
dressed as French convictS. Every
man removed his cap and bowed TO
me, and as 1 stood staring the one
who had touched me quietly said:
''Sir, we have come aboard"
But what is it-wnO are you? |
asked as our voices aroused the man
at the wheel.
"Our boat is alongside, sir. We are
escaped convicts from Cayenne. We
did not hail you, and we came aboard
without noise. We have been a night
and two days at sea. May l hope that
our advent will disturb no one?"
Good God, but we are captured by
convictsr' 1 groaned as L finally real
lied the situation.
And 4 worse thing might have hap
pened," he replied. with "a laugh. We
haven't the slightest intention of cap
turing your craft. Our only desire is
to work our passage TO the north. We
have quite a quantity of provisions
aboard our boat, and you will find US
obeying orders and maintaining the
best of discipline"
l descended to the cabin and aroused
the captain and in whispers informed
him OF what had happened. He was
of an excitable nature, and if had not
cIapped my hand over his mouth he
would have aroused the women with
his EXPLANATIONS. l had to tell him
over and over again that the convicts
offered no violence and that their lead
er seemed TO have them under perfect
control before l could quiet him. He
was shaking like leaf when we gain
ed the deck, and lie afterward told me
that he expected nothing less than TO
be murdered out of hand.
so this is the captain?'' softly asked
the convict leader Let Inc reassure
you, sir. There shall be no violence
here. You are as safe as if in your
own home ashore"
But you-you are convicts" ex-
claimed the captain as he looked
around upon the gang.
unfortunately, yes, but it does not
follow that we are beasts and bruteS.
Some of us may not have been guilty
of the crimes charged. L alone can
speak your language. l am the leader.
Every man will obey my slightest
word. All we ask is that you give us
a passage to the north
How far to the north?"
TO any of the English islands in
the West Indies"
The man was speaking fairly, and
when one looked at him there could
be no mistake that he had been gentle
born. He had the face and speech OF
an aristocrat. His followers were more
common looking men, but their faces
We're not evil. The captains excite
ment quoted down after Il little and
he reasoned it out that it was best 10
give way. Indeed, there was no other
for Il sensible man to come
TO. He looked at me and l gave him
Il nod, and then he said:
Il will take you along and trust in
what you say"
And / pledge you my word you shall
have no cause to regret it," replied the
leader as he extended his hand. LAS
the weather is fine my men can occupy
the decks. have a few words to say
to them"
With gesture he called them around
him, and then for five minutes he spoke
in low but earnest tones. As he used
the French language we could not I'M
derstand a word. and yet it was plain
that he was giving them orders and adj
vice While he was speaking l sug-
gested to the captain that he be invited
to occupy spare berth in the cabin,
and this was acceded to. When the in
yitation was extended he accepted 1t
rs his due, but with many thanks, and
introduced himself as Mr.. Lafoy. Our
sleeping watch was reused up, the con-
yicts' boat unloaded and sent adrift
made and all done so
quietly that the sleeping women were
not aroused The first they knew of
the affair was at breakfast time. Mean
while the calm was broken.
In the morning watch l carried one
Of my suits of clothes to Lafoy's state
room, along with razor and other
things. When he came out to break
fast and was introduced he was all
gentleman and no convict. He was
good taIker and a natural entertainer.
and the women, who had expected to
meet villain, were on friendly footing
within a quarter of an hour.
As for the other convicts. our men
with them at once. Some
Of them were sailors and they promptly