Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-11-22
CHAPTER XVII

For some days | saw no more of Doctor
Osbart or of Captain Black. Once or
twice l saw the man -Four Eyes" and
from him gained a few answers to my
questions. He told me that Captain Black
kept up communication with Europe by
two small screw steamers disguised as
whalers.
There were fifty prisoners in the mines
If fifty men were to be turned free, then
surely l could count on fifty allies; and
fifty-one strong hands could at least make
some show even against the ruffians of the
rock house. Give them arms, and a
chance of surprise, and who knows?
said.
It might have been a mad hope, but
yet it was hope. Unless the man -Four
Eyes deliberately deceived me, Black
would connive at the murder of fifty
British seamen before another twenty
four hours had sped. These men would
have all the anger of desperation to drive
them 70 the attack; and | felt sure that
if | could get some arms into their hands,
the attempt would at least be justifable.
During the remaining hours of the day
l engaged myself in searching the houses
on the beach; but. although l looked into
many of them, l found no sign of armory.
Then | remembered that Black had a
stand of Winchester rifles in his study.
l had hopes that they would suffice, with
knives and any revolvers l might lay
hands upon, to hold ring of men against
the company. This thought l Rugged TO
me all day, going often to the iron plat
form above the creek to know if there
- 6 ~.
ers, or of preparation for getting rid of
them.
Towards evening, when l was weary
with the watching, there was the sound
of a gunshot below in the creek; and |
went to my window. and saw the whole of
4 cruel scene. Some twenty of these sea-
men, black as they had come from the
coal shaft, were going ashore from a long
boat, while an electric launch was bring
ing twenty more from the outer creek
where the nameleSs ship lay. But the
men who had first landed were surround
ed by the others of Blacks company 4;
! and were being driven towards the hills,
and so to the great desolate plain OF
snow where no human thing could long
retain life. The pirates hir Justify with
the butt ends of their pistols; the honest
fellows used their fists, and many a man
they laid his length upon the rock. Inch
by inch they gave way. were driven to-
! wards the ravineS and the countless miles
of snow plain; and as the battle ragged,
the armed began to shoot with murderous
purpose. Death at last was added TO the
| horrors. and, as body after body rolled
down the rocky slope and fell splashinG
| into the water. those unwounded took
| panic at the sight and fed with all posi-
| bic speed away up the side of the glacier
mount. and so to their death in that
| frozen refuge beyond.
At O'Clock | dined as usual l closed
| my own door, and for three hours or more
| | paced my chamber, the fever OF antlcI-
patton and of design burning me as with
| fire.
| OF the doors about, the majority were
closed; but the Doctors was open. be,
gan to feel my way in the binding dark
| My first proceeding was to r:ln upon some
slight article of furniture and to overturr
| it. Twice l went round the room, ana
could not put my hand upon the rifles
but at the third attempt 1 found them
and gave a sigh of relief. Then an over
whelMiug terror struck me chill and pow