The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1908-05-22

whites and more than savage blacks,
the captain grew desperate with the
problem of Billy. They all said that
Easement looked ten years older, and
that something would soon happen to
| the "old man" If Billy did not soon
| skip out; and the "old man" showed
| all the desire in the world to bring
about so desirable contamination.
Then the captain determined upon
new measures. He passed hint to
Facey, and Facey passed it to the
mess, and the mess to the blue-jack-
cts, that they were making things too
comfortable for their prisoner. For a
while Billy's easy life came to an
began to kick and cuff him without
mercy. He was represented by the
bo'sun's mate, and the cook threw
boiling water over his naked skin.
The boys heart almost broke at this,
and he went about detected and I'M
happy for the first time since he had
come aboard. But no harsh usage, no
| foul words, could drive him to desert
1t was on the bridge, to Facey, when
the ship had just dropped anchor in
Port MCGUIRE, not 40 miles from Sun
flower bay.
'Mr. Facey," he said, "send Mr..
Burder ashore with an armed party !;
tell him just to show himself bit
| and come off again."
Eyes, sir" said Facey.
II am thinking they might take that
fellow Billy to translate for them," he
went on, shamefacedly.
The first lieutenant turned to go.
| 'Hold on" said the captain, sud
denly lowering his voice and drawing
| his subordinate close to him. "Just
you pass it on to Burder that ]
wouldn't skin him alive-you know
what I mean-if-well, suppose that
black fellow cut his lucky alto.
| gether-"
Facey smiled.
"Of course" rasped out the cap
tain, 81 can't tolerate any dereliction
of duty; but if the young devil made
| a break Tor 1t
cay, ay, sir" returned the first
lieutenant, and darted down the brass
steps three at time. He called
Burder aside and gave his instruc.
tons to that discreet youngster, who
was sharp to see the point without the
need for awkward explanations.
| A couple of hours later Burder EN-
barked again and headed for the ship
in tearing hurry. A chuckle ran
along the decks as not a sign of Billy
could be made out, and the nearing
boat soon put the last doubt at rest
| There was no black boy among the
blue-jackets.
Burder skipped up the steps and
saluted the captain on the bridge.
81 have to report the escape of Billy
sir" he said, with inimitable gravity
and assurance. 81 scarcely know how
it came to happen, sir, but he man
aged to bolt as he was walking be
tween Miller and Cracroft"
"This is a very serious matter" said
the captain, with ill-concealed cheer
fulness. 81 don't know but what it is
my duty to reprimand you very Sc
| verely for your carelessness. However
if he's gone, he's gone, 1 suppose.
hope you took measures to recapture
him."
Eyes, sir, returned Burden Looked
for him high and low, sir"
Poor Billy" said the captain, with
a smile that spoke volumes. well
say no more about it, Mr.. Burder; it
may be all for the best; but remem.
Der, sir, it mustn't happen again."
mo, sir" said Burder.
How did you manage it, old man?'
was the eager question that met the
youngster as he took shelter in the
| wardroom and ordered "a beer" All
his messmates were round him, save
Facey, who was officer of the deck
| and could not do more than hang in
| the doorway.
Il tell you 1t wasn't easy" said the
boy. eve promenaded all round the
| place, and 1 tried like fun to shake
him off. I sent him errands and hid
| behind trees, and talked of how we
were going to shoot him tomorrow
| but it was all no blooming good!
was at my wits end at last, and had
| almost made up my mind to tie him to
a tree and run for it, when I got a
| bright idea. pretended had dropped
my canteen under banyan mile be
hind the town, kind of cemetery
banyan, full of dead mems bones-a
rummy place, / can tell you. And
when we got down near the boat,
took the niger on one side and babe
him go and fetch it. And don't you
come back without it, Billy said I
| I'll be dismissed from the service if
can't account for that canteen! Their
he asked how long was going to stay
and I said a week; and he went of
like lamb, while we squared away
for the ship. Didn't you see the jos
sers pull"
1t had been the merest pretense that
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