River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-05-21


Good, | Kill Him."
like bad penny, here he was again.
ready to precipitate the catastrophe
which could no longer be postponed.
A great laugh went up when Billy
presented himself on deck, exhaust
ed, dripping like a spaniel, and sorely
hurt in spirit. He began at once to
blurt out the story Of the canteen, and
made a Decline for Burder; but that
intrepid youngster could afford to lis
ten to no explanations, and in self
defense had to order Billy into the
hands OF the marines, who led him
away protesting.
Easements patience was now quite
at an end. He headed the ship for
Sunflower bay and spared no coal to
bring her there in short order. Three
hours after they had passed out of
the heads of Port Mcclure the Stinga-
rec was at anchor off the blow-hole.
Facey was drinking a Whisky-and-
soda, and preparing himself, as best
he could, for the ordeal he knew TO be
before him, when the captains servant
entered the wardroom and requested
his presence in the cabin.
''Mr. Facey," said the captain, take
the doctor and the pay and 40 men
well armed from the ship, and when
you've assembled the village take that
Billy and shoot him."
Eyes, sir" said the lieutenant, turn
ing very pale
"Faugh," rasped Easement, at
makes me sick. Damn the boy, why
couldn't he cut? Well, be off with
you, and kill him as decently as you
know how"
Billy did not at first realize how
of the shore party that was making
ready. He dropped into one of the
boats light-heartedly enough, and took
his place cheerfully between two ma
rines with loaded rifles. But the
mournful hush of all about him, the
eyes that turned and would not meet
his own, the tenderness and sorrow
which was expressed in every move
ment, in every furtive look, of his
whilom comrades, all stirred and
shook him with CONSERVATION. No
one laughed at his little antics. He
tickled the man next him, and nudged
him, his friend Tommy, who could
whistle like blackbird and do amaz-
ing tricks with cards; but instead Of
an answering grin, Tommy's eyes
filled with tears and he stared straight
in front of him. Billy was whimper
ing before they were half ashore, and
some understanding of the fate in
store for him began to struggle
through his thick head.
There was no need to assemble the
village. 1t was there to meet them,
old Jibberik and all, silent, funereal,
and eXpectant. The men were marched
up to the charred remains of the
traders house and formed up on three
sides of a square, leaving the fourth
open to the sea. To this space Billy
was led by Facey and old Quinn, the
gunner The negro looked about him
like a frightened child and chung to
the old man.
''Will you give the prisoner min
ute to make his peace with God?
asked old Quinn.
Facey nodded.
Quinn plunged down on his knees,
Billy beside him. For a brief space
the gunner battered prayers thick
and fast, like a man with no time to
lose.
Billy" he said at last, "as you
stand on the brink of that river we
all must cross, as the few seconds
run out that you have still to live and
breathe and make your final and
everlasting peace with the God you
have so grievously offended, let me
implore you to show some sorrow,
some contrition, for the awful act
that has brought you to this! Billy,
tell God you are sorry you killed Big
gar"
For a moment Billy made no an
swer At last, in a husky voice, he
said:
"You mean Cap'n Tom, who live
here before?"
"Him you hurled into eternity with
all his sins hot on him. Yes, Capt
Tom, the trader"
MOI" cried Billy, with strangled
cry ME no sorry. White fellow no
good; kill him.
Quinn cried Facey, your times
up" The first lieutenants face was
livid, and his hands trembled as he
bound BIlly's eyes with silk hand
kerchief.
"Stand right there, Billy" said the
officer, turning the prisoner round to
face the firing party, that was already
drawn up.
"Good-by, Missy Facey and gennel-
men ALL" whimpered the boy.
"Good-by, Billy" returned the other.
'Now, men," he added, as he ran his
eye along the faltering faces, mo
damned squeamishness; if you want
to help the niger, you'll shoot
straight For Gods sake don't mangle
him.