The Virginia enterprise., 1908-05-22

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 a consummation.
Then the captain determined upon
new measures. y, He passed arhint 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
abrupt conclusion. His best friends
began to kick and cuff him without
mercy. He was rope's-ended by the
DO suns mate, and the cook threw
boiling water over his naked skin.
The boys heart almost broke at this,
and he went about detected and un-
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 Mcclure, 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 a bit
and come off again."
Yes, sir said Facey.
Il am thinking they might take that
fellow Billy to translate for them," he
went on, shamefacedly.
The first lieutenant turned to 20.
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 mean-if-well, suppose that
black fellow cut his lucky alto
gether-'
Facey smiled.
"Of course" rasped out the cap
tain, Il can't tolerate any dereliction
of duty; but if the young devil made
break for it.
"Ay, ay, sir" returned the first
lieutenant, and darted down the brass
steps three at time. He called
Burder aside and gave his instruc.
tions 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.
II have to report the escape of Billy,
| sir he said with inimitable gravity
and assurance. Il 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 very serious matter" said
the captain, with ill-concealed cheer
fulness. Il 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, l suppose. l
hope you took measures to recapture
him."
Yes, sir, returned Burder. Looked
| for him high and low, sir"
Poor Billy" said the captain, with
smile that spoke volumes. We'll
say no more about it, Mr.. Burder; it
may be all for the best; but remem.
ber, 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 it wasn't easy" said the
boy. I'VE promenaded all round the
place, and l tried like fun to shake
him off. l sent him errands and hid
behind trees, and talked of how we
were going to shoot him tomorrow
! but 1t was all no blooming good! I
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 l 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, l can tell you And
when we got down near the boat, l
| took the niger on one side and bade
| him go and fetch it. And don't you
come back without it, Billy said I.
I'll be dismissed from the service if I
| can't account for that canteen!' Then
he asked how long l was going to stay,
and I said week; and he went off
like lamb, while we squared away
for the ship. Didn't you see the JOS
sers pull"
It had been the merest pretense that
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