Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1909-03-18

And midnight voices hoard to moan,
Twas even said the blasted oak,
COnvulnive, hnAved a hollow groan.
And 70 this day the peasant still,
With cautious fear, avoids the ground,
In each wild branch q spectre sees.
And romhleH AZ each riHing ground
The SPTRTT's BLASTED TREE.
Dauntrees, after his unmannerly
escape from the credulous landlady,
FASTENED with bis two companions,
at swinging gait, along the beach
to the fort, where they found Garrett
Weasel waiting for them IA q state
Of expectation.
rs the dame likely to be angry,
Captain" we're the publican's first
words. Does she suspec. us for a
frisk to-night2 Adsheartlikens, 1t
is o perilous adventure for the NOR
rowl You shall bear the burden OF
that reckoning. Master Captain. =
II left Mistress Dorothy cropping
for o secret At HoodmanblInd," re-
piled the Captain. laughing. "she
has found II before now, and by my
computation IL 10 the prettiest hur-
ricane that eyer brought afrown up.
on woman's brow. She would
bless the four quarters Of you Carrot,
II you should return home tonight,
with q blessing that would leave q
scorch- mark on you for the rest Of
your days. I shouldn't wonder
presently to hear her feet patterinR
on the gravel OF the beach in full
pursuit. TO us--dark as IL is: Ihave
left her in mood TO tempt any I'M
heard Of danger for revenge. So, leI
us be away upon our errand. You
have the eatables sale and the wine
sound, worthy Weasel2 Nicholas, ;
he said, speaking to the Lieutenant
ARE our horses saddIed2"
They are at the post on the othel
side Of the parade" replied th'
Lieutenant.
"AIackl'' exclaimed Weasel
Alack for these pranksI Here will b
weeks repentance. But tig FOL
conclusionsl- In for apenny, In for
pound. masters. ! have the basko
we'll stored and In good keeping. !
will be- discreet 70 mount quickly,
will NOT answer against the dame
rapping al the gate tonight; she Il
q woman Of spirit and valiant In hel
anger"
"Then let US be up and away.
said the Captain, who was busil,
bestowing pair Of pistols in hi
belt and suspending bis sword acros
his body.
"A cutlass and pistols for me,
said the publican, % he selected hi
weapons from several ct hand.
i Arnold and Pamesack were eac
provided with o carbine, when Daur
trees, throwing his clork across hi
shoulders, led the way 10 the horse
where the party having mounted
sailed though the gate Of the fort
q gallop.
Their road Icy around the bead
st. Inigo's creek, and soon BEGAN
entangled In dark, woody ravint
and steep activities, which proven
ed, ct this hour. no small interrul
ton to their progress. Pamesacl
on o slouching pony. bis legs dams
ling within foot OF the ground. lie
the way with an almost instinctil
knowledge Of bis intricate patl
which might have dsfed q dark
night. The stars, shining though
crisp and cloudIess atmosphere. 81
abied the party to discern the pr
|, | iile Of the tree tops, and disclosed
them, at intervals, the track OF th
} solitary road with sufficient distinc
. ness TO prevent their entirely losir
10.
; They had journeyed for moae tbs
! two hours In the depths Of the fore
before they approached the inlet
81. Jeroms's. Dauntrees had begul
!, ed the time by tales Of former .
. ventures, and now and then
saIIies Of humor provoked by u
dubious valor Of the innkeeper, II
Weasel, although addicted TO n
vanity Of exhibiting himself In n
] light Of o smashing, cutand-tru
: comrade 10 an emprise of peril. VI
: nevertheless unable. this night,
! suppress the inyolutary confessi'
OF g lurking iaint-heartedness at u
: result OF the present venture. Th
) misgiving showed itself IN his
creased gsrruIity and 10 the exa
Igerated tone Of bis vauntings Of wh
be had done 10 sundry emergenci
!, Of hazard, 80 we'll as Of what he b
b made up his mind TO do on the pi
sent occasion II they should be
! fortunate as 10 encounter any pee
b llarly severe stress Of fortune. .
4 on such topics the party grew joyi
I and Dauntrses laughed st the top
! bis voice.
8 "The winners old roysterIr
' courses would make us lose our 70