Saint Mary's beacon., 1909-04-01

watch upon her nest which. built In
the highest fork. rocked TO and fro
In the breeze. whilst her screams oI
warning ta her Joung seemed 10
answer 20 the din of the waters.
In tbs larger apartment Of the hut
few fagots blaxed upon the hearth,
supplying heat 20 . pot that sim.
mered above them. the care OF which
together with order culinary opera
tions, engaged the attention OF n
brown, haggsrd and weather beaten
woman, who piled this household
duty with q silent and rlechanical
thrift. She was not the only tenant
OF the dwelling. Remote from the
hearth, and immesJetesy below q
small window. sac. - 1arently upon
the floor, figure eminently calculat-
ed TO challenge observation. His
features were those OF O man OF
seventy. sharp, shrewd and imprint
ed with deep trace OF care. His
frame indicated ths possession, as
90 earlier period oz bis life, Of the
highest degree of ssrength; Ii was
broad in the shoulders. ample In
chest, and still muscular. although
deprived OF it's roundness by age
His dress, Of coarse green serge,
made into double With skirts that
fell both front aud rear. secured by
leathern belt, was 90 contrived as
20 conceal. In bis present posture,
his lower extremities. A broad ruff
received his locks ofirou gray, which
fell over bis back In trisp wiry curls:
Q thick grizzly beard. Of the same
bue, gave an elongation TO bis coun.
tenance which impaired to the ob-
server the uupleasant impression OF
head disproportioaably large for
the body, at least = seen In It's pre-
sent aspect. His o. IS, dark and un-
usually clear. were sunk deep In
their sockets, whilsta = shaggy and
matted brow, overhanging them like
o porch, gave sometimes On almost
preternatural brilliancy 10 their
quick and changefua glances-like
the sparkling Of water when agitat-
cd in y well. IL cas- observable
from the dropping ID OF tie upper
jaw that he had lost bis teeth, and
this had given q tendency OF the
strong furrowed lines and seams,
with which his features were mark
ed, to converge towards the mouth.
His girdle sustained q long knife
which apparently constituted part
OF his ordinary equipment; and the
oblique fash of his eye. and tremul-
Gus motion OF bis thin lin, BETRAYED
nperamant, from which one
might In fer that ibis weapon gof
offehce was pos worn snerefy a. IN
ornament Of the person.
The individual described in this
summary was familiar 10 report,
throughout the province, as The
Cripple. His true name was sup.
posed TO be Robert Swale, but this
was almost lost In the pervading
popular designation OF Rob of the
Bowl. or Treucher R1b-an appella-
tive which he had borne ever since
his arrival in the province, now some
fifteen years gone bv. or his bis
tory but little was known. aud that
little was duly mystified. in the pub
lie repute, by the common tendency
In the vulgar mind TO make the most
OF any circumstance OF suspicion.
The story went that he had been
shiprecked, on q winter voyage, upon
this coast, and after suffering in
credible hardships, had saved his
life only at the expense OF the loss OF
both legs by frost. In this manned
condition he had reached the shore
of the province. and some time after
wards built the hut In which he now
dwelt, near the mouth OF So. Jerome's.
Here he had passed many years,
without attracting other notice than
such as the stinted charity OF the
world affords when it is exercised
upon the fate or fortunes of an ob
scure recluse. This observation
began TO find o broader scope as
soon IS 10 became obvious that
the hermit was not altogether an
object for almsgiving; and the
little world Of this part of the
province discovering. in process
OF time, that he was not absolu
tely penniless. were fain TO take
offence at the mystery Of his means
OF earning his frugal substance.
Before many years, some few OF the
traders and country people round
bad found out that Rob was OCCASION
ally possessed OF good merchantabie
commodities much In request by the
inhabitants OF the port, aud dark
whispers were sometimes circulated
touching the manner In which he
came by them. These surmises were
not made topics Of public discussion
for two reasons;-frst, because 10
was not inconvenient or Improbable
TO the traders In the secret TO deal
with Rob; : and secondly. Rob was
not man 10 allow this indulgence
OF idle speculation; he was Of an
irascible temper. free 10 strike when
crossed, and, what was still more to
be feared, had friends who were not
unwilling to take up his quarrel.
The loss of his legs was supplied by
a wooden bowl or trencher, OF an
elliptical shape, to which his thighs
were attached by o strap, and this
rude contrivance was swayed for
ward, when the owner chose, by the
aid OF two short crutches, which
enabled him 70 lift himself from the
ground and assume progressive
motion. Il was 70 the exercise which
this mode Of locomotion imposed upon
his upper limbs. that the unusual
breadth and sQusreness OF his figure
about the shoulders. as well as the
visible manifestations OF strength OF
arm for which he was remarkable,
were in part, perhaps, 20 be attribut-
ed. Use had made him expert in the
management Of his bowl. and he