The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-02-15

tO hD0nQonE I've lOSt me snip, an me
money, an me papers. an 'arf me men.
Unless one was lookin' for trouble.
this Amt no treasure island. mister"
yet II might be made one"
AS howf"
"Do you not realize how greatly the
members Of the present government
fear my return to Brazill Here am
their prisoner. practically friendless,
almost alone. They dare not kill me
by process Of law. yet they are NOV
Ing heaven and earth to prevent my
escape or shoot me down In the act.
Why7 Because they know that the
people are longing to hail me as pres
ident again. Suppose you and your
men took me to Pernambuco."
"S'pose Halifax snapped Coke.
"Please listen. You can but refuse
when you look at the facts fairly. II,
as say. were put ashore at Pernam-
buco. or at any other Of half a dozen
ports I can name. 1 should be among
my own followers. You, Captain
Coke, and every officer and man Of
your ship and her owners and the rel
atives Of those who have lost their
lives would not only be paid all just
claims by the new government, but
adequately rewarded. In your own
case the recompense would be prince
ly; but, assuming that we board a ves-
sci bound for Europe, what certainty
have you that you will ever receive
pennyT
"oh. RELY, that's comm 1t a bit
thick, mister" growled Coke.
You believe A am exaggerating the
dtmculties Of your position? Pray con.
slider. Your vessel Is broken ND. She
was fired on while at anchor on the
wrong side Of the island, on the very
day selected for my escape. You and
your men manage to dodge the bullets,
and. under my leadership, assisted by
Captain San Benavides, you overrun
the place by night, kill several soldiers.
seize launch, dcspoil peasants of
their crops and stores and make or
with good deal Of property belonging
10 the brazilian government not to
mention the presence In your midst of
such significant parsonage as myself.
speaking candidly, Senior Captain,
what chance have you Of convincing
any international court of your limo
cencef Who will believe that you were
not true hlibusterr"
"Wot exactly Is your ofYerr
Ample compensation officially. Five
thousand pounds to you In person"
Five thousandr' Coke cleared a
throat husky With doubt. THAT 'ud
make things pretty easy for the missus
an the girls" he muttered. "An'
there's no new ship for me wen
Dickey Bulmer cocks Is eye at Hozier.
It's moral therell be holy row be-
tween I'm an David. Dye mean 1t,
misterr'
Even II | fail and my life Is spared
Will pay you the money out Of my
own private funds" was the vehement
reply.
"Well, well, leave the job to me-"
Il promise on my honor" De Sylvia
began.
But the nearer surface of the sea
flashed into n dazzling distinctness.
and Coke dragged him down to the
launch. The cruiser had rounded Rat
Island and was devoting one sweeping
glance eastward ere she sought her
prey In creek or tortuous channel.
AT hast after wearying delay she
vanished. Five minutes later Watts
and Olsen brought the welcome news
that she was returning to the road-
stead.
II was then half past o'clock, and
the sun would rise soon after 5. Now
or never the launch must make her eff
Tort. Reacy hands tore away her dis
guise. she was tilted by crowding In
the poop nearly every man on board,
the engines throbbed. and she was
afioat.
At daybreak the thousand foot peak
OF Fernando Noronha was a dark blur
on the western horizon. No sail or
smudge OF smoke broke the remainder
OF the far flung circle. The fugitives
could breathe freely once more. They
were not pursued.
Iris fell asleep when assured that the
dreaded wership was not In sight. Ho-
xier. TOO. utterly exhausted bv all that
ne had gone through. slept as IL he
were dead. Coke took the first watch
In person. He chatted with the men,
surprised them by his candor on the
question OF compensation and announc-
ed his resolve to make for the 600 mile
channel between Fernando Noronha
and the mainland.
When HOzier awoke TO find the
launch heading west he was vastly as
tonished by Cokes program.
Watts let the cat out OF the bag later.
Those OF us 90 don't leave Dom
wots-his-name In the lurch are to get
ten years full pay. extry an over an
obovt wot the court allows" he said.
Ten years pay an ten years drunk! :!
It's enough TO make n sinner OF any
man"
HOzler laughed. Two days ago no