The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-05-31

a. VIC CANT Oh ueCk, Vaughan
looked down from a hogshead, on
Which ne had mounted in desperation,
and said:
For Gods love, is there anybody
who can make these wretches under
stand something? The men gave them
rum, and that did not quiet them. 1
Knocked that big fellow down twice,
and that did not soothe him. And then
u talked Choctaw to all of them to-
gether; and I'll be hanged if they I'M
Iderstood that as well as they under
stood the English"
Nolan said he could speak Por-
tuguese, and one or two fne-looking
Kroomen were dragged out, who, as it
had been found already had worked
for the Portuguese on the coast at
Fernando Pc.
"Tell them they are free" said
Vaughan; "and tell them that these
rascals are to be hanged as soon as
we can get rope enough"
Nolan explained it in such Portu-
guese as the Kroomen could under
stand, and they in turn to such of the
negroes as could understand them
Then there was such q yell of delight
.clinching of fists, leaping and dancing
kissing of Nolan's feet, and general
rush made to the hOgshead by way Of
spontaneous worship of Vaughan as
the deus ex machina of the occasion.
"Tell them" said Vaughan, well
pleased, that will take them all to
Cape Palmas."
This did not answer so well. Cape
Palmas was practically as far from
the homes of most of them as New Or
leans or Rio Janeiro was; that is, they
would be eternally separated from
home there. And their interpreters, as
we could understand, instantly said,
"Ah, non Palmas," and began to pro-
pose infinite other expedients in most
.voluble language. Vaughan was rath-
er disappointed at this result Of his
liberality, and asked Nolan eagerly
what they said. The drops stood on
poor Nolan's white forehead as he
flushed the men down, and said:
"He says, Not Palmas.' He says,
Take US home, take us to our coun-
try, take US to our own house, take
US to our own pickaninnies and our
own women. He says he has an old
father and mother, who will die, if
fey do not see him. And this one
$-sa$s he left his people all sick, and
padded down to come and help them,
and that these devils caught him in
the bay just in sight of home, and
that he has never seen anybody from
home since then. And this one says"
choked out Nolan, that he has not
heard a word from his home in six
months, while he has been locked up
in an internal barracoOn."
Vaughan always said he grew gray
himself while Nolan struggled through
this Interpretation. l, who did not I'M
derstand anything of the passion in
volved in it, saw that the very ele-
ments were melting with fervent heat,
and that something was to pay some
where. Even the negroes themselves
stopped bowling as they saw Nolan's
agony, and Vaughan's almost equal
agony of sympathy. AS quick as he
could get words, he said;
"Tell them yes, yes; tell them they
shall go to the Mountains Of the Moon,
If they will. If 1 sail the schooner
Through the Great White Desert they
shall go hOme"
And after some fashion Nolan said
so. And then they all fell to kissing
him again and wanted to rub his nose
with theirs.
But he could not stand it long; and
getting Vaughan to say he might go
back, he beckoned me down into our
boat. AS we lay back in the stern
sheets and the men gave way, he said
Ito me: "Youngster, let that show you
what it is to be without family, with
out a home, and without a country.
And if you are ever tempted to say a
word or to do a thing that shall put
O bar between you and your family,
YOUR home, and your country, pray
God in his mercy to take you that in
slant home to his own heaven. Stick
10y your family, boy; forget you have
d self, while you do everything for
them. Think of your home, boy; write
and send, and talk about it. Let 1t
be nearer and nearer to your thought,
the farther you have to travel from it |;
and rush to it, when you are free, as
that poor black slave is doing now.
And for your country, boy" and the
words ratified in his throat, land for
that flag" and he. pointed to the ship,
cnever dream a dream but of serving
her as she bids you, though the serv-
dee carry you through thousand hells,
Mo matter what happens to you, no
matter who flatters you or who abuses
fou. never look at another flag never
-ket a night pass but you pray God to
bless that flag. Remember boy, that
behind all these men you have to do
with, behind officers, and government,
and people even, there is the country
herself your country, and that you
belong to her as you belong to your
own mother. Stand by her, boy, as
you would stand by your mother, if
those devils there had got hold of her
todayt"
lie