Connecticut western news., 1919-04-03
CHAPTER |.
Sent Into SerNitude.

Sent Into Servitude.
 Knowing this to be narrative of Nmnxsual adventure. and one which may beser even be read until long after I lave departed from this world, when . win be difficult to convince readers 1axts such times as are herein depicted susi6d ever have been reality, l shall s1n5eavor to narrate each incident in Inc simplest manner possible. My oas4y purpose Is truth, and my only wsAmess history. Yet, even now lately ss this al Happened, it is more like 4kes recoilections of a dream, dimly re- 1seanbered at awakening, and, per Ssazanse, might remain so, but for the srzsgS upon my body, and the constant nnefnory of a woman'S face. These 4aease combine to bring back in vivid Rsasss those days that Were-days of ossrtka and daring, of desperate, law lksss war, of wide ocean peril, and the snaskTetched hands of love. So that Aese, where I am writing it all down, Aere amid quietness and peace. and H6rgetful of the past, l wander again along a deserted shore, and sail among shnse isles of a southern sea, the home 1Sr many a century of crime and un- sHealzable cruelty. I will recall the tElth, and can do no more.
 Tt was still early morning when we were brought out under heavy guard sRS marched somberly forth through the opened gates of the jail. Ahead sEe could perceive a forest of masts, smasl what seemed like a vast crowd of wazting people. That we had been Sentenced to exile, to prolonged servi- tuEze Sn some foreign land, was all that cay sf us knew. a...
 The guards prodded the crowd saw 4getT with the butts of their mus kffuons, thus making scant room for ". to shuffle through, out upon the far end of the wharf, where we were fRaily halted abreast of a Jumping nEg.e apparently nearly ready for sea. Xhere were more than forty of us. I Eained glimpse of the hooker's name 1onpfng Betsy of Plymouth. A mo- .nent later, sailor passed along the edge of tue dock and instantly whis- Hen passed swiftly from man to man.
 MS Virginia. mate; we're bound for Esgfnfa."' !
 The eyes of a prisoner met mine. gvnginia. heyT he grunted. "Ye're
 ssAiOrman. ain't ye, mate? Well, fohes1s whAr Is this we're virginia2"
 +sThat's- all right, mates," I returned aheasiy. ''We'll fall into the hands SG GEdgIisdmeR out there. In America, where all tue tobacco comes from. Eve been there twice-and to land 3eysnd they call Maryland. 'Tis a ansxhtky not so unlike England"
 "Eer better stow that. my man," ,&E0wled someone above me, and I lssked up into the stern eyes of the lantafn of the guard, "or it may be As9 cat for ye. So ye've been ter tkesVirginia plantation, hev ye? Then 3e Inust be Master Carlyle, I take it. 4heead tell about ye at the trial, but anpppsed. ye fer be an older man."
 lam Menty-six."
 ~Yh don't look even thet. Ay, Skey're ready for ye now. Fall in gAere-77all 2 of yer. Step along, yer a-d rebel scum"
 Istared aft, at the poop deck. There verh q number of persons gathered Sforigs the low rail, probably all passen. pers. Then my eyes encountered a esrangf group foregathered beside the Hese rail.
 There were four in the little party sme of them negress. Another was Efear1y enough a colonial proprietor - heavily built man of middle age HUGpde faced. passed these by witt y ssisfnce, my attention concentrating 1pon the. other twO-a middle-aget 1Eza and young woman stand Ing side by side. The former was ( Aashing looking blade, of not alore 1han- forty, attired in blue slasheG ,Nukxt, Ornamented with gilt buttons Sxnf bedecked at collar and cuffs witt . profusfon of lace. A saffron coloreC wnistcoat failed to conceal his richly
 sruff1ed shirt, and the hilt of a rapie' t-ss rather prominently displayed .Gs7ch dandies were frequently enouSl scen, but it was this mans face whicl made marked contrast, with his gay xftire. He was dark and hook -nosed AnDarently of foreign birth, with black nzustache tightly clipped, so as to re veal the thin firmness of his lips, ant even at that distance I could perceive tfsaa lines of a scar across his chin. Al together there was an audacity to his faee, daring, convincing me he was re mere Iady's knight but one to whom fighting was trade. He was pointing us out to his companion, apparently jt.,xing. over our appearance, in an en ldcnvor td amrIse. Seemingly she gave staaH heed to, his words, for although 'fs~ seyes followed where he pointed Ahey never once lighted with smile 'Nor dad E see her answer his sallies -Ese was scarcely more than girl s~--sssed .vefy simply An some eli1ginf s-448 stnff. with. D loose gray cioas