The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1919-03-07
CHAPTER Z.
Sent Into Sevitude-

NhuSuHk dutC&LuEC, dku OAC WukSU Ax0y
hever even be read until lOU after I
save departed from this word, when
s will he difficult to convince readers
Ihat such times as are herein depicted
you'd ever have been reality. shall
sndeavOr to narrate each incident in
the simplest manner possible. Ny
ynly purpose Is truth, and my only
witness history. Yet, even now lately
ts this all happened. 1t Is 0 like
ihe recOllections of a dream, dimiy re-
membered at awakening. and. per-
chance, might remain so. but for the
sears upon my body. and the constant
memory Of q wOman's face. These
alone combine to bring back In vivid
ness those days hat weekdays OF
youth and daring. of desperate. law
less war, of wide ocean peril. and the
outstretched hands of love SO that
here, where | am writing Il all down..
here amid quietnesS and peace, and
forgetful of the past. Wander again
along n deserted shore. and sail among
those isles of a southern sea. the on
IoT many al CENTURY u AAAANC ""N 49,
speakable cruelty. l will recall the
truth, and can do no more.
1t was still early morning When we
were brought out under heavy guard
and marched somberly forth through
the opened gates of the Jail. Ahead
We could perceive a forest OF mastS.
and what seemed like a vast crowd of
waiting people. That We had been
sentenced to exile. to prolonged servi-
tute in some foreign land, was all that
any of us knew.
The guards prodded the crowd say
ageIy with the butts of their mus
ketoOnS, thus making Scant room for
us to shuttle through. out upon the far
end of the wharf. where we were
finally halted abreast of a Jumping
brig, apparently nearly ready for sea.
There were more, than forty OF US. L
gainai glimpse of The hooker's name
R"mping Betsy u Plymouth. A mo-
ment later 4 sailor passed along the
esJye of the dock and instantly Il whis-
ger passed swiftly from man TO
IFS Virginia, mate; we're bound for
Virginia"
: The eyes Of a prisoner met mine.
Virginia, heyT' he grunted. "Ye're
a sailOrman. amt ye, mate? Well,
then, whar is this yere virginia."
: sThat's all right. mates" I returned
cheerily. "WeIl fall into the hands
81 Enghshmen out there. Ia America,
where all the tobacco comes from.
I've been there twic>and to a land
beyond they call Maryland. Tis a
country not so unlike fingland.'
yer better stow that. my man"
grOwled someone above me, n 1
locked IN into the stern eyes of the
captain of the guard, ''or it may be
the eat for We. So we've been ter
the Virginia plantation, hey ye? Then
We must be Master Carlyle. | take it.
| heerd tell about We at the trial, but
supposed We ter be an older man"
81 am twonty-Six."
"Ye don't look even thet. Az.
they're ready for We now. Fall In
there-all of yer. Step along. yer
ID rebel cum
/ stared aft at the poop deck. There
were Il number of persons gathered
along the low rail, probably all pasSen-
gers. Then my eyes ~ncounlered q
strange group fOregathered beside the
lee rail.
There were fOur in the little party
L,,, ,rroc Dnthnr va Z
clearly enough "A colonial proprietor,
q heavily built man of middle age,
purple faced. | passed these by with
a glance. my attention concentrating
upOn the other two-a middie-aged
man and a young woman stand
ing side by side. The former was a
dashin. looking blade, of not more
than forty, attired in blue SlaShed
coat. ~ornamented with gilt buttons
and bedecked at collar and cuffs with
a profuSiOn of lace. A saffron cOiOred
waistcoat failed to conceal his richly
beruhied shirt, and the hilt of Il rapier
was rather prominently displayed
Such dandieS were frequently enough
seen. but it was this mans face which
made marked contrast with his ga!
attire. He was dark and hOok-nosed
apparently of foreign birth. with black
mustache tightly clipped. so as 10 re
veal the thin firmness of his lips, and
even at that distance l could perceive
the lines of a scar across his chin. Al
together there was an audacity to his
face, a daring, convincing HE he was
no mere lady's knight but n to whOU
fighting was a trade. He was pointing
us out to his companion, apparently
Joking over our appearance. in an en-
deavor to amuse. Seemingly she gave
small heed to his words, for although
her eyes followed where he poinfet
they never Once lighted with a smile
nor did l see her answer his saiiies
She was scarcely more than Il Sir'
dressed very simply in sorne c.ingin:
dark stuff. with a loose gray cioai