The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-08-26
KIDNAPPED
BY ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON
Condensation by James 3. Connolly

Condensation by ,
1t was dawn; the blackbirds were
whistling in the lilacs, the mists of the
valley arising and melting, when 1 set
out for the house Of Shaw On the
forenoon Of the second day, coming to
| the top of hill, 1 saw the city of
Edinburgh smoking like a kiln below
me. There was a flag upon the castle
and ships anchored to the blue floor of
the Firth, sight which thrilled me.
| l walked on toward Cramond, max
Ing inquiries as went of my uncle who
! seemed to be in no favor thereabout,
some giving me half-civi1 word, some
a scowl or a curse for an answer. 1t
was night, and his house barred and
dark when 1 came to it, and it was
, long while before my shouts and
knocks brought him to the window
from where, with blunderbuss by
way of welcome, he screamed to in
qure my business.
1t was a mean, STOPPING, clay-faced
| creature; and a big muckle house and
an illkept one I saw when at last he
| let me in, with dirt, mice and spiders
having their play of it. Here I stayed
some days, the while he sparingly fed
me with porridge and a rare half-cup
of ale.
One night he gave me 40 pounds,
saying it was q debt he owed my
! father, and with it he gave me also a
rusty key to the high stair tower, tell
ing me to bring him down the chest at
the top of it. I went, poor fool, into
| the dark to bring it; and only a blink
of summer lightning saved me from
stepping into space and being dashed
| sheer down from the top Of the tower
OF the estate that he had defrauded
my father in life l had then no sus
picion; but that happening Of the tow
er gave me glimpse of his villany. In
the morning my body would be dis
covered at the foot of the tower, his
40 pounds in my pockets, as one trying
to escape after robbing his host. What
a tale he would make of it!
Next day my uncle spoke of friend,
Captain Elias Hoseason of the brig
Covenant, then lying off Queensferry
on the Firth, proposing that 1 go call
there with him. 1 agreed, being eager
to get away from that evil house; also
I had knowledge that residing in
Queensferry was Mr. Rankiellor, the
counsellor and agent, friendly per-
son and one who knew more than any
other of my fathers business in life.
We arrived at Queensferry, but did
not see Mr.. Rankiellor, foreby l first
allowed myself to be led into looking
over the brig with Captain HOseason
and my uncle. 1t was so that l came
to be knocked on the head and kid
mapped to sea on the agreement be-
tween my uncle and Captain Hoseason
that l was to be sold into slavery in
the Carolines.
1t was a fair wind the first day to
sea- but following days were all head
winds, the ship making so little way
on her course to the north that Cap
tain Hoseason made a fair wind OF a
foul one by heading her south back
the way we had come. During this
time of bad weather the cabin boy was
killed by the first officer in drunken
passion, his body cast overheard and l
pressed into his berth.
It was night, with swell and thick
white fog, the men listening for break
ers, when the brig ran over boat;
and sent all but one man to the bot
tom. That one, with a leap and a
clutch which showed his rare agility
and strength, boarded us by way OF the
briggs bowsprit.
He entered the cabin, or round
house, looking cool as you please, and
called for something to eat and the
drink to wash it down. He was We'll
set, rather small man with dark face
and dancing bright eyes. Under his
great coat were two silver mounted
pistols, a dirk and great-sword. He
made his name known, Alan Stewart
Breck, and without fear announced
himself as on a mission for Prince
Charlie. From a money-belt about
him he offered the Captain sixty gum
cas- to set ashore on Linnhe Loeb.
The Captain shook hands on the
bargain, but at once went on deck to
plot with his first officer as to how
best to come at the money belt. had
no love for the Captain, and also 1t
was scurvy hospitality to man we
had all but drowned; SO 1 warned the
stranger Of the plot. Surprised he
was but not put out, asking me would
I stand with him. Jacobite though he
was, said I would.
Two doors and a skylight furnished
entrance to the roundhouse. Alan
placed me with loaded pistols where I
could see to shoot through at whoever
might come at one closed door or
through the glass skylight. The other
door he left open, standing before it
with dirk and sword. They came with
a rush of feet and many loud cries
toward Alan. l. heard a shout from
him and cry as of some one hurt.
Then came five men with a spare yard
for battering ram to drive my door in.
For the first time in my life I fired a
pistol; and hit one Of them, which
drove them back. By then Alan's
sword was running blood; and the
first mate, he who had murdered the
cabin boy, lay dying on the floor.
Another lay beside him.
They came next to my side, some to
the barred door and one dropping
| through the ekynght to the floor,