Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1919-03-26
CHAPTER !.
Sent Into servitude.


have departed from this world, when
II will be difficult to convince readers
that such times as are herein depicted
could ever have been reality, / shall
endeavor to narrate each incident in
the simplest manner possible. My
only purpose is truth, and my only
witness history. Yet, even now lately
as this all happened, it is more like
the recOllections of dream, dimly re-
membered at awakening, and, per-
chance, might remain so, but for the
scars upon my body, and the constant
memory of a WOman'S face. These
alone combine to bring back in vivid
ness those days that were-days of
youth and daring of desperate, law
less war, of wide ocean peril, and the
Outstretched hands of love. So that
here, where I am writing it all down,
here amid quietness and peace, and
forgetful of the past, / wander again
along a deserted shore, and sail among
those isles of a southern sea, the home
for many a century of crime and I'M
speakable cruelty. 1 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
and what seemed like a vast crowd of
waiting people. That we had been
sentenced to exile, to prolonged servi-
tude in some foreign land, was all that
any of us knew.
The guards prodded the crowd saw
egely 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. /
gained glimpse of the hooker's name
ROmping Betsy of Plymouth. A mo-
ment later a sailor passed along the
edge of the dock and instantly a whis-
per passed swiftly from man to man.
tits Virginia mate; we're bound for
Virginia"
The eyes of a prisoner met mine.
Virginia, hey?" he grunted. "Yere
a sailOrman, amt We, mate? Well
then, whar is this yere Virginia?"
'That's all right, mates" I returned
cheerily. "Well fall into the hands
of Englishmen out there. In America,
where all the tobacco comes from
I've been there twice-and to land
beyond they call Maryland. IT'S o
country not so unlike England"
"Yer better stow that, my man."
grOwled someone above me, and ]
looked up into the stern eyes of the
captain of the guard, cor it may be
the cat for We. So we've been ter
the Virginia plantation, hev We? Then
We must be Master Carlyle, l take it.
! heerd tell about We at the trial, but
supposed We ter be an older man."
II am twenty-Six."
'Ye don't look even tibet. Ay,
they're ready for We now. Fall in
there-all of yer. Step along, yer
ID rebel scum"
l stared aft at the poop deck. There
were a number of persons gathered
along the low rail, probably all passen
gers. Then my eyes encountered 9
strange group foregathered beside the
lee rail.
There were four in the little party
one of them a negress. Another was
clearly enough a colonial proprietor
a heavily built man of middle age
purple faced. | passed these by witt
glance, my attention concentrating
upon the other two-a middle-ageC
man and young woman stand
ing side by side. The former was 6
dashing looking blade, of not more
than forty, attired in blue slaShe0
coat, ornamented with gilt buttons
and hedecked at collar and cuffs witt
a profusion of lace. A saffron colore6
waistcoat failed to conceal his richly
beruff1ed shirt, and the hilt of rapieI
was rather prominently displayed
Such dandies were frequently enough
seen, but it was this mans face which
made marked contrast with his gay
attire. He was dark and hook-nosed
apparently of foreign birth with black
muStache ughtly clipped, so as to re
veal the thin firmness of his lips, an6
even at that distance could perceive
the lines of a scar across his chin. AL
together there was an audacity to his
face, daring, convincing me he was
no mere lady'S knight but one to whom
fighting was trade. He was pointing
us out 10 his companion, apparently
joking over our appearance, in an en-
deavor to amuse. Seemingly she CAV.
small heed to his words, for although
her eyes followed where he pointed
hey never once lighted with a smile
nor did 1 see her answer his sallies
She was scarcely more than a girl
dressed very simply In some clingint
dark stun, with loose gray cloaI