Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1920-02-17
CHAPTER TX.
Action.

1 had seen, close in shore, a two
nasted schooner under full sail sweep
ing by, as if pursued, and three ne
groes kneellng ON deck. with leveled
rifles. AS | looked, a shot rang out,
from my right, where / could not see,
and one of the negroes rolled over
Another shot, and the negro next him
fell sprawling with his arms over the
bulwark.
AT that moment, two other negroes
emerged from the cabin hatchway,
half dragging and half carrying q
woman. She was struggling bravely,
but in vain. The negroes-evidently
acting under orders of white man,
who stood over them with a revolver
were dragging her toward the main
mast. Her head was bare, her hair
in disorder, anu one shoulder from
which her dress had been torn In the
struggle, cleaned white in the sun
light. Yet her eyes were flashing
splendid scornful fires at her captors !;
and her laughter of defiance came
then that / had cried "Calypsor' and
wrenched myself free.
The next moment there came dash
ing In sight sloop also under full
canvas, and at its bow, huge white
man, with a leveled rifle that still
smoked. At glance. knew him for
Charlie Webster. He had been about
to fire again, but, as the man dragged
Calypso for'ard, he paused, calm as a
rock, waiting, with his keen sports
mans eyes on Tobias-for, of course,
1t was he.
"You-coward !" / heard his voice
roar across the rapidly diminishing
distance between the two boats, for
The sloop was running with power as
veil as sails.
Meanwhile, the men had dashed
Calypso to the mast, and even in my
agony my eyes recorded the glory of
her beauty as she stood proudly there
the great sails spread above her, and
the sea for her background.
Now, do your worst" cried Tobias,
his evil face white as wax in the sun
light.
Fire, fire-don't be afraid" rang
out Calypso's voice, like singing gold.
At the same instant, as she called To
bias sprang toward her with raised re-
volver.
Another word, and l fire." shouted
the voice of the brute.
But the rifle that never missed its
mark spoke again. Tobias arm fell
shattered, and he staggered away
screaming. Still once more, Charlie
Webster's gun spoke, and the stagger-
ing figure fell with a crash on the
deck.
Now, boys, ready" heard Charles
voice roar out again, as the sloop
tore alongside the schooner-where
the rest of the negro crew with raised
arms had fallen on their knees, crying
for mercy.
All this / saw from the water, as l
swan wildly toward the two boats,
which now had closed on each other, a
mass of laundering canvas, and
screaming and cursing men-and
Calypso there, like a beautiful statue,
still dashed to the mast, proud smile
on her lovely lips.
Another moment, and Charlie had
sprung aboard, and, selling a knife
from one of the screaming negroes, he
cut her free.
His deep calm voice came 70 me
over the water.
That's what / call courage" he
said. 81 could never have done it."
The liking" had been right. He knew
his daughter.
BY this l was nearing the boats
though as yet no one had seen me.
They were all too busy with the con-
fusion on deck, where four men lay
dead, and three others still kept up
their gibberish of fear.
saw Calypso and Charlie Webster
stand q moment looking down at the
figure of Tobias. PROSTATE at their
feet.
81 am sorry / had to kill him. !
heard Charles deep growl. Il meant
to keep him for the hangman."
But suddenly I saw him start for
ward and stamp heavily on something.
mo, you don't" / heard him roar
and l learned afterward that Tobias,
though MORALLY wounded, was not YET
dead, and that, as the two had stood
looking down on him. they had seen
his hand furtively moving toward the
fallen revolver that lay few inches
e,.a... hi.,, or. tho dacl lust as he mad