Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1921-05-12

sDreams" and "Pulvis ct Umbra." the
charm of which is ageIess.
1T was dawn; the blackbirds were
whistling in the lilacs, the mists
- of the valley arising and melting,
when I set out for the house of Shaw.
On the forenoon Of the second day,
coming to the top of a hill, saw the
city of Edinburgh smoking like a kiln
below me. There was flag upon the
castle and ships anchored to the blue
floor of the Firth, sight which
thrilled me.
walked on toward Cramond, MAX
ing inquiries as I went of my uncle,
who seemed to be in no favor there
about, some giving me a half-civil
word, some a scowl or a curse for an
answer 1t was night, and his house
barred and dark when I came to it !;
and it was a long while before my
shouts and knocks brought him to the
window from where, with a blunder-
buss by way Of welcome, he screamed
to inquire my business.
1t was mean, STOPPING, clayfaced
creature: and a big muckle house and
an ill-kept 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 rare half-cup
of ale.
One night he gave me 40 pounds,
saying it was a debt he owed my
father, and with it gave me also
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
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 I had then no sus-
picion; but that happening of the tow
er gave me a 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 try
Ing to escape after robbing his host.
What a tale he would make Of it!
Next day my uncle spoke of a
friend, Captain Elias Hoseason of the
brig Covenant, then lying off Queens
ferry on the Firth, proposing that / go
to call there with him. I agreed, be-
ing eager to get away from that evil
house; also I had knowledge that re-
siding in Queensferry was Mr.. Rankiel-
lor, the counsellor and agent, a friend
ly person 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 I
first allowed myself to be led into look
ing over the brig with Captain Hosea
son and my uncle. 1t was so that 1
came to be knocked on the head and
kidnapped to sea on the agreement
between my uncle and Captain Hosea
son that I 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 make a fair wind of
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 I
pressed into his berth.
It was night, with swell and a
thick white fog, the men listening for
breakers, when the brig ran over a
boat; and sent all but one man to the
bottom. That one, with leap and a
clutch which showed his rare agility