, 1926-07-07
CHAPTER Xxx
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tA( AhRAh Dul IL
note of triumph was changed to con-
sternation as Silver's bloodhounds
discovered that their bird had flown.
"Gonei 7"
The - knave's scooped usi"
Boats, lads; boatsi"
And presently the click-clock of
oars behind US caused Darby and me
to redouble our labors. We drove
ashore several rods downstream from
the town on the shallow bluf, and we
dared not wait to seek shelter within
Its log walls. Truth to tell, we doubt
ed now hat the town itself spelled
safety to us. The Walrus' carronades
would make short work of such de
lenses as Savannah had to boast.
So we pelted up the bluff by a
sandy path that ~debouched upon the
cleared fields outside the s~tockade,
urged on by that persistent oar-rattle
and the shouts the pirates exchanged
betwixt their several boats. Whether
they were following us we could not
discover, for the night was black as
a cellar-vault; but we left nothing 20
chance, and ran hot-foot through the
plantations of the citizens, overhear-
Ing, as we passed, the excited CON-
ments of the men on the firing-plat.
forms of the %stockade, who evidently
anticipated an attack from their ugly
visitor In the river. We never tarried
for breath until we had gained the
verge of the forest.
Peter was now in his element. He
could find his way about a strange
countryside by day or night as easily
as a sailor could navigate the track
less wastes of the sea, and he led us
In a Decline north and east In the
general direction Of the outlying set
Elements which interviewed betwixt
Savannah and the Carolinas. An hour
or so after dawn we emerged upon q
village in a clearing, whose fnhab-
itants eyed us obviously until Darby
produced one of the golden doubloons
from the store he had acquired during
his reign as Flint's favorite.
These people had never before seen
gold, and for q doubloon and a onza
they sold us an old but serviceable
musket with b~ullet-pouch, powder
horn and store of ammunition, and
deerskin garments. They also sold us
a small quantity of salt and -four, and
put us on the trail to Charleston in
the Carolinas.
OF our journey thither / can say
only that 1t was such an odyssey as
the frontier-dwellers of our provinces
have long been accustomed to. To
Peter and me Its perils of forest and
stream, red savages, and wild beasts,
u,ara far lass fnrmfdohIa fhon fhnco
pf the sea, and Mora and Darby
thrived upon the experience-so much
80 that when at last, brier-torn and
tootsore, we entered Charleston's
sedate streets and found awaiting us
an ample choice of packet ships to the
north we four were unanimous for
continuing our journey by land.
"Neen;" said Peter. 81 don't rel
20 to der sea again, Bob"
"Ah. who would be fool enough In
lis ignorance to be wandherin' wet
lnd b~edraggled On the salt waves Of
he sea when he might venture the
orests and be shootin' at the red deer
md the bears and the ~catamounts
nd IT may be an Injun, If he was In
he full tide o. his luck?" snorted
darby.
~ seem to remember n who was
IL for the sea, and would wave the
kull and crossbones in anybody's
ace" l Jeered.
"Troth, and l knew less then than
do now he replied unblushingly.
Them pirates was enough to break
he heart of Pontius PLATE. Barrin'
lint, there wasn't a one of them
ould be able to hold his own against
lch as u.s."
'Silver might"
"He was a clever one, Long John ;
1t he'll be in tllrouble, you see if
is not" insisted Darby. TOO grasp
he is by half"
MORA, sitting beside me on the set
: of the tavern-porch, twIned her
IN In mine with a slight shudder.
But Peter shook his head solemnly.
"Neen," he said. Der sea did not
Ike them all. They died from der
eed dot cankered in their hearts.
do not like der sea, but der sea is
r same as der landt. 1t works
it's will"
We were silent for a space, looking
upon the busy life about us, the
,roes in their bright bandanna
addresses, the planters passing on
f-thoroughbreds, the decent towns
k in hodden-gray.
And you, Ben GunnY' 1 said to
steward who sat across the porch
N us. "Will you come north with
My father"
lie jumped up, writhing and twist
in an excess of embarrassment,
and with something Of fear In his
=.
Twas yourself was promisin' me
not ha' to wear a ~livery-shuit," he