Year: 1868

IL WAS toWaIuS uiSut Ou tuc <Is'
of September, 1884. A small Eng.
lish war brig, which had been fitted
out for the suppression of smugglers
was lazily creeping along over the
heavy, monotonous swells, just or
the coast of Galway, and on her deck
was being enacted a scene of some
what more than common interest,"
The day before she had captured 9
small boat laden with contraband
articles, together with an old man
and boy who had charge of them,
and the captain of the brig, whose
name was Dracut, had ordered that
the smuggler should be put in irons.
To this indignity the old man made
a stout resistance, and in the heat OF
the moment had so far forgotten
himself as to strike the captain q
blow which laid him upon the deck.
Such an insult to an English officer
was past endurance, and in punish
ment for this offence the smuggler
had been condemned to die.


A single whip was rove at the star
board toreyard-arm, and all hands
were called to witness the execution.
The rope was noosed and slipped
over the culprit's head. and the run
ming end was rove through small
snatch block upon the deck. Until
this moment not word escaped the
lips of the boy. He trembled as he
beheld the awful preparations, and
as the fatal moose was passed and
drawn tight the color forsook his
cheeks. and he sprang forward and
dropped upon his knees before the
incensed captain.


Mercy, sir; mercy!'


'For whom p asked the officer,
while contemptuous smile rested on
his lips.


sFor that old man whom you are
about to KILL


'He dies, boy


But he is my father, SIR


No matter if he were my own
father, the man who strikes an Eng
Iish officer, while in the performance
Of his duty, must die


But he was manacled-he was in
suited SIR urged the boy.


'Insulted = repeated the captain
Who insulted him ?


sYou did, sir replied the boy,
while his face flushed with indigna-
ton.


Get up, sir, and be careful that
you do not receive the same treat
ment,' said the captain in a savage
tone.


The old man heard this appeal Of
his son, and as the last words drop
ped from the lips of his captor, he
raised hia head, and while look OF
the utmost defiance passed over his
he exclaimed:


ASK no favors. Old Karl Kintock
can die as well now as at any time;
let them do their worst


Then turning to Captain Dracut he
changed his tone for one of deep
SuppilCdtiOu, Suu oaiu.


DO what you please with me, sir,
but do not harm my boy, for he has
done no wrong. 1 am ready for
your sentence, and the sooner you
finish 1t the better


Lay hold of the whipp shouted
the captain. Lay hold, every man
of you, and stand by to run the vii
lain up Etetff


In obedience to this order, the
men ranged themselves along the
deck, and each one laid hold of the
rope. Robert Kintock looked first
at his father, and then ran his eyes
along the line of men who were to
be his executioners. But not one
sympathising or plying look could
he trace. Their faces were all hard
and cold and they all appeared anx-
ious to consummate their murderOus
work.


sWhatp exclaimed the boy, while
a tear started from his eye, and his
lips trembled,, sis there not one,
even, who can pity 2"


up with him. shouted the captain.


Robert buried his face in his hands
and the next moment his father was
swinging at the yard-arm. He
heard the passing rope and the
creaking block and he knew that he
was fatherless.


Half an hour afterwards the boy
knelt by the side OF CHASTITY corpse,
and a simple prayer escaped his lips.
Then another low murmuring sound
came up from his bosom but none ol
those who stood around knew iti
import. 1t was pledge of deep re-
venge!


Just as the old mans body slid
from the gangboard into the water
vivid fash of lightning streamet
through the heavens, and in another
instant the dread artillery of nature
sent forth roar so loud and Ions
that the men actually placed theil
hands to their ears to shut out it
deafening power. Robert Kintocl
started at the sound, and what hat
caused dread in other bosoms caused
thrill of satisfaction to his own.